H.R. 8593 — Fireworks for Freedom Act

This section states congressional findings recognizing 2026 as the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence (America250), the tradition of public fireworks displays since 1777, the need for nationwide commemoration, and the benefits of streamlined federal and state regulations. It declares the Act's purpose to maximize public participation in fireworks displays during 2026 by temporarily suspending federal and state regulatory restrictions, while preserving local government authority over site-specific concerns and federal and state authority over fireworks manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, and safety standards.

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "covered fireworks display" as any public or private display of fireworks—including consumer, commercial, or display-grade pyrotechnics—conducted within the United States during the covered period; (2) "covered period" as the period beginning on the date of enactment and ending on December 31, 2026; and (3) "unit of local government" as any county, municipality, town, township, village, parish, borough, special district, federally recognized Indian tribe, or other general-purpose political subdivision of a state, including any fire protection district or fire marshal exercising delegated authority.

This section waives specified Federal and State laws, regulations, and rules that restrict, prohibit, or penalize covered fireworks displays—which include all fireworks displays during calendar year 2026 (i.e., the covered period)—limited to the act of conducting the display and possession/use of fireworks solely at the display site during the event itself. The waiver covers (1) State and local permitting, display-operation licensing, venue storage, setback, event notification, fire codes, burn restrictions, and noise standards; (2) preempts inconsistent State enforcement during the covered period, except for State laws on fireworks manufacture/sale/purchase, occupational safety and health, and consumer product safety; and (3) preserves Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives licensing/certification, classification/labeling/storage standards, and Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act requirements. This section does not preempt local government laws, regulations, or ordinances and requires no formal affiliation with America250 (i.e., the national semiquincentennial commission) for displays to qualify.

This section provides that, notwithstanding section 4, specified federal laws and implementing regulations remain in full force, including (1) Chapter 40 of title 18, United States Code (relating to explosive materials licensing, storage, classification, and recordkeeping); (2) Chapter 51 of title 49, United States Code (relating to hazardous materials transportation); (3) the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.) and all consumer and hazardous products safety standards thereunder; (4) the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) and all Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards thereunder; and (5) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) and all Environmental Protection Agency regulations promulgated thereunder. The section further states that nothing in the Act waives, suspends, or limits any federal or state law governing the manufacture, importation, wholesale distribution, retail sale, or purchase of fireworks or pyrotechnic materials.

This section preserves the full authority of units of local government to regulate, restrict, condition, permit, or prohibit covered fireworks displays within their jurisdictions, notwithstanding section 4, including authority over (1) permitting, licensing, and inspection of displays and operators; (2) local fire codes, burn bans, and red-flag restrictions; (3) setback, separation, and fallout-zone requirements; (4) hours of operation and noise ordinances; (5) zoning, land use, and crowd-management requirements; (6) insurance, bonding, and liability requirements; (7) emergency response, evacuation, and public notification requirements; and (8) restrictions tailored to drought conditions, wildland-urban interface areas, sensitive ecological zones, hospitals, schools, places of worship, livestock operations, or other site-specific concerns. The section further specifies that otherwise applicable local law governs absent express local authorization for such displays; does not diminish state-derived authority exercised by local governments; and does not limit the sovereign authority of federally recognized Indian tribes to regulate fireworks within their jurisdictions.