HF 2581: Relating to required timing for notices regarding underground facility excavations and enforcement of excavation provisions, and including penalties

What it does

This bill relates to required timing for notices regarding underground facility excavations. The bill requires the statewide notification center (center) for underground facilities to include two members engaged in the business of land excavating on the board of directors. The center is required to provide the Iowa utilities board with requested records when the Iowa utilities board is investigating on behalf of the attorney general’s office. The bill modifies the requirement for an excavator or an operator to provide notice to the notification center prior to a planned excavation, after locating and marking the area for excavation, or when no underground facility is located in the proposed area.

Senate subcommittee · named March 4, 2024

• Sen. Waylon Brown (R)
• Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Eric Giddens (D)

Lobbying · 5 for, 8 against

For: Heavy Highway Contractors Association; Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Communications Alliance; MidAmerican Energy Company; Windstream Communications Corporation

Against: Black Hills Energy; Des Moines Water Works; Iowa Association of Water Agencies; Iowa Lakes Regional Water; Iowa Regional Utilities Assocaition; Iowa Rural Water Association; Iowa Section American Water Works Association; Rathbun Regional Water Association

In plain words

1. January 9, 2024Filed in the House and sent to the Commerce committee · as HSB 538
2. January 9, 2024House subcommittee named: Kniff McCulla, Deyoe and Jacoby · as HSB 538
3. January 24, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 538
4. February 13, 2024Approved by the House committee · as HSB 538
5. February 19, 2024Filed in the House
6. February 19, 2024Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2581 · as HSB 538
7. February 29, 2024Passed the House, 93–0
8. March 4, 2024Arrived in the Senate
9. March 4, 2024Senate subcommittee named: Brown, Bousselot and Giddens
10. March 5, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it
11. March 6, 2024Approved by the Senate committee
12. April 16, 2024Passed the Senate, 48–0
13. April 17, 2024Passed the House, 95–0
14. April 24, 2024Sent to the Governor
15. May 1, 2024Signed into law