Wind energy facilities; requiring Oklahoma Water Resource Board conduct certain study; effective date.

HB 1263 requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to study how wind turbine footings affect the state's aquifers and groundwater resources, including physical impacts, flow changes, and cumulative effects in high-density areas. The study must include recommendations for mitigating negative effects and be completed by December 31, 2026, with input from industry, agriculture, and environmental stakeholders. The bill also updates existing setback rules for wind facilities, mandating minimum distances of 1.5 nautical miles from homes, schools, hospitals, and airports (increasing to 3 miles for towers over 500 feet), and adding requirements for military installation compatibility. These provisions directly affect wind energy developers, landowners, and regulatory agencies like the Corporation Commission, while focusing on environmental and safety standards.