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SB 2152

Utilities, Utility Districts - As introduced, increases, from 15 to 20, the number of calendar days that may pass from the actual date specified in the first notice after a person responsible for excavation or demolition has given the notice of the intent to excavate or demolish before the person is required to serve additional notice if the excavation or demolition has not yet been completed; makes other changes to the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. - Amends TCA Title 65, Chapter 31, Part 1.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Page Walley

Expanded excavation scope to include dredging, introduces digital locating, extends second-notice window to 20 days, and permits vacuum excavation after notification.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
#utilities #utilitydistricts
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Bill Summary · SB 2152

Summary of Bill SB 2152 (Session 114) – Tennessee

Jurisdiction: Tennessee

Title: Utilities, Utility Districts – Underground Utility Damage Prevention

Purpose
- Modernize and adjust the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (UUDPA) provisions governing notice, excavation/demolition activities, and related practices to locate underground utilities and prevent damage.
- Key changes include extending the countdown for additional notice, expanding certain activities considered excavation, and introducing digital locating concepts.

Main Provisions and Changes

  1. Expandable Excavation Activities

  2. Adds “dredging” to the activities that are treated as excavation for purposes of UUDPA.

    • Previously: references to “digging, ditching.”
    • Now: “digging, dredging, ditching.”

  3. Introduction of Digital Locating

  4. Adds a new defined term: “Digital locating.”

    • Definition: The application of a visual indicator to digital imagery or an electronic map to indicate the location of underground utilities.

  5. Notice Timelines

  6. Increases the period before requiring a second (additional) notice from 15 to 20 calendar days.

    • Section 65-31-106(a)(1): 15 calendar days → 20 calendar days.
    • Section 65-31-106(a)(1) also updates a reference from “fifteenth” to “twentieth” calendar day.

  7. Enhanced Requirements for Meeting/Information Exchange

  8. Recasts and simplifies the requirements around information exchange before excavation/demolition.

    • Replaces prior subdivisions (1)-(4) with a streamlined approach.
    • Maintains the core requirement for communication among the excavator/demolition lead, and underground facility operators, prior to beginning work.
    • Eliminates some previous language around “electric white lining” and emphasizes pre-excavation meetings to exchange information about locations.

  9. Vacuum Excavation Provisions

  10. Adds a new subdivision permitting the use of vacuum excavation by or for a member utility to locate or protect its underground facilities after notification has been provided.

    • This clarifies and formalizes vacuum excavation as a permitted method in the locate/protect process.

  11. Expanded Records References

  12. Updates the record-keeping references in 65-31-118(b)(1)(B).

    • Amends “area, or other facility records” to include “area, digital locating, or other facility records.”

  13. Other Administrative Adjustments

  14. Several conforming edits to align with the broader UUDPA framework and the newly introduced concepts (digital locating, dredging, vacuum excavation).

  15. Effective Date: The act takes effect upon becoming law, as per the public welfare clause.

Affected Parties

  • Excavators and demolition professionals: Subject to updated notice timelines and the expanded set of activities considered excavation.
  • Utilities with underground facilities: Must participate in the one-call system; subject to updated notification and information-exchange requirements; may use vacuum excavation in certain contexts as described.
  • One-call systems: Remain a primary channel for notifications; digital locating records may now be used to describe facilities.
  • Local governments and registers of deeds: Related filing/record-keeping duties for utilities with underground facilities.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Notification Window: Extended from 15 to 20 calendar days before a subsequent notice is required if work has not yet begun.
  • Pre-Work Meetings: Continued emphasis on information exchange prior to excavation/demolition, with revised language.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon becoming law.

Fiscal and Commerce Impact

  • Fiscal Impact: Not significant.
  • Economic/Commerce Impact: Not significant; changes primarily refine notification timing, expand acceptable practices (dredging, vacuum excavation), and introduce digital locating without creating substantial new costs or regulatory burdens.

Notes

  • Primary sponsors: Senate: Walley; House: Marsh (HB 2024 / SB 2152).
  • Legislative history indicates committee consideration and standard TN one-call system framework remains in place.

This summary focuses on the substantive changes and their practical implications for stakeholders involved in excavation, demolition, and underground utility protection in Tennessee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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