S.B. 3194 Summary

• Establishes an expedited adjudication system for fireworks infractions by incorporating them into the existing traffic and emergency order citation system under Chapter 291D.

• Increases penalties for fireworks violations, including raising the general fine from $2,000 to $5,000 and elevating removal of pyrotechnic contents from misdemeanor to class C felony; clarifies that each aerial device or display firework weighing 25 pounds or less constitutes a separate violation.

• Authorizes the sheriff division of the Department of Public Safety to assist counties in enforcing the fireworks control law and expands probable cause standards to include witness statements and video evidence, including unmanned aerial vehicle recordings.

• Requires the Attorney General to establish an explosion detection technology working group to study feasibility of deploying technologies like ShotSpotter for detecting illegal fireworks and gunfire in counties with populations exceeding 500,000.

• Requires the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a statewide web-based reporting tool for illegal fireworks with anonymous reporting, GPS location mapping, photo/video upload, and law enforcement access to data for targeted enforcement.