HB 2972 would allow Oklahoma county commissioners to create local rules for commercial wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas (outside city limits). County ordinances could set requirements for setbacks from homes, facility height and spacing, and noise or visual impact mitigation. Voters could also propose similar rules through petitions requiring signatures from 10% of registered county voters. These local rules must comply with state and federal law but can be stricter than state minimum standards.
SB 2124 (2026) allows fish hatcheries operated by Oklahoma's Department of Wildlife Conservation to generate electricity on-site for their own use without being classified as public utilities under Oklahoma law. The bill exempts these hatcheries from public utility regulations (defined in Title 17, Section 151) if they meet specific requirements outlined in that section. This change directly affects state-run hatcheries seeking to offset their energy costs through self-generated power. The policy simplifies regulatory compliance for hatcheries using on-site renewable energy, effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1441 prohibits operating unmanned aircraft (drones) below 400 feet over critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, water treatment plants, refineries, and telecommunications towers, without authorization. It bans drone contact with facilities, interference with operations, or proximity that disrupts functions. The law exempts government entities, law enforcement, facility owners/operators, and FAA-authorized commercial drone operators. Violators face civil liability for damages under existing Oklahoma law, with the bill effective November 1, 2026.
SB 2123 amends Oklahoma's Wind Energy Development Act to clarify and strengthen decommissioning requirements for wind energy facilities. It shortens the abandonment period from 24 months to 180 consecutive days (excluding certain exceptions like curtailment), requiring owners to remove all equipment - including turbines, towers, foundations, and cabling - upon abandonment or end of a facility's useful life. The bill also modifies definitions (e.g., "abandonment," "useful life"), updates permit application criteria, and mandates public hearings for facility expansions. These changes directly affect wind energy facility owners and operators, ensuring clearer accountability for site restoration after operations cease.
HB 3175 creates the Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office within the Governor's office to support the development of advanced nuclear energy projects. The office will develop strategic plans, coordinate with stakeholders, and help businesses navigate nuclear permitting processes through a dedicated coordinator. It requires the director to submit annual plans and conduct a study identifying state regulatory needs for nuclear facilities by 2027. The bill directly affects nuclear project developers, state agencies, and future grant applicants seeking support for advanced nuclear energy projects in Oklahoma.
SB 2183 modifies Oklahoma's Wind Energy Development Act by updating key definitions and requirements for wind energy facilities. It shortens the abandonment timeline from 24 months to 180 consecutive days (excluding curtailment or regulatory actions) and mandates the removal of wind turbines and infrastructure upon abandonment or end of useful life, as specified in amended Sections 160.13 and 160.14. The bill also adjusts definitions for terms like "commercial wind energy equipment" (500kw+ capacity) and "wind energy facility" (5MW+ capacity), while adding new requirements for financial security, permit applications, and public notification. These changes directly affect wind energy facility owners and operators who must comply with the updated decommissioning and operational standards.
SB 1606 modifies Oklahoma's wind energy decommissioning rules by changing the deadline for removing wind facilities from "within 12 months after abandonment" to "within 12 months after the end of the useful life of the commercial wind energy equipment." This affects wind energy facility owners, who must now complete decommissioning (removing turbines, towers, and restoring land to pre-construction conditions) within 12 months of equipment reaching end-of-life, not just when operations stop. The bill maintains existing decommissioning requirements (removing equipment to 30 inches below grade and restoring land) and allows landowners to request road restoration in writing. It takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3917 requires public utilities providing electricity to large data centers (defined as facilities using 50+ megawatts monthly) to file new tariff schedules with Oklahoma's Corporation Commission. These tariffs must include a peak-demand surcharge specifically for large data center customers. All surcharge revenue collected by utilities must be transferred to the newly created "Grid Modernization Revolving Fund" in the state treasury. The fund, managed by the Corporation Commission, will finance electric grid modernization projects, with the bill taking effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1930 amends Oklahoma's brine and produced water laws to clarify definitions and explicitly include water reuse and recycling as policy goals. It directly affects oil and gas producers who handle brine (subsurface saltwater) and produced water, defining key terms like "brine," "solution gas," and "effluent" to distinguish between brine extraction and oil/gas production. The bill updates statutory language to align the Oklahoma Brine Development Act with the Oil and Gas Produced Water Recycling Act, ensuring consistent regulation of brine operations and effluent disposal. These changes aim to streamline management of brine resources while promoting reuse of produced water, without creating new regulatory requirements.
SB 919 clarifies lease terms for Oklahoma's Land Office trust lands, defining "commercial leases" to include renewable energy projects and restricting agricultural leases to certain entities. It amends ownership rules to limit corporations, trusts, and LLCs from leasing agricultural land unless they meet strict criteria (e.g., 65% income from farming/minerals, member/owner restrictions). The bill also updates investment rules for public funds, removing exemptions for real property investments and requiring that the value of real property leased by public entities be excluded from the 5% investment cap. These changes directly affect land leaseholders, agricultural businesses, and the Land Office's management of public funds.
