MACo opposed critical infrastructure relocation bill, HB 101, moved to summer study in ECM.
This past February, MACo opposed HB 101- State Highway Projects- Removal, Relocation, and Adjustment of Utility Facilities- Notification, Work Plans, and Compliance. The bill called for utilities (which would include counties) to develop workplans to move critical infrastructure within 120 days of notice and then begin work within 60 days. Unlike the private sector, counties do not have the luxury of unliterally approving and funding projects required under HB101. Relocating this type of infrastructure can range immensely in scope and can take years to plan and fund.
The Economic Matters Committee referred HB 101 to an interim study; the bill is expected to resurface in some form during the 2025 legislative session. MACo highlighted in our opposition that, as drafted, HB 101 gave the State Highway Administration (SHA) almost unilateral control of facilities the agency does not own, imposed unworkable timeframes, and that the county would bear the full cost of any relocation. Counties stand ready to work both with the committee, SHA, and other stakeholders over the interim.
