SC H3571

Amends South Carolina's Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act to expand definitions including "excavate," "large project," "soft digging," and "pre-marking," while clarifying that excavation exemptions apply to single-family homeowners digging less than 12 inches with hand tools on their own property

Establishes new procedures for "large projects" (highway, development, or utility projects over one mile or two square miles expected to take more than 90 days), requiring 30-day advance notice, planning meetings with all affected facility operators, and negotiated facility location agreements

Increases civil penalties from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation, with penalties up to $25,000 for serious violations including failure to join the notification association, gross negligence causing facility damage, concealing damage, or intentionally violating the chapter

Creates a formal complaint process through the Attorney General's Office, which refers complaints to the notification center for investigation and mediation within six months, with the AG determining whether a prima facie case exists before a complainant can file suit

Requires operators to submit quarterly damage reports to the notification center and mandates that all operators join the statewide 811 notification association, with each month of non-membership constituting a separate violation beginning January 1, 2026