SB 416-Relating to Location of Utilities
On Wednesday, November 4th, SB 416, relating to Location of Utilities, by Senator Anitere Flores (R-Miami) passed through the Senate Transportation Committee  with 5 yeas and 1 nay.

SB 416 will address who is the responsible party for the cost of relocating utility facilities in a public easement. Easements dedicated to the public for utilities are typically located along existing road or highway rights-of-way and are available for use by a variety of utility providers. The bill flips the responsibility to bear relocation costs from the utility owner to the state or local government requiring the facilities to be relocated. The owner of a utility that requires relocation will be liable for relocation costs only if their lines and facilities are across, on or “within” the right-of-way, rather than “along” any right-of-way.

HB 416 will head to its last committee stop in the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

AIF supports protecting the private property rights of Florida businesses.