--- title: HB 614. Local government; prohibit use or ignition of consumer fireworks in proximity to certain facilities housing equines; authorize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb614 cite_as: HB 614, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb614 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb614.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb614/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70744 date: 2025-05-14 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb613.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb615.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1200 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb614.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 614 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-14 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Jan Jones - Brad Thomas - Charles Martin - Brandon Beach text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB614/2025 upstream_id: 1982161 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - fireworks regulation - local government authority - animal welfare - equine safety --- # HB 614. Local government; prohibit use or ignition of consumer fireworks in proximity to certain facilities housing equines; authorize ## Text 25 HB 614/AP House Bill 614 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Jones of the 47th, Thomas of the 21st, and Martin of the 49th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 25-10-2 of the Official Code of Georgia A nnotated, relating to1 prohibited fireworks activities and application of noise ordinances, so as to authorize local2 governments to prohibit the use or ignition of consumer firewor ks in proximity to certain3 facilities housing equines; to provide for special event permits; to provide for definitions; to4 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Code Section 25-10-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prohibited8 fireworks activities and application of noise ordinances, is am ended by adding a new9 subsection to read as follows:10 "(d)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'equine' shall have the same meaning as set11 forth in Code Section 2-8-121.12 (2) The governing authority of a county or municipal corporati on may adopt an13 ordinance prohibiting the use or ignition of consumer fireworks up to 200 yards from a14 facility housing equines in a confined area.15 H. B. 614 - 1 - 25 HB 614/AP (3) An ordinance adopted by the governing authority of a count y or municipal16 corporation pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection may in clude provisions17 authorizing the issuance by such governing authority of special event permits to allow the18 temporary use or ignition of consumer fireworks up to 200 yards from a facility housing19 equines in a confined area."20 SECTION 2.21 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.22 H. B. 614 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 614 lets Georgia counties and cities ban consumer fireworks within 200 yards of facilities where horses and other equines are confined, while allowing special event exceptions. ### Plain-language summary Current Georgia law regulates fireworks use but does not specifically address the effect of fireworks near horses and other equines kept in confined facilities such as stables or barns. This bill adds a new subsection to the state's fireworks law (O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2) giving local governments the option, not a requirement, to pass their own ordinance restricting fireworks near these animals. Under the bill, a county or municipal government may adopt an ordinance banning the use or ignition of consumer fireworks within 200 yards of a facility housing equines in a confined area. The term equine is defined by reference to another section of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 2-8-121). Local governments that adopt such an ordinance may also include a process for issuing special event permits, letting people temporarily use or ignite fireworks within that 200-yard zone for approved events. The bill repeals any conflicting laws. ### What it does - Authorizes, but does not require, county and municipal governments to adopt an ordinance banning consumer fireworks within 200 yards of a facility confining equines. - Defines 'equine' for this purpose by pointing to the definition already used in O.C.G.A. § 2-8-121. - Allows local governments that pass such an ordinance to also create a special event permit process letting people temporarily use fireworks within the restricted 200-yard zone. - Repeals any existing state or local laws that conflict with this new authority. ### Who it affects Local county and municipal governments, which gain new authority to regulate fireworks; owners and operators of stables, barns, and other facilities that confine horses or other equines; and residents or event organizers who use consumer fireworks near such facilities. ### Why it matters Loud fireworks can frighten horses and other confined equines, sometimes causing injury to the animals or people nearby. This bill gives local governments a tool to reduce that risk by restricting fireworks near stables, while still allowing exceptions for permitted special events like local celebrations. ### Key provisions - Section 1 adds new subsection (d) to O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2, defining 'equine' by reference to O.C.G.A. § 2-8-121. - Paragraph (d)(2) permits a county or municipal governing authority to adopt an ordinance prohibiting fireworks use or ignition within 200 yards of a confined equine facility. - Paragraph (d)(3) allows such an ordinance to include a special event permit process for temporary fireworks use within that 200-yard zone. - Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the new provisions. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-14) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-14) - Sponsors: Jan Jones, Brad Thomas, Charles Martin, Brandon Beach - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70744 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,200 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb614.md?full=1