Law changes taking effect in Qld on Jan 1

QUEENSLAND LAW CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1:

* Every Queensland home will be fitted with interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms under a 10-year rollout of changes recommended by a coroner. The law, passed in August, followed an inquest into Australia's worst fatal house fire that claimed 11 lives at Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, in August 2011.

* Fuel sellers will be required to meet targets for the sale of ethanol-blended petrol and bio-based diesel.

* Electricity rebates will help 157,000 extra Queensland families with a health care card save $330 a year.

* Prep will become compulsory.

* Increased protections for coal miners against black lung disease will come into play after it re-emerged.