Wisconsin

Status of Legislation to Ban or Limit the Sale of Novelty and Toylike Lighters

Wisconsin has introduced legislation banning or limiting the sale of novelty and toylike lighters.

2012 Legislative Session

Feb 23: Senator Julie Lassa introduced Senate Bill 509 which prohibits the retail sale of novelty lighters to minors and prohibits the display for retail sale of novelty lighters in an area of a retail establishment that is accessible to the general public. After being introduced, the Bill was read for the first time and sent to the committee on Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection.

• Read Senate Bill 509

2011 Legislative Session

Apr 25: The fiscal estimate for Assembly Bill 83 was submitted.

Apr 7: Wisconsin Assembly Bill 83 was filed and introduced to the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs by Amy Sue Vruwink in the Wisconsin Assembly. Wisconsin Assembly Bill 83 prohibits the retail sale of novelty lighters to minors and prohibits the display for retail sale of novelty lighters in an area of a retail establishment that is accessible to the general public.

• Read Bill (PDF, 46 Kb, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help)

2010 Legislative Session

Jun 1: A group of Pittsville Elementary School students was partially successful in trying to get Wisconsin to ban the sale of toy-shaped lighters to children. The students persuaded central Wisconsin lawmakers to draft a bill that would outlaw the practice. The students in Londa Kuehn's second grade class wanted to keep novelty lighters - the kind shaped like toys, vehicles and tiny guns - from being sold to children. With the help of Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor, the class sent the idea to the Wisconsin State Legislature, where it became Assembly Bill 890. Unfortunately, the 2010 Legislative session ended without the proposal becoming law.

• Read Bill (PDF, 18 Kb, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help)