Fireworks Bill Rises From Ashes, Passes Georgia Senate

The Georgia Senate has passed a bill legalizing the sale of fireworks in the state.

The measure had been tabled earlier but was revived and passed 43-7 late Tuesday after Sen. Tyler Harper, R-Ocilla, tacked on two amendments to fix ambiguities.

The House had already approved the measure and will have to take it up again to OK the amendments. If signed into law, the measure would require fireworks companies or nonprofits using the sales as fundraisers to be licensed and to pay certain fees.

Sales would be limited to people 18 years or older.

Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, told colleagues that fireworks are dangerous, as opponents warned, “but so is walking across the street.”