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Utilities committee backs substitute for House Bill 752, imposes 21‑day limit on ground markings
Summary
The House Committee on Utilities voted unanimously to recommend a committee substitute for House Bill 752, adopting a 21‑day shelf life for ground markings used to locate underground utilities, revising board membership, and removing a contractor reporting requirement.
The House Committee on Utilities voted unanimously to recommend the committee substitute for House Bill 752 "do pass," approving technical and procedural changes that affect how excavations and underground utilities are located.
Representative Hurlburt, the bill sponsor in committee, told members the substitute adds a 21‑day shelf life for markings placed on the ground to indicate buried utilities, requires remarking after 21 days, and aligns the state with “best practices across the country.” He also said the substitute creates a carve‑out for storm and sanitary sewer mains and changes the board composition from four excavators to three excavators and one locator. "It adds a 21 day shelf life to the markings on the ground," Hurlburt said.
The substitute also deletes a provision (section 3319026) that would have required contractors to report damage to underground lines through a damage‑information reporting tool. Hurlburt said 811 — the state damage prevention organization referenced in committee — did not consider the reporting system ready for mandatory use, and both excavators and 811 agreed to remove that section.
Chairman Bromley moved the committee substitute be recommended "do pass." After the roll call the clerk recorded 20 ayes, 0 noes; five members were absent at points earlier in the session but the roll as recorded during the vote showed 20 yes votes and no votes against. Committee minutes show the substitute was adopted and the committee voted to report the bill with a do‑pass recommendation.
Committee members asked no further substantive questions after Hurlburt summarized the changes; the chair called the roll and the clerk announced the motion carried. The committee’s action forwards the House Committee substitute for House Bill 752 to the next step in the legislative process.
The committee did not adopt any reported amendments during the meeting and no additional directions to staff were recorded.
