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LouisianaSB 4692026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

UTILITIES: Provides relative to the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: Mark Abraham (Republican)

Signed by Governor

CommerceCommerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Utility operators must clarify buried facilities

Beginning August 1, 2026, operators must report through the regional notification center before their marking deadline. Responses must say whether facilities are present and marked, absent, or need more time. Operators that do not visibly mark facilities must provide information showing approximate locations and potential conflicts before digging. This includes location, size, type, and a contact person with a specific phone number; maps, drawings, or GPS coordinates can help. Certified notification centers, and those seeking certification, must serve areas that follow parish boundaries without overlapping other service areas.

Logging crews gain annual training exemption

Beginning August 1, 2026, excavators and demolishers engaged in logging operations are exempt from the annual site-training requirement. Normally, at least one person at an underground or submerged worksite must complete annual regional notification center training. The existing exemption for people certified through operator qualification programs covered by federal pipeline rules remains.

Authorities can stop unsafe digging

Beginning August 1, 2026, the state public safety deputy secretary or local law enforcement can stop excavation or demolition. They need reasonable cause to believe a damage-prevention violation is occurring or about to occur. Examples include missing or expired locate tickets, digging in unmarked or improperly marked areas, and other visible violations. Work cannot resume until the excavator shows compliance. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections administers the law.

Broadband crews face new planning rules

Beginning August 1, 2026, crews on broadband projects funded partly or fully through BEAD must give facility operators 30 days' notice. They must use the regional notification center's large-project request, in addition to regular notice. After notice, crews and affected operators must try in good faith to agree on work scope, marking deadlines, and coordination before regular notice requirements apply. Agreements cannot be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; failure to agree alone does not delay work. Signed agreements must be uploaded to the center, attached to the project ticket, and available for inspection onsite. These rules end August 1, 2030.

Broadband crews get missing-marking work rules

Beginning August 1, 2026, special site rules cover broadband projects funded partly or fully through BEAD. When markings are missing at digging time and no positive response addresses a conflicting facility, crews must give documented notice. Operators have three hours to mark the facility or report no conflict; without a response, crews can proceed with care. For excavation or demolition in public rights-of-way, signs must identify the responsible crew or contractors, broadband provider, and inquiry phone number or email. These rules end August 1, 2030.

Some local governments get locate exemptions

Beginning August 1, 2026, some local governments are exempt from the law's facility-location and response requirements. Municipalities or parish governments with 383,900–440,800 people qualify only if they adopted an exclusion ordinance by December 31, 1998. Their exemption covers specified systems they own or operate, including systems added later. Incorporated municipalities with 66,000–66,500 people also qualify; both population ranges use the most recent federal decennial census. Exempt governments must keep a permitting or other process for permittees to get available approximate system locations near permitted work. The law also removes the requirement to file opt-out ordinances with the secretary of state.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark Abraham

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 273 • No: 0

House vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 92, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote • 5/18/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 902.

    6/9/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    6/9/2026Senate

  3. Conference Committee report received.

    6/1/2026House

  4. Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.

    6/1/2026Senate

  5. Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026House

  6. Rules suspended.

    6/1/2026House

  7. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 92, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    6/1/2026House

  8. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026Senate

  9. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  10. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    6/1/2026House

  11. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  12. Notice of Senate conferees appointed.

    5/29/2026House

  13. House conferees appointed: St. Blanc, Deshotel, and Riser.

    5/28/2026House

  14. Senate conference committee members appointed: Abraham, Miller, and Talbot.

    5/28/2026Senate

  15. Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

    5/28/2026Senate

  16. Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.

    5/27/2026House

  17. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  18. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

  19. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

  20. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/20/2026House

  21. Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/19/2026House

  22. Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/18/2026House

  23. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    5/5/2026House

  24. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    4/29/2026House

  25. Called from the Calendar.

    4/28/2026Senate

Bill Text

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