LANDLORD; CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS        S.B. 515 (S-1):

        SUMMARY OF BILL

        REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 515 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Stephanie Chang

Committee: Housing and Human Services

 

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the landlord-tenant Act to require a landlord to install at least one operational carbon monoxide device in every rental unit that had a fuel-fired appliance or was adjacent to an enclosed garage.

 

MCL 554.601e

 

BRIEF RATIONALE

 

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces and cars, may produce. At high concentrations, carbon monoxide can be fatal. In 2023, out of 481 cases of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning across the State, 31 resulted in death.¹ Some believe that renters are at a greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning because landlords, not renters themselves, are responsible for the installation and upkeep of carbon monoxide detectors. A negligent landlord may endanger a renter as a result. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the State require landlords to install carbon monoxide detectors in rental units that contain a fuel-burning appliance or a garage.

 

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)

 

The bill is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 979 of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session.

 

        Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and would likely have a small positive fiscal impact on local government units through fines for a failure to install a carbon monoxide device. The bill could have a positive fiscal impact on the State and local units of government. The bill would impose a civil fine of up to $500. Revenue collected from civil fines is used to support local libraries. Additionally, $10 of the civil fine would be deposited into the State Justice System Fund. This Fund supports justice-related activities across State government in the Departments of Corrections, Health and Human Services, State Police, and Treasury. The Fund also supports justice-related issues in the Legislative Retirement System and the Judiciary. The amount of revenue to the State or for local libraries is indeterminate and dependent on the actual number of violations.

 

Date Completed: 10-22-25        Fiscal Analyst: Bobby Canell

        Joe Carrasco, Jr.

floor\sb515                Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.