SB232 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald H. AllenSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Public utilities; Underground Damage Prevention Program; certain statutory sunset clauses deleted
Summary: SB232 extends the sunset for Alabama's Underground Damage Prevention Program to January 1, 2035, keeping the One-Call System in place through that date.
What This Bill Does
The bill keeps the Underground Damage Prevention Program active and statewide, with the One-Call Notification System operating as a nonprofit and governed by a board. It extends existing membership requirements for underground facility operators and sets deadlines for joining or maintaining membership, while preserving penalties that limit recovery if a non-member operator damages facilities. It requires annual reporting and audits to the Public Service Commission, public awareness efforts, and ongoing data and notice procedures to ensure proper excavation notifications and protection of underground facilities.

Who It Affects
Underground facility operators in Alabama: must participate in the One-Call Notification System, with specific deadlines for joining if not already members, and annual reporting of trench miles or other thresholds; if they fail to join and damage occurs, they may have no right of recovery against a compliant excavator.
Non-profit, public, or governmental entities that operate or seek to operate the One-Call Notification System: may apply to the Alabama Public Service Commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, with oversight, potential revocation, and required annual operations/financial reporting.

Key Provisions
Sunset extension: the statutory sunset for the Underground Damage Prevention Program is extended to January 1, 2035.
Membership and thresholds: existing rules requiring participation in the One-Call System and deadlines for joining based on membership status and facility thresholds are maintained through the extended date.
Public/Non-profit operation: the One-Call System is to be operated as a statewide nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors.
Annual reporting: the One-Call System (and its members) must provide annual operations and financial reviews or audits to the Public Service Commission.
Public awareness: operators of underground facilities and the One-Call System must develop and implement public awareness and damage prevention programs.
Recordkeeping and data: maintain records of notifications for at least three years, provide annual updates of notification area data, and maintain contact information for emergency notifications.
Notifications and transparency: the system must promptly transmit excavator notifications to the appropriate member operators and provide requested operator contact information.
Effective date: the act becomes effective January 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Telecommunications & Utilities