BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 554 By: Leo Wilson Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that constituents in House District 23 have called for fireworks to be allowed to be sold to the public for the celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. H.B. 554 seeks to address this issue by providing for such sale if approved by a county commissioners court. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 554 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a retail fireworks permit holder to sell fireworks to the public for the Juneteenth holiday during the period beginning June 14 and ending at midnight on June 19 in a county in which the commissioners court has approved the sale of fireworks during the period. H.B. 554 amends the Local Government Code to require the Texas A&M Forest Service to make its services available each day during the Juneteenth holiday fireworks season to respond to a county request to determine whether drought conditions exist on average in the county. The bill sets an annual deadline of before June 1 by which the county commissioners court must adopt an order prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the county's unincorporated area based on a drought determination for that fireworks season. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 554
By: Leo Wilson
Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 554
By: Leo Wilson
Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that constituents in House District 23 have called for fireworks to be allowed to be sold to the public for the celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. H.B. 554 seeks to address this issue by providing for such sale if approved by a county commissioners court.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 554 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a retail fireworks permit holder to sell fireworks to the public for the Juneteenth holiday during the period beginning June 14 and ending at midnight on June 19 in a county in which the commissioners court has approved the sale of fireworks during the period. H.B. 554 amends the Local Government Code to require the Texas A&M Forest Service to make its services available each day during the Juneteenth holiday fireworks season to respond to a county request to determine whether drought conditions exist on average in the county. The bill sets an annual deadline of before June 1 by which the county commissioners court must adopt an order prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the county's unincorporated area based on a drought determination for that fireworks season.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that constituents in House District 23 have called for fireworks to be allowed to be sold to the public for the celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. H.B. 554 seeks to address this issue by providing for such sale if approved by a county commissioners court.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 554 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a retail fireworks permit holder to sell fireworks to the public for the Juneteenth holiday during the period beginning June 14 and ending at midnight on June 19 in a county in which the commissioners court has approved the sale of fireworks during the period.
H.B. 554 amends the Local Government Code to require the Texas A&M Forest Service to make its services available each day during the Juneteenth holiday fireworks season to respond to a county request to determine whether drought conditions exist on average in the county. The bill sets an annual deadline of before June 1 by which the county commissioners court must adopt an order prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the county's unincorporated area based on a drought determination for that fireworks season.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.