Nebraska May Require Home Carbon Monoxide Detectors

An increase in carbon monoxide poisoning calls last year could prompt Nebraska lawmakers to require alarms in homes and apartments.

A bill set for a legislative hearing Thursday would add Nebraska to a growing list of states that require the devices in addition to smoke alarms.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center received 167 carbon monoxide calls in 2014. That’s up from 107 calls the previous year. Kathy Jacobitz, the group’s managing director, says the detectors are an important safety device.

The bill by Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha would require carbon monoxide detectors in any home or apartment sold, rented or issued a building permit after Jan. 1, 2017. Howard says she introduced it in response to past carbon monoxide deaths in Nebraska.