ST. PAUL – A proposal sponsored by State Representative Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) that would make it legal to use fireworks in Minnesota will soon be debated by the full Minnesota House.
Rarick's bill would allow Minnesotans to shoot off bottle rockets, firecrackers and other aerial fireworks around Independence Day.
"Minnesota's fireworks ban doesn’t stop one person from lighting a firecracker," Rarick said. "But it does prevent residents from exercising their freedoms and allowing our state to make some additional money."
Rarick's bill would allow aerial and audible devices to be sold and used from June 1 to July 10 each year. Only people above the age of 18 could make fireworks purchases. Local governments could charge an annual license fee to stores that want to sell fireworks and are able to prohibit them from being sold.
Rarick noted that some studies show that Minnesota loses roughly $5 million in sales tax revenue every year when people drive across the border to purchase fireworks.
As it stands today, Rarick said there is no official date for the fireworks bill to be debated on the House floor.