FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- At the end of March, Governor Christine Gregoire signed a bill that requires cigarette companies to meet criteria that makes the cigarettes they produce less flammable in order to be sold in Washington, with the exception of tribal land.

The fire-safe cigarette has significantly less propensity to ignite bedding, couches and chairs when carelessly discarded or left burning, a news release said Wednesday.

Cigarette companies have until August 1, 2009, to make the design changes, which includes the use of less dense tobacco and a smaller diameter, filter tip and no added nitrates to the paper. If a fire-safe cigarette is left unattended, the burning tobacco will reach one of the "speed bumps" and self-extinguish.

Washington is the 23rd state to adopt the legislation.