Bill Text: MS SB2210 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Fireworks; revise dates of sale and reduce violation to misdemeanor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-20 - Referred To Judiciary, Division B [SB2210 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SB2210-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division B
By: Senator(s) Rhodes
Senate Bill 2210
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-13-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DATE DURING WHICH FIREWORKS MAY BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE AT RETAIL; TO AMEND SECTION 45-13-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE THE CRIME OF VIOLATING ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 13, TITLE 45 FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 45-13-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
45-13-9. No fireworks shall
be sold or offered for sale at retail before the * * * twenty-third
day of * * * May and after the * * * twelfth
day of July and before the fifth day of December and after the * * * ninth
day of January of each year. No fireworks shall be sold to any person under
the age of twelve (12) years. It shall be unlawful to ignite or discharge
fireworks of any type within six hundred (600) feet of any church, hospital or
school, or within seventy-five (75) feet of where fireworks are stored or
offered for sale. It shall also be unlawful to ignite or discharge the same
within or throw the same from or into or at any motor vehicle.
SECTION 2. Section 45-13-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
45-13-15. Any person, firm,
partnership or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be
guilty of a * * *
misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisonment in the county jail * * * not to exceed one (1)
year. In addition to said criminal penalties, any person, firm, partnership or
corporation violating any provision of this article shall be responsible for
any and all injuries, deaths and property damage caused by or resulting from
illegal fireworks sold by such person, firm, partnership or corporation which
is prohibited by this article within the State of Mississippi, and any injured
person or his legal representatives, shall have a right to bring a civil action
against the dealer, distributor or manufacturer or person who sold said
fireworks, whether said dealer, distributor or manufacturer or person be
located in this state or not. Any dealer, distributor or manufacturer or
person located outside of this state who shall sell fireworks in Mississippi
shall make, constitute and appoint the Secretary of State as their lawful agent
for service of process in any civil proceeding brought under the provisions of
this article, to recover all damages caused or resulting from the sale of any
fireworks prohibited by this article.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
