SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1285

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 19, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1285.

      As reported by the committee, this bill requires the installation of fuel gas sensor devices, as defined in the bill, in certain residential dwelling units and hotels, including those dwelling units:

     (1) in a building with fewer than three dwelling units requiring a certificate of occupancy or upon the sale, lease, or other permit of occupancy;

     (2) subject to the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law;” and

     (3) in rooming and boarding houses.

     Under the bill, dwelling units subject to the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law” as well as dwelling units in rooming or boarding houses would be subject to certain inspections by the local code enforcing agency under the Uniform Fire Code, as specified in the bill.  A local enforcing agency that finds any deficient smoke detectors or carbon monoxide sensor device is to require the immediate repair or replacement of the device. 

     Upon the first inspection of a dwelling unit following the effective date of the bill, the local enforcing agency is to require the installation of one or more fuel gas sensor devices and include such devices in subsequent inspections.  However, the installation of fuel gas sensor devices may be deferred to the second required inspection if the local enforcing agency determines that existing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide sensor devices have sufficient remaining battery life and functional integrity upon the first change-in-occupancy inspection required by the bill. 

     An individual device that functions as both a carbon monoxide sensor device and a fuel gas sensor device would satisfy the requirements of the bill. 

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.