Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Fireworks for Freedom Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Fireworks for Freedom Act aims to provide a temporary waiver of certain Federal and State laws regarding fireworks displays during the year 2026. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, referred to as "America250." The bill seeks to enable maximum public participation in these celebrations by suspending specific regulatory restrictions. While it waives some state-level requirements, it preserves the authority of local governments to address safety and community concerns. Additionally, Federal authority over the manufacture, sale, and transportation of fireworks remains intact. The Act is set to expire at the end of 2026.
Yes
No question was scored yes.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill preempts several state-level regulations regarding fireworks displays, such as licensing and fire codes.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Public Celebration: The Act enables maximum public participation in fireworks displays to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States (Section 2(b)).
-
Streamlined Regulations: It provides a streamlined Federal and State regulatory framework to help communities of all sizes honor the historic occasion (Section 2(a)).
-
Removal of State-Level Barriers: The bill waives certain state-level restrictions such as event permitting, display-operation licensing, and venue storage requirements (Section 4(b)).
-
Flexibility for Communities: By reducing state-level regulatory burdens, the bill allows for more widespread national commemoration across all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Potential for Reduced State Oversight: The bill preempts certain State laws, regulations, or rules that would otherwise govern event permitting, licensing, and venue storage requirements (Section 4(b) and 4(c)).
-
Potential for Noise or Fire Risks: While local authority is preserved, the waiver of state-level fire codes, setback requirements, burn restrictions, and noise standards could be a concern if local governments do not act to restrict them (Section 4(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill preempts several state-level regulations regarding fireworks displays, such as licensing and fire codes.
- 4/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Introduced in House