Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1002 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1002
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1002
8	8	E4, Q4 5lr2352
9	9
10	10	By: Delegates Hornberger, Arikan, Bouchat, Grammer, Griffith, Pruski, and
11	11	Schmidt
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
13	13	Assigned to: Economic Matters
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Consumer and Display Fireworks – Regulation and Tax 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of authorizing the sale and possession of certain consumer fireworks, 3
22	22	subject to certain requirements and restrictions; altering certain provisions to 4
23	23	establish that certain provisions authorizing the State Fire Marshal to issue a 5
24	24	certain permit relating to fireworks apply only to certain display fireworks; 6
25	25	authorizing a county to opt out of certain provisions regulating the sale and 7
26	26	possession of certain consumer fireworks; establishing a certain sales and use tax 8
27	27	rate for certain fireworks; requiring the revenue from a certain tax to be distributed 9
28	28	to certain funds; and generally relating to consumer and display fireworks. 10
29	29
30	30	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
31	31	Article – Public Safety 12
32	32	Section 1–308, 8–102, 10–101, 10–103, 10–104, and 10–110 13
33	33	Annotated Code of Maryland 14
34	34	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
35	35
36	36	BY adding to 16
37	37	Article – Public Safety 17
38	38	Section 10–102.1 and 10–114 18
39	39	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
40	40	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
41	41
42	42	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
43	43	Article – Public Safety 22
44	44	Section 10–109 and 10–111 23
45	45	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
46	46	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
47	47
48	48	BY adding to 26 2 HOUSE BILL 1002
49	49
50	50
51	51	Article – Tax – General 1
52	52	Section 2–1302.5 and 11–104(l) 2
53	53	Annotated Code of Maryland 3
54	54	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
55	55
56	56	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
57	57	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
58	58
59	59	Article – Public Safety 7
60	60
61	61	10–101. 8
62	62
63	63	(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 9
64	64
65	65	(b) [(1)] “1.3 G fireworks” means special fireworks: 10
66	66
67	67	(1) designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion 11
68	68	or explosion[.]; 12
69	69
70	70	[(2) “1.3 G fireworks” includes: 13
71	71
72	72	(i) toy torpedoes, railway torpedoes, firecrackers and salutes that do 14
73	73	not qualify as 1.4 G fireworks, exhibition display pieces, illuminating projectiles, incendiary 15
74	74	projectiles, and incendiary grenades; 16
75	75
76	76	(ii) smoke projectiles or bombs containing expelling charges but 17
77	77	without bursting charges; 18
78	78
79	79	(iii) flash powders in inner units not exceeding 2 ounces each, flash 19
80	80	sheets in interior packages, and flash powder or spreader cartridges containing an amount 20
81	81	not exceeding 72 grains of flash powder each; and 21
82	82
83	83	(iv) flash cartridges consisting of a paper cartridge shell, small arms 22
84	84	primer, and flash composition, not exceeding 180 grains, all assembled in one piece.] 23
85	85
86	86	(2) THAT MEET THE FEDERA L REGULATIONS FOR 1.3 G FIREWORKS; 24
87	87	AND 25
88	88
89	89	(3) THAT COMPLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION , PERFORMANCE , 26
90	90	COMPOSITION , AND LABELING REQUIRE MENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER 27
91	91	PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL 28
92	92	REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PRACTI CES. 29
93	93
94	94	(c) [(1)] “1.4 G fireworks” means common fireworks: 30
95	95	HOUSE BILL 1002 3
96	96
97	97
98	98	(1) designed primarily to produce visible effects by combustion[.]; 1
99	99
100	100	[(2) “1.4 G fireworks” includes: 2
101	101
102	102	(i) small devices containing less than 2 grains of pyrotechnic 3
103	103	composition designed to produce an audible effect; 4
104	104
105	105	(ii) Roman candles, not exceeding 10 balls, that have a total 5
106	106	pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 20 grams and inside tube diameter not exceeding 6
107	107	3/8 inch; 7
108	108
109	109	(iii) sky rockets with sticks, that have a total pyrotechnic composition 8
110	110	not exceeding 20 grams and an inside tube diameter not exceeding 1/2 inch; 9
111	111
112	112	(iv) helicopter–type rockets that have a total pyrotechnic composition 10
113	113	not exceeding 20 grams and an inside tube diameter not exceeding 1/2 inch; 11
114	114
115	115	(v) wheels that have a total pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 12
116	116	60 grams for each driver unit or 240 grams for each wheel and an inside tube diameter of 13
117	117	driver units not exceeding 1/2 inch; 14
118	118
119	119	(vi) illuminating torches and colored fire in any form that have a total 15
120	120	pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 100 grams each; 16
121	121
122	122	(vii) dipped sticks that have a pyrotechnic composition containing any 17
123	123	perchlorate not exceeding 5 grams; 18
124	124
125	125	(viii) mines or shells in which the mortar is an integral part, that have 19
126	126	a total pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 40 grams; 20
127	127
128	128	(ix) firecrackers or salutes with casings that have a total pyrotechnic 21
129	129	composition not exceeding 2 grains each and external dimensions not exceeding 1 1/2 inches 22
130	130	in length or 1/4 inch in diameter; and 23
131	131
132	132	(x) novelties that consist of two or more 1.4 G fireworks.] 24
133	133
134	134	(2) THAT MEET THE FEDERA L REGULATIONS FOR 1.4 G FIREWORKS; 25
135	135	AND 26
136	136
137	137	(3) THAT COMPLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION , PERFORMANCE , AND 27
138	138	LABELING REQUIREMENT S ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY 28
139	139	COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS RE LATING TO 29
140	140	COMMERCIAL PRACTICES . 30
141	141
142	142	(D) “APA 87–1” MEANS THE AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS ASSOCIATION 31
143	143	STANDARD 87–1: “STANDARD FOR CONSTRUCTION AND APPROVAL FOR 32 4 HOUSE BILL 1002
144	144
145	145
146	146	TRANSPORTATION OF FIREWORKS, NOVELTIES, AND THEATRICAL 1
147	147	PYROTECHNICS ”, 2001 EDITION, OR ANY SUBSEQUENT ED ITION. 2
148	148
149	149	(E) “CONSUMER FIREWORKS ” MEANS ANY COMBUSTIBL E OR EXPLOSIVE 3
150	150	COMPOSITION OR ANY S UBSTANCE OR COMBINAT ION OF SUBSTANCES TH AT: 4
151	151
152	152	(1) IS INTENDED TO PRODU CE VISIBLE OR AUDIBL E EFFECTS BY 5
153	153	COMBUSTION ; 6
154	154
155	155	(2) IS SUITABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC; 7
156	156
157	157	(3) COMPLIES WITH THE CO NSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE , 8
158	158	COMPOSITION , AND LABELING REQUIRE MENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER 9
159	159	PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL 10
160	160	REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PRACTI CES; AND 11
161	161
162	162	(4) COMPLIES WITH THE PR OVISIONS FOR “CONSUMER FIREWORKS ” 12
163	163	AS DEFINED IN APA 87–1 OR ANY SUCCESSOR STA NDARD. 13
164	164
165	165	(F) (1) “DISPLAY FIREWORKS ” MEANS LARGE FIREWORK S TO BE USED 14
166	166	SOLELY BY PROFESSION AL PYROTECHNICIANS THAT ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY T O 15
167	167	PRODUCE VISIBLE OR A UDIBLE EFFECTS BY CO MBUSTION, DEFLAGRATION , OR 16
168	168	DETONATION . 17
169	169
170	170	(2) “DISPLAY FIREWORKS ” INCLUDES: 18
171	171
172	172	(I) SALUTES THAT CONTAIN MORE THAN 2 GRAINS OR 130 19
173	173	MILLIGRAMS OF EXPLOS IVE MATERIALS; 20
174	174
175	175	(II) AERIAL SHELLS CONTAI NING MORE THAN 60 GRAMS OF 21
176	176	PYROTECHNIC COMPOSIT IONS; AND 22
177	177
178	178	(III) OTHER DISPLAY PIECES THAT EXCEED THE LIMI TS OF 23
179	179	EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS FOR CLASSIFICATION A S CONSUMER FIREWORKS AND ARE 24
180	180	CLASSIFIED AS FIREWO RKS UN0333, UN0334, OR UN0335 UNDER 49 C.F.R. § 25
181	181	172.101, RELATING TO THE PURP OSE AND USE OF THE H AZARDOUS MATERIALS 26
182	182	TABLE. 27
183	183
184	184	[(d)] (G) “Explosive composition” means a mixture or substance that, when 28
185	185	ignited, may cause such a generation of highly heated gases that the resulting gaseous 29
186	186	pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects. 30
187	187
188	188	[(e)] (H) “Finishing and assembling building” means a structure in which 31
189	189	fireworks are assembled and packed but are not mixed or pressed. 32 HOUSE BILL 1002 5
190	190
191	191
192	192
193	193	[(f)] (I) (1) [“Fireworks” means combustible, implosive or explosive 1
194	194	compositions, substances, combinations of substances, or articles that are prepared to 2
195	195	produce a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, implosion, deflagration, or 3
196	196	detonation. 4
197	197
198	198	(2)] “Fireworks” includes 1.3 G fireworks, 1.4 G fireworks, [firecrackers, 5
199	199	squibs, rockets, Roman candles, fire balloons, and signal lights] CONSUMER FIREWORKS , 6
200	200	AND DISPLAY FIREWORK S. 7
201	201
202	202	[(3)] (2) “Fireworks” does not include: 8
203	203
204	204	(i) toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices that use paper 9
205	205	caps that contain 0.25 grains or less of explosive composition if the devices are constructed 10
206	206	so that a hand cannot touch the cap when the cap is in place for use; 11
207	207
208	208	(ii) toy pistol paper caps that contain less than 0.20 grains of 12
209	209	explosive composition; 13
210	210
211	211	(iii) sparklers that do not contain chlorates or perchlorates; 14
212	212
213	213	(iv) ground–based sparkling devices that are nonaerial and 15
214	214	nonexplosive, and are labeled in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Consumer 16
215	215	Product Safety Commission; 17
216	216
217	217	(v) paper wrapped snappers that contain less than 0.03 grains of 18
218	218	explosive composition; or 19
219	219
220	220	(vi) ash–producing pellets known as “snakes” that do not contain 20
221	221	mercury and are not regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 21
222	222
223	223	[(g)] (J) (1) “Fireworks plant” means land and any building on the land used 22
224	224	in connection with the manufacture, packaging, repackaging, or processing of fireworks. 23
225	225
226	226	(2) “Fireworks plant” includes a storage building used in connection with 24
227	227	plant operation. 25
228	228
229	229	[(h)] (K) “Mixing building” means a building primarily used to mix and blend 26
230	230	pyrotechnic composition other than wet sparkler mixes. 27
231	231
232	232	[(i)] (L) “Press building” means a building used primarily for pressing or 28
233	233	loading pyrotechnic composition into tubes or containers. 29
234	234
235	235	[(j)] (M) “Pyrotechnic composition” means a chemical mixture that on burning 30
236	236	and without explosion produces visible or brilliant displays, bright lights, or whistles. 31
237	237	6 HOUSE BILL 1002
238	238
239	239
240	240	[(k)] (N) “Storage building” means a structure in which finished fireworks or 1
241	241	fireworks in any state of processing are stored, but in which processing or manufacturing 2
242	242	is not performed. 3
243	243
244	244	10–102.1. 4
245	245
246	246	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A PERSON 5
247	247	WHO IS AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE MAY 6
248	248	PURCHASE, POSSESS, AND USE CONSUMER FIR EWORKS. 7
249	249
250	250	(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTEN TIONALLY IGNITE OR DISCHARGE CONSUME R 8
251	251	FIREWORKS: 9
252	252
253	253	(1) ON PUBLIC PROPERTY O R ON PRIVATE PROPERT Y WITHOUT THE 10
254	254	EXPRESS PERMISSION O F THE OWNER; 11
255	255
256	256	(2) WITHIN, INTO, AT, OR FROM A MOTOR VEHI CLE, A WATERCRAFT , 12
257	257	AN AIRCRAFT, AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM, OR A BUILDING; 13
258	258
259	259	(3) AT ANOTHER PERSON ; 14
260	260
261	261	(4) WHILE THE PERSON IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL , A 15
262	262	CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE , OR ANOTHER DRUG ; 16
263	263
264	264	(5) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N ITEMS (6) AND (7) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 17
265	265	WITHIN 300 FEET OF A STRUCTURE ; 18
266	266
267	267	(6) WITHIN 150 FEET OF AN ANIMAL HO USING FACILITY OR A FENCED 19
268	268	AREA DESIGNED TO CON FINE LIVESTOCK THAT IS OWNED OR MANAGED BY ANOTHER 20
269	269	PERSON; OR 21
270	270
271	271	(7) BETWEEN 150 AND 300 FEET FROM AN ANIMAL HOUSING FACILITY 22
272	272	OR A FENCED AREA DES IGNED TO CONFINE LIV ESTOCK THAT IS OWNED OR 23
273	273	MANAGED BY ANOTHER PERSON, UNLESS THE PERSON IG NITING OR DISCHARGIN G 24
274	274	THE CONSUMER FIREWOR KS NOTIFIES THE OWNE R OR MANAGER OF THE 25
275	275	LIVESTOCK, IN WRITING, THAT THE PERSON INTE NDS TO IGNITE OR DIS CHARGE 26
276	276	CONSUMER FIREWORKS I N THAT LOCATION , AT LEAST 72 HOURS BEFORE THE 27
277	277	PERSON IGN ITES OR DISCHARGES T HE CONSUMER FIREWORK S. 28
278	278
279	279	(C) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REGU LATE THE SALE , 29
280	280	POSSESSION, OR USE OF ANY OF THE DEVICES LISTED IN § 10–101(I)(2) OF THIS 30
281	281	SUBTITLE. 31
282	282
283	283	(D) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A COUNTY TH AT ADOPTS A LOCAL 32 HOUSE BILL 1002 7
284	284
285	285
286	286	LAW PROHIBITING THE PURCHASE, POSSESSION, AND USE OF CONSUMER 1
287	287	FIREWORKS IN THE COU NTY. 2
288	288
289	289	10–103. 3
290	290
291	291	(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the State Fire Marshal may 4
292	292	issue a permit to authorize the discharge of DISPLAY fireworks in a place where the 5
293	293	discharge of DISPLAY fireworks is legal. 6
294	294
295	295	(b) The State Fire Marshal shall issue a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks 7
296	296	only if the State Fire Marshal determines that the proposed discharge of fireworks will: 8
297	297
298	298	(1) not endanger health or safety or damage property; and 9
299	299
300	300	(2) be supervised by an experienced and qualified person who has 10
301	301	previously secured written authority from the State Fire Marshal to discharge fireworks. 11
302	302
303	303	(c) A permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks: 12
304	304
305	305	(1) does not authorize the holder of the permit to possess or discharge 13
306	306	fireworks in violation of an ordinance or regulation of the political subdivision where the 14
307	307	fireworks are to be discharged; and 15
308	308
309	309	(2) does not relieve an applicant for a permit from any requirement to 16
310	310	obtain any additional license or authority from the governing body of the political 17
311	311	subdivision where the fireworks are to be discharged. 18
312	312
313	313	10–104. 19
314	314
315	315	(a) A person must have a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks as provided by 20
316	316	this subtitle before the person: 21
317	317
318	318	(1) discharges DISPLAY fireworks; or 22
319	319
320	320	(2) possesses DISPLAY fireworks with the intent to discharge DISPLAY 23
321	321	fireworks or to allow the discharge of DISPLAY fireworks. 24
322	322
323	323	(b) An applicant for a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks shall: 25
324	324
325	325	(1) apply to the State Fire Marshal for the permit at least 10 days before 26
326	326	the date of discharge; 27
327	327
328	328	(2) pay to the State Fire Marshal a permit fee of $50; and 28
329	329
330	330	(3) post a bond with the State Fire Marshal in accordance with § 10–105 of 29
331	331	this subtitle. 30 8 HOUSE BILL 1002
332	332
333	333
334	334
335	335	(c) If the State Fire Marshal does not receive the application for a permit required 1
336	336	under subsection (b) of this section at least 10 days before the date of the discharge, the 2
337	337	State Fire Marshal shall charge the applicant a late fee of $50 in addition to all required 3
338	338	fees. 4
339	339
340	340	(d) The permit fee required under subsection (b)(2) of this section and the late fee 5
341	341	required under subsection (c) of this section do not apply to a volunteer fire department or 6
342	342	volunteer ambulance and rescue company. 7
343	343
344	344	(e) A permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks is nontransferable. 8
345	345
346	346	10–109. 9
347	347
348	348	The State Fire Prevention Commission shall adopt regulations to carry out this 10
349	349	subtitle. 11
350	350
351	351	10–110. 12
352	352
353	353	(a) Unless the person holds a permit issued under this subtitle, a person may not: 13
354	354
355	355	(1) discharge DISPLAY fireworks; or 14
356	356
357	357	(2) possess DISPLAY fireworks: 15
358	358
359	359	(i) with intent to discharge or allow the discharge of the DISPLAY 16
360	360	fireworks in violation of this subtitle; or 17
361	361
362	362	(ii) for the purpose of disposing or selling the DISPLAY fireworks to 18
363	363	a person for use or discharge without a permit, if a permit is required by this subtitle. 19
364	364
365	365	(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person may not sell 20
366	366	DISPLAY fireworks to another person without a permit issued under this subtitle. 21
367	367
368	368	(2) (i) A person licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Subtitle 2 of 22
369	369	this title may sell or deliver fireworks to a bona fide distributor, jobber, or wholesaler with 23
370	370	a principal place of business in a state where the sale or possession of fireworks is allowed. 24
371	371
372	372	(ii) The State Fire Marshal may require a person who is an 25
373	373	out–of–state distributor, jobber, or wholesaler to submit a certificate issued by the person’s 26
374	374	state of operation that demonstrates authority to buy and receive fireworks. 27
375	375
376	376	10–111. 28
377	377
378	378	(a) A person who possesses or discharges fireworks in violation of this subtitle is 29
379	379	guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $250 for each 30 HOUSE BILL 1002 9
380	380
381	381
382	382	offense. 1
383	383
384	384	(b) A person who sells fireworks in violation of this subtitle is guilty of a 2
385	385	misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each offense. 3
386	386
387	387	(c) (1) At the expense of the owner, the State Fire Marshal shall seize and 4
388	388	remove all fireworks possessed or sold in violation of this subtitle. 5
389	389
390	390	(2) Fireworks described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be 6
391	391	forfeited and destroyed. 7
392	392
393	393	10–114. 8
394	394
395	395	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION S (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION , 9
396	396	CONSUMER FIREWORKS M AY BE SOLD ONLY FROM A STAND–ALONE PERMANENT 10
397	397	STRUCTURE THAT : 11
398	398
399	399	(1) IS LICENSED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL; 12
400	400
401	401	(2) HAS A STORAGE AREA T HAT IS SEPARATED FRO M WHOLESALE OR 13
402	402	RETAIL SALES AREAS T O WHICH A PURCHASER MAY BE ADMITTED BY 14
403	403	APPROPRIATELY RATED FIRE SEPARATION ; 15
404	404
405	405	(3) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 250 FEET FROM ANY FACILI TY THAT 16
406	406	STORES, SELLS, OR DISPENSES GASOLIN E, PROPANE, OR OTHER FLAMMABLE 17
407	407	PRODUCTS; 18
408	408
409	409	(4) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 1,500 FEET FROM ANY OTHER FACILITY 19
410	410	LICENSED TO SELL CON SUMER FIREWORKS ; 20
411	411
412	412	(5) HAS A MONITORED BURG LAR AND FIRE ALARM S YSTEM; AND 21
413	413
414	414	(6) CONDUCTS Q UARTERLY FIRE DRILLS AND PREPLANNING 22
415	415	MEETINGS AS REQUIRED BY THE PRIMARY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE JU RISDICTION 23
416	416	OF THE FACILITY. 24
417	417
418	418	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION AND 25
419	419	SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , CONSUMER FIREWORKS M AY BE SOLD FROM A 26
420	420	TEMPORARY STRUCTURE IF THE TEMPORARY STR UCTURE: 27
421	421
422	422	(I) IS LICENSED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL; 28
423	423
424	424	(II) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 250 FEET FROM ANY FACILI TY THAT 29
425	425	STORES, SELLS, OR DISPENSES GASOLIN E, PROPANE, OR OTHER FLAMMABLE 30 10 HOUSE BILL 1002
426	426
427	427
428	428	PRODUCTS; 1
429	429
430	430	(III) HAS AN EVACUAT ION PLAN POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS 2
431	431	LOCATION FOR A TEMPO RARY STRUCTURE IN AC CORDANCE WITH NFPA 1124; 3
432	432
433	433	(IV) HAS ANY OUTDOOR STORAGE UNIT SEPARATED FROM THE 4
434	434	WHOLESALE OR RETAIL SALES AREA TO WHICH A PURCHASER MAY BE A DMITTED BY 5
435	435	APPROPRIATELY RATED FIRE SEPARATION; 6
436	436
437	437	(V) COMPLIES WITH NFPA 1124 AS IT RELATES TO RET AIL 7
438	438	SALES OF CONSUMER FI REWORKS IN TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ; 8
439	439
440	440	(VI) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 2 MILES FROM ANY PERMA NENT 9
441	441	FACILITY LICENSED TO SELL CONSUMER FIREWO RKS; 10
442	442
443	443	(VII) DOES NOT EXCEED 2,500 SQUARE FEET; 11
444	444
445	445	(VIII) IS SECURED AT ALL TI MES DURING WHICH CON SUMER 12
446	446	FIREWORKS ARE DISPLA YED WITHIN THE STRUC TURE; 13
447	447
448	448	(IX) HAS A MINIMUM OF $2,000,000 IN PUBLIC AND PRODUC T 14
449	449	LIABILITY INSURANCE ; 15
450	450
451	451	(X) HAS A SALES PERIOD L IMITED TO JUNE 15 THROUGH JULY 16
452	452	8 AND DECEMBER 21 THROUGH JANUARY 2 EACH YEAR; AND 17
453	453
454	454	(XI) STORES CONSUMER FIRE WORKS NOT ON DISPLAY FOR 18
455	455	RETAIL SALE IN AN OU TDOOR STORAGE UNIT . 19
456	456
457	457	(2) THE SALE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS FROM A TEM PORARY 20
458	458	STRUCTURE IS LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING : 21
459	459
460	460	(I) HELICOPTER, AERIAL SPINNER (APA 87–1, 3.1.2.3); 22
461	461
462	462	(II) ROMAN CANDLE (APA 87–1, 3.1.2.4); AND 23
463	463
464	464	(III) MINE AND SHELL DEVIC ES NOT EXCEEDING 500 GRAMS. 24
465	465
466	466	(C) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A COUNTY TH AT ADOPTS A LOCAL 25
467	467	LAW PROHIBITING THE SALE OF CONSUMER FIR EWORKS IN TH E COUNTY. 26
468	468
469	469	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 27
470	470	as follows: 28
471	471	HOUSE BILL 1002 11
472	472
473	473
474	474	Article – Public Safety 1
475	475
476	476	1–308. 2
477	477
478	478	(a) There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 3
479	479
480	480	(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to § 4
481	481	1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to: 5
482	482
483	483	(i) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system; 6
484	484
485	485	(ii) pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; 7
486	486	and 8
487	487
488	488	(iii) fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased 9
489	489	duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an 10
490	490	administrative cost. 11
491	491
492	492	(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes 12
493	493	described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund 13
494	494	include funding: 14
495	495
496	496	(i) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 15
497	497	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 16
498	498
499	499	1. equipment and software utilized directly for providing 17
500	500	9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 18
501	501
502	502	2. protocol systems and software utilized directly for 19
503	503	providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 20
504	504
505	505	3. interpretation services provided for a public safety 21
506	506	answering point; 22
507	507
508	508	4. services provided for a public safety answering point to 23
509	509	ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use 24
510	510	assistive technology; and 25
511	511
512	512	5. voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture 26
513	513	information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 27
514	514	services; 28
515	515
516	516	(ii) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 29
517	517	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure 30
518	518	equipment, including: 31
519	519
520	520	1. automatic number and location identification; and 32 12 HOUSE BILL 1002
521	521
522	522
523	523
524	524	2. Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol 1
525	525	trunking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines; 2
526	526
527	527	(iii) geographical information systems hardware, software, data 3
528	528	development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1 4
529	529	systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 5
530	530
531	531	1. mapping equipment; 6
532	532
533	533	2. interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and 7
534	534
535	535	3. geographical information systems base layer development 8
536	536	and management; 9
537	537
538	538	(iv) public safety answering point facilities costs, including access 10
539	539	control, security systems, and standby power; 11
540	540
541	541	(v) costs for public education materials; 12
542	542
543	543	(vi) the training of county personnel working in or directly 13
544	544	supporting a public safety answering point; 14
545	545
546	546	(vii) the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for 15
547	547	educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field; 16
548	548
549	549	(viii) costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 17
550	550	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services; 18
551	551
552	552	(ix) costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in § 19
553	553	1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle; and 20
554	554
555	555	(x) costs of telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation 21
556	556	training. 22
557	557
558	558	(3) Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection 23
559	559	may not be utilized for any purpose associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline. 24
560	560
561	561	(c) The 9–1–1 Trust Fund consists of: 25
562	562
563	563	(1) money from the 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to the Comptroller 26
564	564	under § 1–310 of this subtitle; 27
565	565
566	566	(2) money from the additional charge collected and remitted to the 28
567	567	Comptroller under § 1–311 of this subtitle; 29
568	568
569	569	(3) money from the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to 30 HOUSE BILL 1002 13
570	570
571	571
572	572	the Comptroller under § 1–313 of this subtitle; 1
573	573
574	574	(4) MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND FROM THE CONSUME R 2
575	575	FIREWORKS TAX UNDER §§ 2–1302.5 AND 11–104 OF THE TAX – GENERAL ARTICLE; 3
576	576	and 4
577	577
578	578	[(4)] (5) investment earnings of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 5
579	579
580	580	(d) Money in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund shall be held in the State Treasury. 6
581	581
582	582	(e) The Secretary shall administer the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, subject to the 7
583	583	guidelines for financial management and budgeting established by the Department of 8
584	584	Budget and Management. 9
585	585
586	586	(f) The Secretary shall direct the Comptroller to establish separate accounts in 10
587	587	the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for the payment of administrative expenses and for each county. 11
588	588
589	589	(g) (1) Any investment earnings shall be credited to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 12
590	590
591	591	(2) The Comptroller shall allocate the investment income among the 13
592	592	accounts in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, prorated on the basis of the total fees collected in each 14
593	593	county. 15
594	594
595	595	8–102. 16
596	596
597	597	(a) There is a Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund. 17
598	598
599	599	(b) The purposes of the Fund are to promote: 18
600	600
601	601	(1) the delivery of effective and high quality fire protection, rescue, and 19
602	602	ambulance services in the State; 20
603	603
604	604	(2) increased financial support for fire, rescue, and ambulance companies 21
605	605	by counties; and 22
606	606
607	607	(3) the continued financial viability of volunteer fire, rescue, and 23
608	608	ambulance companies given the greatly increased costs of equipment. 24
609	609
610	610	(c) (1) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 25
611	611
612	612	(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Secretary may adopt 26
613	613	procedures to carry out this subtitle, including additional auditing and reporting 27
614	614	requirements. 28
615	615
616	616	(3) The Secretary may not impose training or operational requirements as 29
617	617	a precondition to receipt of money, except as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle. 30
618	618	14 HOUSE BILL 1002
619	619
620	620
621	621	(d) The Fund consists of: 1
622	622
623	623	(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 2
624	624
625	625	(2) MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND FROM THE CONSUME R 3
626	626	FIREWORKS TAX UNDER §§ 2–1302.5 AND 11–104 OF THE TAX – GENERAL ARTICLE; 4
627	627	and 5
628	628
629	629	[(2)] (3) revenue distributed to the Fund under § 16–609 of the Business 6
630	630	Regulation Article. 7
631	631
632	632	(e) (1) As authorized by the Secretary, the Treasurer shall make payments out 8
633	633	of the Fund to each county on warrant of the Comptroller. 9
634	634
635	635	(2) The Treasurer shall make the payments required under this subsection 10
636	636	to the appropriate county on or about November 15. 11
637	637
638	638	(f) (1) State money provided under this section may only be used to: 12
639	639
640	640	(i) acquire or rehabilitate fire or rescue equipment, including 13
641	641	ambulances; 14
642	642
643	643	(ii) acquire or rehabilitate capital equipment used in connection with 15
644	644	fire or rescue equipment; 16
645	645
646	646	(iii) rehabilitate facilities used primarily to house fire fighting 17
647	647	equipment, ambulances, and rescue vehicles; 18
648	648
649	649	(iv) install life safety and fire protection systems at a fire, rescue, or 19
650	650	ambulance facility; 20
651	651
652	652	(v) acquire land for the purpose of rehabilitation or construction of a 21
653	653	fire, rescue, or ambulance facility; 22
654	654
655	655	(vi) acquire wireless telecommunications devices, computers, and 23
656	656	related computer equipment if used exclusively for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance 24
657	657	services; and 25
658	658
659	659	(vii) acquire machinery and equipment if used exclusively for fire 26
660	660	protection, rescue, and ambulance services. 27
661	661
662	662	(2) State money provided under this section may not be used: 28
663	663
664	664	(i) for administrative costs; 29
665	665
666	666	(ii) for compensation or fringe benefits to employees or members of 30
667	667	county governments, or fire, rescue, or ambulance companies; 31 HOUSE BILL 1002 15
668	668
669	669
670	670
671	671	(iii) for travel or meal expenses; 1
672	672
673	673	(iv) for fuel, utility, or routine maintenance costs of facilities or 2
674	674	equipment; 3
675	675
676	676	(v) to acquire new or replacement fire hydrants or water mains; 4
677	677
678	678	(vi) for insurance; 5
679	679
680	680	(vii) for fund–raising activities; 6
681	681
682	682	(viii) to replace or repair eligible items to the extent that insurance 7
683	683	proceeds are available; 8
684	684
685	685	(ix) for costs associated with the “9–1–1” emergency telephone 9
686	686	system; or 10
687	687
688	688	(x) for land or interests in land, except as provided in paragraph 11
689	689	(1)(v) of this subsection. 12
690	690
691	691	(g) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Governor shall include an annual 13
692	692	appropriation to the Fund of at least $16,500,000. 14
693	693
694	694	Article – Tax – General 15
695	695
696	696	2–1302.5. 16
697	697
698	698	AFTER MAKING THE DIST RIBUTIONS REQUIRED U NDER §§ 2–1301 THROUGH 17
699	699	2–1302.4 OF THIS SUBTITLE , OF THE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTED UNDER § 18
700	700	11–104(L) OF THIS ARTICLE FROM THE SALE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS, AS 19
701	701	DEFINED IN § 10–101 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, THE COMPTROLLER 20
702	702	QUARTERLY SHALL DIST RIBUTE: 21
703	703
704	704	(1) 31% TO THE 9–1–1 TRUST FUND UNDER § 1–308 OF THE PUBLIC 22
705	705	SAFETY ARTICLE; 23
706	706
707	707	(2) 31% TO THE SENATOR WILLIAM H. AMOSS FIRE, RESCUE, AND 24
708	708	AMBULANCE FUND UNDER § 8–102 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE; AND 25
709	709
710	710	(3) 38% TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 26
711	711
712	712	11–104. 27
713	713	16 HOUSE BILL 1002
714	714
715	715
716	716	(L) THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE FOR CONSUMER FI REWORKS, AS 1
717	717	DEFINED IN § 10–101 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, IS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 2
718	718	AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 16%. 3
719	719
720	720	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
721	721	October 1, 2025. 5