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SB3838Introduced in the Senate

BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT

IntroducedSenate Assignments

Introduced by Patrick Joyce, District 40

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Creates the Broadband Deployment Act. Sets forth findings. Defines terms. Provides that, conditional upon acquiring the proper agreement or permit with the highway right-of-way controller or holder, a broadband grant recipient may install, maintain, and use broadband infrastructure along a highway right-of-way. Provides that no property owner of property located within the highway right-of-way shall forbid or prevent a proposed broadband grant recipient from entering upon the property for purposes of and in connection with the deployment of broadband infrastructure, nor shall any such property owner forbid or prohibit the broadband grant recipient from deploying upon, beneath, or over that property broadband infrastructure utilized by the broadband grant recipient for such broadband service. Provides that the broadband grant recipient must notify the property owner in writing by sending notification to the property owner's address specified in the online or publicly available records of the applicable county assessor (i) by the United States Postal Service, certified mail, return receipt requested; (ii) by a designated private delivery service, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, that provides the same function as certified mail with return receipt; or (iii) by personally serving the notification. Sets forth requirements for the content of the notice. Provides that if the property owner intends to demand just compensation, the property owner must serve written notice thereof upon the broadband grant recipient within 45 days after the anticipated date of broadband deployment as provided in the notice to the property owner. Provides that neither the property owner's notice to demand just compensation, nor the property owner's assertion of a specific claim for just compensation, nor the initiation of any legal action to enforce the claim of just compensation shall delay or impair the right of the broadband grant recipient to deploy broadband infrastructure and provide broadband service within or upon, beneath, or over certain property. Provides that the rights and obligations of broadband grant recipients and landowners set forth in the amendatory provisions do not apply on and after January 1, 2030. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Where it stands

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

April 17, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee · March 12, 2026

10

Yes

4

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

15 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

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See how each senator voted

Bill history

  1. Filed with Secretary by Sen. Patrick J. Joyce

  2. First Reading

  3. Referred to Assignments

  4. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci

  5. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III

  6. Assigned to Energy and Public Utilities

  7. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter

  8. Do Pass Energy and Public Utilities; 010-004-000

  9. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 24, 2026

  10. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

  11. Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

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