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Subcommittee opens work session on HB 34 "Mason's Law," weighing scope, timelines and costs
Summary
The non-energy utilities subcommittee reviewed HB 34, "Mason's Law," which would require safety grates or other mitigations on open storm‑drain inlets after a child’s fatal entrapment. Members focused on narrowing the bill's definition, whether it should reach private property, the June 1, 2027 retrofit deadline and funding for local governments.
The non-energy utilities subcommittee of the Environment and Transportation Committee convened a work session on HB 34, known in testimony as "Mason's Law," to begin drafting amendments and to consider implementation challenges raised by witnesses and local governments.
"The substance of the bill is requiring municipalities to construct or install an improved grading system on any new or existing open drainage inlet within the municipality, and retrofits of existing inlets must be completed by 06/01/2027," said Kristen Flynn, committee staff, summarizing the bill and the implementation concerns that have surfaced in testimony.
The bill grew out of testimony about a child who died after being swept into an open drain; members described the motivation as compelling but said the legislation needs work. The committee discussed three core issues: the bill's scope and the statutory definition of "open drainage inlet," whether and how to cover private property, and how to manage retrofit timing and costs.
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