H.B. No. 608
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the sale of fireworks before and during the Diwali
  holiday.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2154.202(h), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (h)  In addition to the periods during which the sale of
  fireworks is authorized under Subsection (g), the commissioners
  court of a county by order may allow a retail fireworks permit
  holder to sell fireworks in that county only to the public and only
  during one or more of the following periods:
               (1)  beginning February 25 and ending at midnight on
  March 2;
               (2)  beginning April 16 and ending at midnight on April
  21; [and]
               (3)  beginning the Wednesday before the last Monday in
  May and ending at midnight on the last Monday in May; and
               (4)  beginning five days before the first day of Diwali
  and ending at midnight on the last day of Diwali.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 352.051(b) and (d), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)(1)  The Texas A&M Forest Service in the ordinary course
  of its activities shall determine whether drought conditions, as
  defined under Subsection (a)(2), exist on average in any county
  requesting such a determination. The Texas A&M Forest Service
  shall make available the measurement index guidelines used to
  determine whether drought conditions exist in a particular area.
  Following any determination that such drought conditions exist, the
  Texas A&M Forest Service shall notify said county or counties when
  such drought conditions no longer exist. The Texas A&M Forest
  Service shall make its services available each day during the Texas
  Independence Day, San Jacinto Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July,
  Diwali, and December fireworks seasons to respond to the request of
  any county for a determination whether drought conditions exist on
  average in the county.
               (2)  The Texas A&M Forest Service shall be allowed to
  take such donations of equipment or funds as necessary to aid in the
  carrying out of this section.
         (d)  To facilitate compliance with an order adopted under
  Subsection (c), the order must be adopted before:
               (1)  February 15 of each year for the Texas
  Independence Day fireworks season;
               (2)  April 1 of each year for the San Jacinto Day
  fireworks season;
               (3)  April 25 of each year for the Cinco de Mayo
  fireworks season;
               (4)  May 15 of each year for the Memorial Day fireworks
  season;
               (5)  June 15 of each year for the Fourth of July
  fireworks season; [and]
               (6)  15 days before the beginning of Diwali for the
  Diwali fireworks season; and
               (7)  December 15 of each year for each December
  fireworks season.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 608 was passed by the House on March
  29, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 8, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 608 was passed by the Senate on May
  17, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor