Senate Bill 340 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Public utilities; Underground Damage Prevention Program; prioritization of, liability for incomplete design or survey locates provided

Summary

SB340 would overhaul Alabama’s Underground Damage Prevention Program by speeding responses, expanding access to facility records, and increasing operator liability for delays.

What This Bill Does

Operators must respond to design or survey locate requests within five working days using one of three methods (mark locations, provide the best available description or facility records, or allow inspection/copying records). If a locate request is not completed within 20 days, the operator must finish it before handling other requests. If a locate request remains incomplete 30 days or more after submission, the operator is liable for costs caused by the delay. Contract locators may not close a locate request, and operators may close only after field-verifying that the facility has been marked; these changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Underground utility operators must meet new response, completion, and verification requirements and bear potential delay costs.
• Design/survey locate requestors gain access to facility records or drawings and clearer methods for obtaining information.
• Contract locators are prohibited from closing locate requests.
• Project owners or project teams submitting locate requests may experience changes in process and potential cost implications due to delays.

Key Provisions

• Operator response within five working days using one of three methods: mark locations, provide best available description/records, or allow inspection/copy of records.
• If a locate request is not completed within 20 calendar days, the operator must finish it before other requests.
• Operator liability for costs to requestors if delays cause project delays when a locate request remains incomplete 30 days or more after submission.
• Contract locators may not close a locate request; operators may close only after field-verification that the facility has been marked.
• Effective date of October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 4, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications & Utilities