Agriculture; burn bans; declaring extreme fire danger; emergency.

HB 1552 amends Oklahoma law to update how counties and the Governor declare fire danger emergencies affecting burn bans. It requires counties to use specific, measurable criteria (like NOAA drought data, low rainfall forecasts, and high temperatures) before banning outdoor burns, and mandates county commissioners to get fire department concurrence before issuing such bans. The bill creates a key exemption for agricultural producers: farmers can still conduct prescribed burns on their land if they submit a detailed written plan to local fire departments 72 hours in advance, including weather details, firebreaks, and notifications to neighbors and fire departments. This plan must be approved or amended within 72 hours, and the exemption applies even during county burn bans, though it doesn’t override Governor-issued emergency proclamations.