OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate passed a bipartisan bill Thursday to modernize the state’s excavation safety laws to better protect workers and underground utilities and ensure efficient infrastructure work.
Senate Bill 5627, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ramos (D-Issaquah), strengthens Washington’s “Call Before You Dig” requirements to help prevent damage to critical services, like water, power, and sewer lines, while ensuring excavation projects proceed smoothly. The bill also addresses the safety of workers exposed to significant hazards when unmarked utilities are struck during excavation.
“If you’re digging — whether you’re working on your own property or as a contractor — you need to know what’s underground before you start,” Ramos said. “Utilities like water, sewer, and power lines are buried out of sight, but hitting them can knock out services for an entire neighborhood. Even worse, it can lead to serious injury or even death for workers. This bill improves the system to make it faster and easier to properly mark utilities before digging. It’s all about getting the job done safely and ensuring we protect our communities’ critical services and the workers that keep everything running.”
Under SB 5627, Washington’s one-call service will transition from relying solely on phone calls and messages to a real-time online database, allowing excavators to track utility markings and confirm when it’s safe to dig. The bill also ensures utility operators mark underground lines in a timely manner, so excavation projects aren’t delayed. Additionally, it clarifies who is responsible for damages if underground utilities are hit, ensuring accountability while keeping the process fair for all parties.
SB 5627 aims to ensure everyone — homeowners, contractors, utility companies, and workers — can efficiently coordinate excavation work, protecting Washington’s infrastructure and those working to maintain it.
The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
