North Carolina Sen. Lazzara underground utility safety bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Michael A. Lazzara seeks to update definitions, responsibilities, and enforcement related to underground utility operations in North Carolina. Lazzara’s legislation aims to enhance safety measures and clarify procedures for excavation and utility location, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, 43 Democrats and 63 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Democrat opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 15 Democrats and 27 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Lazzara filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 18 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 328, was passed on June 25 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Underground Safety Revisions.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises North Carolina’s Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act, updating definitions, responsibilities, exemptions, enforcement, and penalties related to underground utility operations. It introduces terms such as “positive response” and “soft dig technologies” and details the tolerance zone around facilities for safe excavation. Facility operators must provide location information within specific timeframes, and special conditions apply to emergencies and subaqueous facilities. Excavators must notify the Notification Center before work and comply with safety measures. The bill updates exemptions for private and agricultural activities and establishes venue requirements for claims. It also expands the Underground Damage Prevention Review Board to handle violations, set penalties, and report non-compliance to the Utilities Commission. The act becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Michael A. Lazzara (Republican-6th District), Sen. Benton G. Sawrey (Republican-10th District), and Sen. Dana Jones (Republican-31st District).

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Lazzara, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Harry Brown.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.