'Permissive' Fireworks Bill Vetoed In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Legislation that would have radically altered Ohio's fireworks laws was vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday evening.

Senate Bill 113 would have allowed Ohioans to purchase fireworks and set them off during major holidays. The legislation allowed Ohioans to discharge fireworks at any hour, as long as it was an approved holiday. It would have also doubled the allowable size of fireworks stores.

The bill set out 25 days per year during which fireworks would be permissible.

"Senate Bill 113 would be a dramatic change in Ohio law, which would make Ohio one of the least restrictive states in regard to fireworks laws," DeWine said in his veto message.

Current Ohio law allows residents to buy fireworks, but to use them they must travel out of state, News 5 noted. The existing legislation created a loophole called "liar's law," barring Ohioans from setting off fireworks they have legally purchased.

DeWine ultimately decided that Senate Bill 113 would be too dramatic a departure from existing fireworks laws in Ohio, so the proposed legislation was "not in the public interest."

The governor's full veto message is below.