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Senate considers aligning DigSafe notification to 72 hours; committee may make effective on passage
Summary
Committee discussed statutory cleanup to align DigSafe underground‑utility notification to 72 hours statewide, correcting an earlier drafting oversight; sponsors said they would seek an effective‑on‑passage change so the rule applies before construction season.
Senators reviewed language to align the DigSafe underground‑utility notification period to 72 hours statewide, correcting an apparent drafting oversight from a 2024 amendment that left some statutory references at 48 hours.
A committee member explained the practical effect: when someone calls DigSafe to mark underground utilities, utilities would have 72 hours rather than 48 hours to respond and mark their facilities. Sponsors said the Senate previously passed a related change, but a drafting oversight left utilities under a 48‑hour requirement in some statutory cross‑references. The committee discussed making the fix effective on passage so the expanded notice period would be in place for the coming construction season.
No cost estimate was provided; sponsors said the change is administrative and intended to reduce conflicts and missed markings in the busy construction season. Committee staff said if the committee did not include the fix in this bill it could appear in the appropriations bill, but the sponsor preferred to include it in the transportation draft to get ahead of spring construction.
