S257 - 2026 Appropriations Act. (SL 2026-41)

• Study issues related to the regulation of fireworks in the State, and whether the categories of fireworks permitted for sale, transport, possession, and use within the State should be expanded. The study must address the following: public safety and emergency services, regulatory framework and retail licensing, consumer safety, local government authority, economic and fiscal impact, funding mechanisms for public safety and education, comparison to other states, and any other relevant issues.
• In conducting the study, consult with a broad group of stakeholders, including the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the North Carolina Forest Service; representatives from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and the North Carolina League of Municipalities; emergency room physicians, first responders, and representatives from the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; representatives from the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association, and the consumer fireworks industry; and any other stakeholders deemed relevant by the Collaboratory.
• Provide its study and any proposed recommendations or draft legislation to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government on or before July 4, 2027.

This section became effective July 1, 2026.