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Committee advances bill requiring utilities to replace trees in public rights-of-way
Summary
The committee voted to report HB 2161, which would allow municipalities to require utilities to replace trees removed in public rights-of-way. Sponsors said it protects community character; opponents warned of increased costs for consumers and potential maintenance consequences.
The House Environmental Committee advanced House Bill 2161 to the full House after debate over how utilities should handle tree removal and replacement in public rights-of-way.
Sponsor Rep. Salisbury told the committee he previously served on a borough council and expected utilities to restore pavement after work; HB 2161 would extend a similar expectation to trees. 'If a tree was removed, they would have to do a similar type of process,' Salisbury said, arguing replacement preserves the character and canopy of communities.
Chair Rader and several committee members cautioned about costs being passed to consumers. 'I have a concern that this would raise the cost to consumers,' the chair said, and added that requiring replacement in every case 'would get quite costly' and could affect routine maintenance. Rep. Day and other members warned about unintended consequences and implementation challenges if utilities must replace trees after trimming or maintenance.
The committee voted to report the bill to the House as a whole. Members asked for clearer implementation guidance and noted the need to balance municipal authority, utility maintenance, and long-term species selection.
