Legislature advances proposal for dig law updates

A long-anticipated update to state dig law and the Dig Law Safety Committee has passed the Senate and House. It now returns to Senate for concurrence on House amendments before heading to the Governor’s desk for signatures.

SB 6420, sponsored by Rep. Dean Takko (D–Longview), amends current dig law requirements. The dig law governs safe excavation practices near underground facilities. All underground facility operators must subscribe to the state's one-number locator service, through which an excavator may notify utilities of excavation activities and request field-marking of underground facilities.

SB 6420 includes the following amendments to the state’s dig laws:

• Specifies that locate marks are not required to indicate the depth of an underground facility;
• Requires an excavator to call 911 when damage to an underground facility causes an emergency condition;
• Removes the requirement for the Dig Law Safety Committee to include a representative from the insurance industry, and instead requires a representative of a water-sewer district; and
• Specifies that the Dig Law Safety Committee’s review committee be a balanced group, including at least one excavator and one facility operator.

SB 6420 will return to the Senate to confirm the House’s floor amendment before being sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.