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Senate passes reduced-ignition cigarette bill to curb fire risk, 24-2
Summary
Lawmakers approved SB200, a reduced-ignition-propensity cigarette and firefighter-protection measure, citing state cigarette-fire statistics and requiring ASTM-compliant cigarettes, manufacturer certification, labeling, and penalties; passed the Senate and was referred to the House.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 200, the Reduced Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act, on a final vote and referred it to the House.
Sponsor Sen. Maine told colleagues the measure mirrors laws in several states and regions and cited data presented to the body: between 1995 and February 2005 Utah fire departments responded to about 23,800 fires, of which 2,122 were attributed to smoking as the main ignition source; smoking-related fires accounted for civilian fatalities and millions of dollars in direct property loss. Maine cited national estimates from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Public Service Research Institute of roughly $4 billion in annual direct societal costs from cigarette-ignited fires.
SB200 establishes flammability criteria for cigarettes sold in Utah that align with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, requires manufacturers to certify compliance, permits labeling to indicate compliance, and sets penalties for noncompliance. The sponsor offered amendment #2 (per the attorney general's guidance returning language to original bill text), which the Senate adopted before final passage.
Sen. Butters and others spoke in favor of the bill, describing it as widely supported by health and safety groups and firefighter organizations; the bill passed on final passage with 24 yes and 2 no votes and 3 absences.
What comes next: The bill is referred to the House for its consideration; if enacted, manufacturers selling cigarettes in Utah would need to certify compliance and packaging could indicate that certification.
