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Committee reviews modernization of ‘call before you dig’ law, including online portal and positive-response system

2678655 · March 18, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Environment & Energy Committee received a staff briefing and stakeholder testimony on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5627, which would modernize the state’s underground utility damage prevention law.

The Environment & Energy Committee received a staff briefing and stakeholder testimony on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5627, a package of updates to the state Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (the “call before you dig” law) intended to improve worker and public safety and to modernize locate services.

Staff described multiple changes the bill would make, including a requirement that the statewide locator service maintain a free, web-based platform equivalent to the toll-free 811 phone number; a positive-response system that confirms which facility operators have responded to a locate request; provisions for marking excavation areas with white lining or flags; requirements for design locating within 700 feet of transmission pipelines; and civil penalties of up to $25,000 for certain violations that cause damage to hazardous-liquid or gas facilities.

Matt Sterling,…

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