Proposed bill would allow Kansans to buy fireworks year-round

By Nolan Brey

KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate is considering a bill that would expand the fireworks season in Kansas, although cities and counties would still be able to regulate and ban the use and sale of fireworks as they see fit.

SB 362, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs, would permit annual retailers, or those who operate out of a building and sell fireworks all year, to sell from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

The bill would extend the dates in which seasonal retailers are allowed to sell fireworks. Kansas now allows the seasonal sale of fireworks from June 27 to July 5. The bill would extend the period to June 15 to July 6 to compete with Missouri, whose season runs from June 20 to July 10 and from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.

“As crazy as it is to say, people love fireworks,” said Sarah Beagel of Aiello Fireworks in Moran. “Just that additional selling … it will help Kansas and the business owners themselves.”

Brent Aiello, Beagel’s business partner, testified in favor of the bill. Their fireworks stand is located 30 miles from the Missouri border, and he said Kansas businesses are losing money to Missouri.

People don’t want to wait until June 27 to buy fireworks in Kansas when they could buy them in Missouri a week earlier, he said.

“They got a jump on me,” Aiello said. “Most people will go to Missouri or Iowa and go buy fireworks. That means that Kansans are leaving our state and going to Missouri and spending money in Missouri when they should be spending it here in Kansas.”

Aiello also said Kansas has to compete with Oklahoma, which permits the seasonal sale of fireworks from June 15 to July 6 and from Dec. 15 to Jan. 2.

Aiello and Beagel said if the bill passed, they would be able to sell fireworks year-round for family reunions, gender reveals, birthday parties, weddings and New Year’s Eve.

Nolan Brey is a University of Kansas senior from Sabetha majoring in journalism.

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