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Committee passes bill clarifying hand‑digging limits near underground utility facilities
Summary
Senate Bill 401, a clarification to the state's underground damage-prevention law that allows limited hand‑digging by utilities to connect service lines, passed the committee after industry witnesses said it reflects common practice and reduces unnecessary delays.
Senate Bill 401 cleared committee after sponsors and industry representatives described the measure as a clarification to the state's Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act.
Sen. Joshua Bryant (author) and Lisa Lake of AT&T told the committee the current statute exempts hand‑digging for system maintenance and leak detection but does not clearly allow hand‑digging to make a connection to an operator's own facilities. Lake said the bill would permit an operator to use hand tools to excavate no more than 12 inches deep and no more than 12 inches away from its facilities to connect customer service lines before a contractor returns to complete burial — without requiring an 811 locate for that narrow activity.
Lake said 811 staff reviewed the clarification and did not object, and she described the change as reflecting common industry practice. Other utilities, including electric cooperatives and gas companies, had been consulted and raised no objections, she added.
Senators moved to pass the bill; the committee approved the motion and advanced the measure to the Senate calendar.
