TITLE: Relating to excavation for the installation of buried fiber-optic cable.

SUMMARY: Relating to excavation for the installation of buried fiber-optic cable.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to excavation for the installation of buried fiber-optic cable. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 251.151, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (d) A person who intends to excavate for the purpose of installing fiber-optic cable infrastructure shall provide a map of the proposed fiber-optic cable infrastructure to: (1) a municipality if the excavation will take place in a right-of-way of the municipality; and (2) a county if the excavation will take place in a right-of-way of the county. (e) The map required by Subsection (d) must be provided to the municipality or county before the date the excavation begins. A municipality or county may prescribe the format of the map and the geographic area that must be included in the map. SECTION 2. Sections 251.201(a), (b), and (c), Utilities Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) An excavator that violates Section 251.151, 251.152, or 251.159 is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $2,000 [$500] or more than $5,000 [$1,000].If a county attorney or district attorney decides not to bring an action to recover the civil penalty, the board of directors of the corporation may, in accordance with Section 251.2011, give the excavator a warning letter and require the excavator to attend a safety training course approved by the board. The county attorney or district attorney shall notify the board of its decision. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), if it is found at the trial on a civil penalty that the excavator has violated this chapter and has been assessed a penalty under this section or has received a warning letter from the board one other time before the first anniversary of the date of the most recent violation, the excavator is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 [$1,000] or more than $8,000 [$2,000].(c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), if it is found at the trial on a civil penalty that the excavator has violated this chapter and has been assessed a penalty under this section at least two other times before the first anniversary of the date of the most recent violation, or has been assessed a penalty at least one other time before the first anniversary of the date of the most recent violation and has received a warning letter from the board during that period, the excavator is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $8,000 [$2,000] or more than $10,000 [$5,000].SECTION 3. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 251, Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. PENALTIES AND REMEDIES SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 251, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 251.204 to read as follows: Sec. 251.204. CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) An excavator whose excavation results in damage to an underground facility owned by a municipality or a county is liable to the owner or operator of the underground facility for damages arising from that conduct. (b) It is not a defense to liability under this section that a county attorney or district attorney declined to bring an action against the excavator to recover a civil penalty under Section 251.201 for the conduct that is alleged to give rise to liability under this section. (c) Venue for a civil action brought under this section is determined on the same basis as the venue for a proceeding under Section 251.201(e). (d) A civil action under this section is in addition to any other procedure or remedy provided by law, including Section 251.201. SECTION 5. Section 251.204, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.