In 1984, the "Cigarette Safety Act" was passed, establishing a 15 member technical study group to oversee the feasibility of developing a fire-safe cigarette.

In 1987, the Technical Study Group released a final report stating the feasibility of producing a cigarette with reduced ability to ignite upholstered furniture, which would not be expensive.

In 1990, the Fire Safe Cigarette Act was passed which mandated the Center for Fire Research to develop a method for testing cigarette fire safety.

In 1999, in the absence of any further legislative progress, a Fire Safe Cigarette Act was passed requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a cigarette fire safety standard which would be mandated.