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“Digging in the wrong place can result in impacts ranging from a nuisance, to shutting down a facility or street, to putting lives at risk,” said Kraft. “In 2026, there’s a huge amount of broadband investment coming to Minnesota as part of federal programs. We want to address these necessary statute updates now to prepare. Can you imagine being an excavator and hitting something you didn’t know was there – which could be really dangerous – and then having to dig again the next day?”
Proposed changes in HF2717 and SF2723 would improve the quality of mapped underground utilities by leveraging technology that didn’t exist when the statutes were written. Geospatial location of newly installed underground lines would be required beginning in 2026 to accurately document a line’s vertical and horizontal placement.
Kraft and Hoffman emphasized elements of the legislation that would improve information sharing amongst all parties involved in a construction project. Those changes include updated timelines for completing utility locates and implementing statewide tracking of unintentional hits and the accuracy of utility marks.
“It’s clear why this bill has support from both sides of the aisle: because it allows our project managers, contractors, property owners and public utilities to better communicate and collaborate in support of greater safety for our entire state,” said Hoffman. “We are on the precipice of significant investment in the infrastructure that will propel Minnesota forward. This bill will help us do that work safely.”
AGC of Minnesota has worked closely with utility providers and local governments on the proposed changes. The House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee held a hearing on HF2717 on Tuesday, March 19, and will consider including the legislation in this year’s policy bill.
Check out the KARE 11 story: Excavator safety on State Capitol radar
The full press conference can be viewed here.
Thanks to AGC members and our partners who attended the hearing on Tuesday. AGC also wants to acknowledge and give a special shoutout to John Hass, Director of Lean Operations for VEIT (pictured below), for his testimony and representing the construction industry at the Capitol this week. All of your advocacy matters!
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