HR 403 — A Resolution designating the month of April 2026 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month."

PRINTER'S NO.   2812

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 403
                                              Session of
                                                2026

     INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, HILL-EVANS, CONKLIN, MADDEN, FREEMAN,
        GOUGHNOUR, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, NEILSON AND MAYES,
        JANUARY 28, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, JANUARY 28, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating the month of April 2026 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe
 2      Digging Month."
 3      WHEREAS, As engineers, designers, excavators and homeowners
 4   work to keep pace with this Commonwealth's unprecedented
 5   economic development, it is important to minimize damage to
 6   underground utility lines, danger to workers, environmental
 7   pollution and loss of utility service to residents of this
 8   Commonwealth; and
 9      WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania One Call System, a utility
10   notification center celebrating more than 50 years of continuous
11   service to this Commonwealth, is key to preventing injuries and
12   damage when excavating and demolishing; and
13      WHEREAS, This unique service provides easy, one-call
14   notification about construction and excavation projects that may
15   endanger workers and jeopardize utility lines and promotes
16   workplace and public safety, reduces underground utility damage,
17   minimizes utility service interruptions and protects the
 1   environment; and
 2         WHEREAS, This vital service, which began with only six
 3   utility companies in western Pennsylvania and the City of
 4   Pittsburgh, now serves more than 100,000 excavators and 3,600
 5   critical infrastructure owners throughout this Commonwealth; and
 6         WHEREAS, Each year, the Pennsylvania One Call System receives
 7   more than 1 million notification requests and transmits more
 8   than 6 million notifications to its members, providing
 9   protection to utility companies, their employees and customers;
10   and
11         WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Underground Utility Line Protection
12   Law, referred to as the One Call Act, has been used as a model
13   for many other states and at least seven foreign countries; and
14         WHEREAS, Dozens of counties and hundreds of municipalities
15   are following in the footsteps of the General Assembly and
16   adopting their own proclamations memorializing "Safe Digging
17   Month"; therefore be it
18         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
19   month of April 2026 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month";
20   and be it further
21         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
22   excavators and homeowners of this Commonwealth to dial 8-1-1 or
23   1-800-242-1776 before digging in order to "Know What's Below,"
24   avoid injury, protect the environment and prevent millions of
25   dollars in damages; and be it further
26         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives remind excavators
27   that three business days' notice before digging is the law
28   because safe digging is no accident and that more information
29   may be obtained by visiting www.pa811.org.



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