HB 956 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

FIRE PROTECT/FIRE MARSHAL: Provides relative to fireworks

HB 956 amends Louisiana's fireworks laws to enhance safety through stricter licensing, definitions, and permit requirements. It restricts retail sales to only 1.4G fireworks (per national safety standards), requires all public displays (like concerts or events) to obtain permits from the state fire marshal (costing $200), and mandates that operators - such as those managing indoor "proximate displays" - hold specialized licenses ($52,000 for new special effects operators). The bill also requires $1 million in insurance for display permits, enforces NFPA storage rules for fireworks, and bans specific high-risk items like cherry bombs or large firecrackers. These changes directly affect retailers, event organizers, and fireworks operators by increasing regulatory oversight and costs.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed Jun 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2874, Reese, Adopted → HB956 Act 857 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-enrolled as Act 857, formalizing the legislative text after Senate amendments. The most significant substantive change is the reorganization of definitions to clearly distinguish between a 'pyrotechnic operator' (for 1.3G/1.4G displays) and a 'pyrotechnic special effects operator' (for proximate displays involving 1.3G, 1.4G, and 1.4S). Additionally, the licensing fee for operators was increased from $250 to $520, and the text was updated to explicitly reference the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) standards.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on regulating fireworks sales, possession, and public displays in Louisiana, but the definitions now more strictly separate the roles of operators based on the specific types of fireworks (1.4S) they are authorized to handle.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'pyrotechnic special effects operator' to distinguish them from standard 'pyrotechnic operators' based on the complexity of fireworks (specifically including 1.4S) they manage.

Updated the definition of 'public display' to explicitly include compliance with American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1A.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the licensing fee for pyrotechnic operators and special effects operators from $250 to $520.

Clarified that 'proximate displays' do not include indoor displays or private viewing by retail consumers.

Floor votes · Senate May 13, 2026 · House Apr 13, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 40

May 13, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

24 Yea 4

85% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

lower

Jun 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 1 nays.

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 92, nays 4. Having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the Conference Committee Report was adopted.

lower

Jun 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee report received.

lower

May 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

upper

May 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate conference committee members appointed: Luneau, Owen, and Reese.

upper

May 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 85, nays 11. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (13-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Commerce.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors