Committee advances updates to dig law; manual-probing definition removed for further work

The House Commerce Committee reported House Bill 392, sponsored by Representative Saint Blanc, with amendments to strengthen Louisiana’s underground utilities and facilities damage-prevention law (the “dig law”). The bill updates definitions and procedures for excavation and demolition and adds requirements intended to reduce damage to underground facilities during broadband and other construction projects.

Representative Saint Blanc described the bill as the product of the Dig Law Advisory Committee, a stakeholder group that includes electric and gas utilities, pipeline operators, telecommunication companies, water and sewer providers, contractors, home builders, engineering groups and state partners such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Pipeline…