HB 1201: Fire protection; compliance with safety standards for smoke detectors; provide

Georgia law already requires smoke detectors in certain new dwellings and dwelling units (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-40). This bill adds a new requirement about the technical standard those smoke detectors must meet. Starting January 1, 2027, any smoke detector that is newly installed or replaced under this law must comply with UL 217, the Standard for Smoke Alarms, ninth edition (a widely used industry safety standard for smoke alarms), or a later edition adopted by rule or regulation. Then, starting January 1, 2028, every smoke detector covered by this law, not just newly installed or replaced ones, must meet that same standard. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but makes no other changes to the existing smoke detector requirements.

• Adds a new requirement to Georgia's smoke detector law (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-40) that detectors must meet the UL 217 ninth edition safety standard or a later approved edition.
• Sets January 1, 2027 as the deadline for newly installed or replaced smoke detectors to meet the standard.
• Sets a later deadline of January 1, 2028 for all smoke detectors covered by the law to meet the standard, giving a staggered compliance period.
• Allows the compliance standard to be updated in the future through rule or regulation without needing a new law, since later editions of UL 217 are automatically included.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new requirement.

The bill affects owners and builders of new dwellings and dwelling units covered by Georgia's smoke detector law, as well as anyone who installs or replaces smoke detectors in those properties after the effective dates. It also affects manufacturers and sellers of smoke detectors sold for use in Georgia.

Georgians covered by this law would need to make sure any smoke detectors installed or replaced after January 1, 2027 meet a specific safety standard, and that all covered detectors meet it by 2028. This could affect which products are available or required for compliance in new construction.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 25-2-40 by adding paragraph (4) to subsection (a), creating the new compliance requirement.
• The new rule applies to smoke detectors 'provided for in this subsection,' meaning it is tied to the existing categories of new dwellings and dwelling units already covered by the law.
• Compliance is phased in two steps: newly installed or replaced detectors must comply starting January 1, 2027, and all covered detectors must comply starting January 1, 2028.
• The standard referenced is UL 217, the Standard for Smoke Alarms, ninth edition, with future editions allowed if adopted by rule or regulation.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard provision that does not itself change specific existing statutes.

1. 2026-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-03House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-03House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-24House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-02-09House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-06House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-05House Hopper (House)

• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)Primary sponsor
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2026

   166 yea, 1 nay (8 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #588

• fire safety
• smoke detectors
• home construction rules
• building codes