Christie vetoes bill requiring sprinklers in new homes

(AP) - Gov. Chris Christie has conditionally vetoed legislation requiring sprinkler systems in all new home construction.
Christie announced the decision on Thursday. He says that mandating sprinkler installation would increase the cost of new homes by thousands of dollars.
The bill was first introduced in January 2014 but passed both houses of the Legislature in March after a January apartment fire in Edgewater left about 500 residents homeless.
Instead, he's calling on the state government to analyze whether sprinklers would be appropriate in townhouses, where the cost may be lower.
In a statement accompanying his veto, Christie says he's concerned with the bill's inflexibility and adds that different buildings have different needs.