HB 3406 creates two systems for fire bans in Oklahoma: counties can ban burning if meeting specific fire danger criteria (like National Weather Service red flags or drought conditions), or the governor can declare a statewide emergency during drought. Farmers are exempt from county bans if they submit a detailed burn plan 72 hours in advance to local fire departments, including weather conditions, firebreaks, and notifications. County bans expire after 8 days unless renewed, and governor’s emergency proclamations override county decisions. The bill requires fire departments to approve plans and mandates online posting of all bans for public notice.
HB 4459 allows groundwater irrigation districts or conservation districts to create metering programs for farmers, enabling certified participants to apply for a five-year flexible water allocation. This directly affects farmers in participating districts who can temporarily exceed their annual water limit by up to 200% in a single year, as long as their total usage over five years stays within the basin's overall allocation. To qualify, participants must submit annual metering certifications from their district and pay an annual fee. The bill also states that exceeding the 200% annual limit or five-year total triggers penalties for unauthorized water use, as outlined in existing law.
HB 4340 would add a sales tax exemption for the sale of "frack water" (wastewater from oil and gas extraction) in Oklahoma. This exemption would directly affect oil and gas companies and vendors selling this wastewater, eliminating the sales tax on such transactions. The bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to include this specific exemption under existing tax exemption categories. The policy change would reduce tax burdens for businesses involved in handling oil and gas extraction wastewater. The bill is currently pending in the Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee.
SB 2061 creates the Oklahoma Food Policy Council within the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to coordinate food systems and connect stakeholders. The council will advise on promoting sustainable locally grown food, farm-to-school programs, farmers markets, and community gardens, while assessing economic impacts on local food distribution. It must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing findings and recommendations, with no compensation for members but travel reimbursement allowed. The bill directly affects farmers, food banks, community gardens, and local food organizations by fostering collaboration across these groups.
SB 1333 establishes Oklahoma's Water Infrastructure Enhancement Program to modernize the state's aging water systems. It creates a $50 million revolving fund from General Revenue to provide direct grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance to communities - particularly rural areas through the Rural Economic Action Plan grant program. The bill allocates 50% of funds to a new low-interest loan program, 20% for rural grants, and 10% for outreach and planning. The program becomes effective July 1, 2026, with funds available for infrastructure projects like pipe replacements and treatment upgrades.
HB 4413 requires facilities burning hospital, medical, or infectious waste to comply with existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air emission standards. It prohibits any facility not meeting current EPA standards, monitoring, reporting, and permitting requirements from burning such waste in Oklahoma. The bill directly affects municipal solid waste incinerators that handle medical waste, mandating they align with federal rules or cease this activity. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and codifies EPA definitions for medical waste as used in 40 C.F.R. §60.51c.
HB 3402 creates a dedicated revolving fund called the "Biosolids Land Application Research Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The fund will use money the DEQ already receives to cover costs for equipment, staffing, and training related to testing biosolids (treated waste from wastewater processing). It operates as a continuous fund with no annual budget restrictions, allowing the DEQ to directly use these resources for its biosolids research and testing programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 92 establishes a Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Program to provide competitive loans for water and wastewater projects to eligible entities like municipalities and rural water systems. The program allocates 50% of funds to projects in communities with populations under 30,000, 25% to those between 30,000-400,000, and 25% to larger communities, with loans requiring repayment if projects aren’t completed (clawback provision). It creates a revolving fund in the state treasury, replenished by loan repayments and interest, to support infrastructure improvements. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with emergency status.
SB 1393, the RESTORE Act, creates a 50% tax credit for developers converting old, vacant commercial buildings (over 50 years old, vacant for 3+ years, and not eligible for historic tax credits) into residential housing. It directly affects property owners or developers who undertake "adaptive reuse" projects, covering extra renovation costs like environmental cleanup, code compliance, and infrastructure upgrades. The credit is capped at $5 million annually (2027-2037), requires 20% of units to be affordable for 10 years, and allows unused credit to carry forward to future tax years. Projects must meet specific affordability and location criteria, with annual reports tracking housing units and economic impact.
HB 1822 requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a program for identifying, removing, and managing invasive woody species (like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar) within transportation rights-of-way. The program mandates surveys, prioritized removal plans, eco-friendly removal methods to protect native plants and soil, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with other agencies. This directly affects ODOT’s operations and land adjacent to state roads. The bill would have taken effect November 1, 2025, but died in conference on May 30, 2025. (Note: The bill’s title references transportation but focuses on environmental management within road corridors.)
