Wis. State Assembly To Vote on Allowing Christmas Trees In Churches

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly is set to vote on a bill prohibiting government officials from banning live Christmas trees in churches and the state Capitol rotunda.

National Fire Protection Association guidelines call for banning live Christmas trees in places where 50 people or more gather. But the guidelines also allow limited quantities of combustible vegetation if local fire officials decide adequate safeguards are in place.

Under the bill, the state and municipal governments would be forbidden from passing any rules or ordinances prohibiting the seasonal placement of Christmas trees in the Capitol rotunda or in a church. Trees in the rotunda and churches would be presumed to be safe during fire inspections.

The Assembly was scheduled to vote on the bill during a session set to begin Tuesday afternoon.

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