House adopts Matzie ‘Safe Digging Month’ resolution
Reminds Pennsylvanians to call 8-1-1 before all digging projects
Rep. Robert F. Matzie April 23, 2025 | 3:39 PM
HARRISBURG, April 23 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution designating April 2025 as “Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month.”
Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.R.34 to remind Pennsylvanians that they have a legal responsibility to call the 8-1-1 “Call before You Dig” hotline before doing any kind of digging.
“Most of us rarely think about the extensive network of utilities, pipes and cables buried beneath our feet, but we do need to remember them any time we are planning a project involving digging – from the smallest backyard projects to major excavations,” Matzie said. “State law requires everyone – homeowners and contractors alike – to dial 8-1-1 at least three days before doing any digging so that utilities can mark underground structures beforehand.
“It’s a free call that keeps workers safe, protects underground structures from costly damage and prevents service interruptions.”
Matzie said calling 8-1-1 is required even for shallow digging projects and those located directly on a homeowner’s private property.
More information is available here: https://www.puc.pa.gov/pipeline-safety/pa-one-call/#:~:text=Homeowners%20and%20contractors%20must%20call,begins%20to%20disturb%20the%20earth.
Before being appointed to House leadership, Matzie was majority chairman of the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee. In October 2024, the House passed Matzie’s legislation to reauthorize the safe digging law, which was set to expire. After House passage and Senate passage of a similar bill, the 8-1-1 law was reauthorized.