MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota public health officials hope a law change involving radon reporting will spur more buyers and sellers to test for the radioactive gas.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports (http://bit.ly/1ezUf66 ) sellers currently have to report whether they are aware of a radon problem in their home. Starting January 1, sellers will be asked more specifically if their home has ever been tested for the toxic gas.

The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that long-term exposure to the gas kills 700 people each year in the state.

Minnesota’s new disclosure law is modeled after legislation enacted nearly six years ago by Illinois lawmakers. Since then, Illinois has seen a four to five fold increase in the number of radon tests conducted in the state, and radon mitigations have doubled.