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HB 298ALABAMASession 2026rsState Billon floor

Alabama Legislature extends Underground Damage Prevention Program sunset date to January 1, 2036

Original title: Public utilities; Underground Damage Prevention Program; certain statutory sunset clauses deleted

Last action · January 29, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarSponsor: Rhett Marques

Companion · SB 95same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

This bill extends the statutory sunset date for Alabama's Underground Damage Prevention Program from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2036, continuing mandatory utility participation in the .

Why it matters

Utility operators and excavators across Alabama must continue complying with One-Call notification requirements for an additional nine years to prevent excavation damage to underground lines.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Underground facility operators

Utility operators must continue mandatory participation in the One-Call Notification System and maintain compliance records through January 1, 2036.

Directly affected

Excavators

Excavators retain protection from recovery claims if they follow notification procedures and exercise reasonable care when non-member utility operators suffer damage.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change about the Underground Damage Prevention Program?

It extends the program's expiration date by nine years, moving the sunset date from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2036.

What happens if a utility operator fails to join the One-Call Notification System?

If an operator fails to join and that failure causes damage during an excavation by someone who complied with the law and exercised reasonable care, the operator has no right of recovery against that person.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 29, 2026House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Alabama Public Service Commission, Smith, Rhett Marques and 2 more

OrganizationAlabama Public Service Commission“State regulatory body responsible for issuing certificates to the One-Call Notif”Map →

PersonSmith“Bill sponsor in the House of Representatives”Map →

PersonRhett Marques“Bill sponsor in the House of Representatives”Map →

PersonSorrells“Bill sponsor in the House of Representatives”Map →

OrganizationOne-Call Notification System“Statewide system providing notice of excavation or demolition near underground f”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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