The Texas legislature recently passed a bill that would require smoke detectors in all new homes sold in the state starting in 2008.
Several Texas cities have already implemented part of the law. In Port Lavaca, homeowners are not required to have smoke detectors in their homes, but owners of rental property and newly constructed property are required to have the detectors, according to a report in the Victoria Advocate.
In cities such as Victoria, any dwelling that is built in the city requires smoke detectors in most rooms, including bathrooms, hallways and the living room, Victoria Fire Marshall Stuart Sherman told the newspaper.
Someone leasing a private home would not be covered under the fire code; however, they will be covered by the civil law in Texas starting the new year.
