SB1121

As introduced and through the House committee version, the new exclusion referred to buried “fiber-optic cables.” Metcalf’s sole indexed House amendment, adopted May 22, replaced those words with “communication facilities.” That broader wording survives in the final law, while the existing-road right-of-way and covered-work limits stay the same. The earlier introduced, Senate committee, engrossed and House committee operative texts match. The former final exclusion is renumbered from item 16 to item 17; it is not repealed. Introduced text; Metcalf amendment; Amendment disposition; All versions; Final law.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Those responsible for qualifying projects can avoid this particular advance-notice step, reducing that administrative requirement. The commission no longer has this advance-notice requirement for the newly excluded category. The statute does not establish that every covered location has no archaeological resources, and it does not quantify faster construction, customer savings or effects on historic sites. Final law; Natural Resources Code 191.0525.

The March 10, April 23 and May 23 fiscal notes anticipate no significant state or local fiscal implication and assume implementation costs can be absorbed using existing resources. The enrolled listing carries the May 23 House-passed note. Although that note’s caption still says fiber-optic projects, the enacted text says communication facilities; the final law controls the explanation’s scope. No private savings estimate or appropriation is provided. Introduced note; Engrossed note; House-passed note; Enrolled listing’s note; Final law.