Relating to underground facility safety.

SB 501 updates Texas law to enhance safety for underground utility infrastructure. It expands the definition of "underground facility" to include telecom, electricity, gas, water, and hazardous liquids, directly affecting utility companies and excavators. Key provisions require large utility operators to provide annual safety information to residential customers, establish a statewide toll-free number (811-style) for excavation notifications, and pay an annual $50 fee. Operators must also submit facility maps and contact details to notification centers, while the state corporation sets technical standards and oversees the toll-free system. These changes aim to prevent accidental damage during digging by improving coordination and public awareness.