ATLANTA – Local officials would have more leeway to decide when fireworks can be shot off under a proposal that nearly fizzled Wednesday in the Senate. 

“Everyone in this room knows when you bring up fireworks, there’s going to be fireworks,” Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, said to her colleagues. 

Georgians have been able to buy fireworks since lawmakers passed a law in 2015. But concerns about how those Roman candles and bottle rockets might be affecting veterans, pets and people with special needs led legislators to revisit the law.

Right now, Georgia residents can shoot off fireworks starting at 10 a.m. and through 9 p.m. on most days. They can go much later for New Year’s and July 4. 

But those broad timeframes have triggered complaints in some parts of the state, particularly in the urban areas. 

A proposed fix would preserve certain holidays for all-day and all-night fireworks fun while letting local governments pass noise ordinances with stricter rules on fireworks. Other cities and counties, meanwhile, could allow the revelry to go past 9 p.m.

“It’s not just something city officials are asking for but their constituents are asking for – for some more local control on fireworks,” said Amy Henderson, spokeswoman for the Georgia Municipal Association. “When neighbors are upset, they call their council member, their mayor, their police chief.”

In the proposal, Labor Day and Memorial Day weekend – but not the actual Memorial Day holiday – would be added to the list of holidays that city officials can’t touch. 

Debate whether fireworks should be allowed on Memorial Day nearly derailed the whole measure. 

“It’s an occasion of reverence,” Unterman said. “It’s not when you get out fireworks and go to the lake and have a good time and shoot fireworks off.”

But others disagreed.

“We celebrate occasions different ways, and one is with fireworks,” said Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga. 

Allowing fireworks during the Memorial Day weekend was a compromise. The proposal passed the Senate with a 47-to-4 vote and heads back to the House. 

Jill Nolin covers the Georgia Statehouse for The Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI’s newspapers and websites.