Senate hearing on ‘Before You Dig’ bill draws broad support from contractors, utilities and safety advocates

Senate Bill 5627, which updates the state’s Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (the state “call-before-you-dig” law), drew broad participation at a public hearing in front of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. Sponsors and witnesses emphasized worker safety, more reliable locate responses, and modernizing the 811 process by adding a free, web-based mapping and ticketing platform.

Senator Bill Ramos, sponsor of SB 5627, said the bill “is trying to update, modernize it, move it into a web based program versus just a, you know, 1-800 number.” Committee staff detailed a package of changes that would require the one-number locator service to maintain a free web platform with digital mapping (staff: “the platform must be free and use digital mapping software permitting an excavator to mark the area on an electronic map and it must require the excavator to include a work to begin date”). If an excavator marks the area on that digital platform, they would not be required to also physically mark the ground, though staff noted physical markings would “take priority.”

Why it matters: Witnesses said timely and accurate locates improve worker safety and reduce project delays and costs. Testimony focused on three recurring concerns: (1) late locates that force contractors…