SB996

Regular Session

Relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks permit holders on certain dates.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

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: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: July 5, 2026 (Operational execution date)
Agency Rulemaking: None anticipated. The statute is self-executing and expires automatically on September 1, 2026.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit Insurance: Contact your broker to confirm your 2026 liability policy covers operations through July 6, 2026.
2. Amend Leases: Execute lease addendums for all temporary stand locations to extend the occupancy term.
3. Update Logistics: Notify distributors that inventory returns/load-outs normally scheduled for July 5 must be pushed to July 6.
4. Force Majeure Review: Ensure vendor contracts include clauses releasing you from payment obligations if a county drought ban prohibits sales on this specific date.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Commercial Leases: You must amend land leases immediately. Most standard fireworks stand leases terminate occupancy on July 4 or the morning of July 5. You are in breach of contract if you operate on July 5 without a lease addendum extending "Right of Entry" and "Sales Operations" through July 6 (to allow for load-out).
Insurance Policies: Review General Liability and Product Liability policies. If your policy period is defined as June 24–July 4, you are uninsured for operations on July 5. Endorsements must be secured to cover the extended window.

Hiring/Training

Labor Scheduling: Shift schedules for temporary staff and site managers must be extended. Do not schedule termination or final payout for July 5; push these administrative tasks to July 6 or later.
Security: Extend contracts for overnight security and traffic control vendors to cover the night of July 5.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Sales Logs: Maintain distinct sales records for July 5, 2026. In the event of an audit by the State Fire Marshal, you must be able to prove that transactions occurring after the standard July 4 deadline fell specifically within this one-time statutory window.

Fees & Costs

No New State Fees: There are no additional permit fees required to utilize this extension.
Operational Costs: Budget for one additional day of pro-rated rent, insurance premiums, labor, and generator fuel.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Local Drought Bans: This statute authorizes sales but does not override Local Government Code § 352.051. If a County Commissioners Court issues a fireworks ban due to drought conditions in June 2026, that ban supersedes SB996. Do not purchase inventory assuming a guaranteed right to sell if environmental conditions are adverse.
Municipal Ordinances: This law does not grant authority to sell within city limits where fireworks are prohibited by municipal ordinance.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsSafety Safety--fireworks Business & Commerce Business & Commerce--general

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 996
89R9078 PRL-D	By: Nichols
	Local Government
	3/21/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of American Independence Day. Current statute only permits Texans to purchase fireworks from June 24 until 11:59 p.m. on July 4. Because July 4, 2026, falls on a Saturday, Texans would only be able to purchase fireworks for half of the weekend in accordance with state law.

S.B. 996 amends this by allowing the purchasing of fireworks to be extended until 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 2026, so that Texans may be able to celebrate 250 years of American independence for the entire weekend. This addition to the Occupations Code is only applicable for the year 2026, and would not affect the sale of fireworks on American Independence Day at any other time.

As proposed, S.B. 996 amends current law relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks permit holders on certain dates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2154.202, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (g-1), as follows:

(g-1) Provides that a retail fireworks permit holder, notwithstanding Subsection (g) (relating to providing that a retail fireworks permit holder is authorized to sell fireworks only to the public, and only during certain periods), is authorized to sell fireworks only to the public during the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 5, 2026, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 2026. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2026.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Robert NicholsRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsors

Rep. Cecil BellRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Cosponsors (1)

Katrina Pierson (R)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 996

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks
	permit holders on certain dates.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 2154.202, Occupations Code, is amended
	by adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows:
	(g-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (g), a retail fireworks
	permit holder may sell fireworks only to the public during the
	period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 5, 2026, and ending at 11:59
	p.m. on July 5, 2026. This subsection expires September 1, 2026.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 23, 2025

TO:	Honorable Paul Bettencourt, Chair, Senate Committee on Local Government

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB996 by Nichols (Relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks permit holders on certain dates.), 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:

454 Department of Insurance

LBB Staff:

JMc, SZ, BFa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB996

What does Texas SB996 do?

SB996 authorizes a one-time statutory exception allowing retail fireworks permit holders to conduct sales on July 5, 2026. This legislation impacts all retail permit holders, distributors, and associated vendors by extending the standard July 4th sales window by 24 hours for the 2026 season only. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: July 5, 2026 (Operational execution date) Agency Rulemaking: None anticipated.

Who authored SB996?

SB996 was authored by Texas Senator Robert Nichols during the Regular Session.

When was SB996 signed into law?

SB996 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 24, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB996?

SB996 is enforced by Texas Department of Insurance and State Fire Marshal's Office.

How urgent is compliance with SB996?

The compliance urgency for SB996 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB996?

The cost impact of SB996 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB996 address?

SB996 addresses topics including safety, safety--fireworks, business & commerce and business & commerce--general.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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