Groundwater use; modifying provisions related to spacing of wells. Effective date.
SB 1509 amends Oklahoma law to change how the Oklahoma Water Resources Board sets rules for spacing between groundwater wells. It removes the requirement for certain public hearings when establishing well spacing rules and allows the Board to set specific spacing as part of determining a basin's maximum annual water yield. This directly affects well operators, landowners in groundwater basins, and the Board in managing water allocation. The changes take effect November 1, 2026, streamlining the rulemaking process for groundwater management.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed May 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill was transitioned from the House version to the Senate version, which involved removing the House sponsor's name and updating the committee report to reflect the Senate Energy Committee. The core policy language regarding groundwater spacing rules and the effective date remains unchanged.
Scope change
None; the bill's scope and applicability are identical to the House version.
TECHNICAL
Removed the House sponsor's name and replaced the House committee report with a Senate committee report.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026 · House May 4, 2026
How they voted
45–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 50
Mar 25, 2026
D
Democratic9
77% Yea
R
Republican41
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
7
Committee
6
May 11, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 05/07/2026
upper
May 4, 2026
Committee
Referred for enrollment
upper
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 61 Nays: 28
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee; Do Pass Agriculture
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Referred to Agriculture
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
First Reading
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Engrossed to House
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 37 Nays: 7
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Energy committee; CR filed
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
First Reading
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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