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Senate advances bill clarifying responsibility for underground facilities and excavations
Summary
Senate Bill 111 clarifies operator and excavator liability when underground facilities are damaged, restores previously omitted penalties, and was placed at the bottom of the third‑reading calendar after extended floor discussion and broad stakeholder engagement.
Senator Jenkins presented Senate Bill 111, an effort that the sponsor said had been under consideration for several years to define responsibilities and liabilities when underground utilities or pipelines are damaged during excavation.
The bill clarifies that if an operator (the owner of a facility) fails to locate a facility that conforms in size or appearance to surface markings, the operator who failed to locate the facility may be liable; conversely, an excavator who damages a third‑party facility must pay for damages. Jenkins said the legislation restores penalty language inadvertently removed in prior years and seeks to bring operators and excavators to a shared understanding of responsibilities.
Senator Van Tassel and others described the long process and broad conversations among operators and excavators that produced general support for the approach. After discussion the Senate placed SB 111 on the third‑reading calendar (clerk recorded 24 tentative yea votes, 0 nay, 5 absent).
Next steps: SB 111 will be considered on third reading; the sponsor said the bill should reduce disputes and clarify compensation responsibilities in excavation incidents.
