HB1899

Regular Session

Relating to the required age for a license or permit relating to the conduct of a public fireworks display.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-05-28

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Insurance • State Fire Marshal's Office

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: May 28, 2025 (Immediate). The bill secured a two-thirds supermajority, overriding the standard September 1 implementation date.
Compliance Deadline: Immediate. Operators may begin submitting license applications for individuals aged 18–20 to the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) today.
Agency Rulemaking: The SFMO must update licensing forms to reflect the age change. However, you are not required to wait for new forms; submit current applications with proof of age. Watch for potential emergency rules regarding experience verification for this new age demographic.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Contact Insurance Broker: Confirm immediately that your carrier will cover licensed operators aged 18–20. Do not assume coverage exists.
2. Audit Contracts: Review upcoming July 4th contracts for age-restrictive clauses and request amendments where necessary.
3. Submit Licenses: Direct HR to process State Fire Marshal applications for qualified staff aged 18–20 immediately to clear the queue before July.
4. Update Safety Protocols: Revise safety manuals to ensure mentorship protocols are in place for the new, younger operator class.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Critical Review Required. You must audit existing Master Service Agreements (MSAs) with venues, municipalities, and event promoters.

Many standard industry contracts contain boilerplate language requiring all lead personnel to be 21+.
Action: If your contract stipulates 21+, you cannot deploy a newly licensed 18-year-old without executing a contract amendment, regardless of the change in state law.

Hiring/Training

Recruitment: Update job descriptions to lower the age requirement to 18.
Internal Promotion: Identify current assistants aged 18–20 who meet the technical experience requirements and sponsor their licensure immediately.
Supervision: Implement a "shadowing" period for new operators under 21. While legally licensed, deploying an 18-year-old as a solo lead on a high-risk display invites heightened scrutiny in the event of an accident.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Training Logs: Maintain meticulous training records. In the event of an incident involving a younger operator, these logs will be the primary defense to prove competency beyond statutory age compliance.
ATF Compliance: Verify that "Responsible Person" designations on your Federal Explosives License (FEL) do not conflict with deploying operators under 21 for transport/possession duties.

Fees & Costs

No Fee Changes: The legislation does not alter current licensing fees.
Insurance Premiums: Consult your broker. Adding younger operators to your liability policy may trigger premium adjustments or require specific endorsements.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Insurance Exclusions: State law does not override insurance policy exclusions. If your Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy explicitly excludes operators under 21, you are exposed to uninsured liability until the policy is endorsed.
Municipal Preemption: While the state sets the license age, local Fire Marshals (AHJs) may attempt to enforce stricter local ordinances or permit requirements retaining the 21+ standard. Be prepared to challenge this or negotiate during the permitting process.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsSafety Safety--fireworks Minors Minors--health & Safety Permits

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1899

By: Longoria

Insurance

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a person must be 21 years of age or older to obtain a pyrotechnic operator's license or a public fireworks display permit. However, the bill author has informed the committee that due to the seasonal nature and relatively low pay, these roles are challenging to fill, with local small businesses struggling to find workers interested in these roles, and an age requirement that further shrinks a limited pool of candidates from which these businesses can hire. Further, 18-year-olds are treated as adults in many instances, such as being able to sign for loans, join the military, being convicted of crimes and punished as adults, and purchasing assault rifles. C.S.H.B. 1899 seeks to address this issue by lowering the age requirement for obtaining a pyrotechnic operator's license and a public fireworks display permit from 21 to 18, thereby broadening the pool of candidates for employment.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1899 amends the Occupations Code to lower the age at which a person may be issued a pyrotechnic operator's license and a public fireworks display permit from 21 years of age to 18 years of age.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1899 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced lowering the age at which a person may be issued a pyrotechnic operator's license from 21 years of age to 18 years of age.

House Authors

Rep. Oscar LongoriaDemocrat · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Adam HinojosaRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1899

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the required age for a license or permit relating to the
	conduct of a public fireworks display.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 2154.101(b), Occupations Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(b) A person who is younger than 18 [21] years of age may not
	be issued a [~~pyrotechnic operator's license. The minimum age of a~~
	~~person issued another~~] license under Subchapter D [~~is 18 years of~~
	~~age~~].
	SECTION 2. Section 2154.201(a), Occupations Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a) [~~A person who is younger than 21 years of age may not be~~
	~~issued a public fireworks display permit.~~] A person who is younger
	than 18 years of age may not be issued a [~~another~~] permit under this
	subchapter.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 7, 2025

TO:	Honorable Jay Dean, Chair, House Committee on Insurance

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1899 by Longoria (Relating to the required age for a public fireworks display permit.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

313 Department of Information Resources, 454 Department of Insurance

LBB Staff:

JMc, AAL, BFa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1899

What does Texas HB1899 do?

HB1899 immediately reduces the minimum age for Pyrotechnic Operator Licenses and Public Fireworks Display Permits from 21 to 18 years of age. This legislation effectively expands the eligible labor pool for lead operators ahead of the July 4th season, but requires immediate verification of insurance coverage and client contract terms to avoid liability gaps. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: May 28, 2025 (Immediate).

Who authored HB1899?

HB1899 was authored by Texas Representative Oscar Longoria during the Regular Session.

When was HB1899 signed into law?

HB1899 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 28, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1899?

HB1899 is enforced by Texas Department of Insurance and State Fire Marshal's Office.

How urgent is compliance with HB1899?

The compliance urgency for HB1899 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1899?

The cost impact of HB1899 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1899 address?

HB1899 addresses topics including safety, safety--fireworks, minors, minors--health & safety and permits.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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