Lawmakers in Michigan are pushing a bill that would require carbon monoxide detectors in all hotels.
The death of Bryan Douglass Watts at a Niles hotel, which became a national news story, has inspired the legislation in Lansing. The bipartisan bill was written by Republican Representative Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs, and one of his Democratic State Senate colleagues.
Such detectors are already a requirement in newer buildings, but older structures have been exempt. The wording of the Michigan legislation would remove that exemption.
The Quality Inn on 11th Street in Niles is an example of an older building that was not required to meet that standard.
Both of Michigan’s Regulatory Reform Committees are looking over the language. Thirteen states already have a similar law on the books.
