SB 1319 creates a dedicated "Corporation Commission Plugging Fund" to address environmental and safety issues from oil and gas operations. The fund must maintain $5 million, with additional taxes collected if it falls below this level until replenished (effective until July 2031). It establishes a new program allowing homeowners contaminated by brine or oil from *abandoned wells* (as defined by law) to apply for financial assistance from the fund without needing prior insurance claims. The Corporation Commission will determine assistance amounts and create rules to manage applications and verify contamination sources.
HB 1370 establishes a "Corporation Commission Plugging Fund" to address seeping natural gas and environmental safety issues related to oil and gas operations. The bill requires the fund to maintain $5 million, and if it falls below this level, an additional excise tax on oil and gas will be imposed until replenished. It specifies that 10.526% of oil excise tax revenue and 10.5555% of natural gas excise tax revenue must be allocated to this fund, with the remaining portions going to the General Revenue Fund and the Interstate Oil Compact Fund. The bill extends the fund's sunset date from 2026 to 2031, ensuring continued funding for these environmental response efforts.
This bill changes Oklahoma's requirements for oil and gas operators to provide financial guarantees (surety) for well plugging and environmental compliance. It phases out "Category A" surety (based on $50,000 net worth) for new operators starting November 2025, while current operators may keep it but can voluntarily switch to "Category B" surety (like letters of credit or bonds). Category B amounts scale with the number of wells operated, starting at $25,000 for 1-10 wells (rising to $50,000 by 2028) and higher for larger operations, with a maximum of $150,000. Operators with fines or poor compliance records must use Category B, and the Commission can require higher amounts based on performance.
SB 1928 modifies Oklahoma's water rights law by removing mandatory metering requirements for most wells while introducing a new five-year flexible groundwater allocation system. It applies to existing and new groundwater permit holders in designated basins, requiring annual usage reports and fees to maintain their allocation. The bill allows permit holders to temporarily exceed their annual usage limit by up to 200% in any single year, as long as their total usage over five years stays within the basin's overall limit. Domestic wells are explicitly excluded from these provisions. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
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.
HB 1543 expands the Oklahoma Conservation Commission's authority to coordinate conservation efforts, specifically adding requirements to include tribal governments in its work and removing restrictions on the Conservation District Consolidation Fund. The bill allows the Commission to enter contracts with tribes, federal agencies, counties, and other entities to administer statewide conservation programs and secure funding. It directly affects Oklahoma's 157 conservation districts, tribal governments, and state agencies collaborating on resource conservation. The key change requires the Commission to actively coordinate with tribes and manage funds for district programs, while maintaining its existing role in supporting local conservation planning and reporting.
SB 777 modifies Oklahoma's regulations for harvesting fish and aquatic species by giving the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) discretion to create rules governing these activities. It allows certain harvesting but requires it to follow Department-set restrictions, replacing mandatory language ("shall") with discretionary terms ("may"). The bill removes a prior requirement for the state to assess fees and transfers this authority to ODAFF. This change directly affects commercial and recreational fishers by shifting regulatory oversight to the Department, which will determine specific harvesting rules. The bill became law on May 12, 2025, without a gubernatorial signature.
HB 2043 requires Oklahoma state agencies to verify that companies receiving contracts worth $100,000+ (with 10+ full-time employees) do not boycott energy companies. It mandates written verification from contractors that they will not boycott energy providers during the contract term. The law excludes contracts related to debt management or if alternative services aren't available from non-boycotting companies. This policy directly affects state agencies and qualifying businesses entering major public contracts.
HB 2402 would create tax breaks and grants to attract manufacturers of low-temperature waste heat electrification technology (recovering heat below 200°C) to Oklahoma. Companies investing $10 million+ with 50+ new jobs would get up to 30% corporate tax breaks for five years (renewable), while larger investments ($20 million+ with 100+ jobs) qualify for 50% breaks. The state would cap annual spending at $8 million, with unused funds rolling over, and prioritize grants for facilities in economic development zones or energy-sector projects. Manufacturers must meet specific technology standards, submit job/investment plans, and report annually on progress to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
SB 352 prohibits utility companies from using eminent domain to build wind turbines, solar facilities, battery storage, or hydrogen gas facilities on private property. It also requires electricity providers to obtain a Corporation Commission certificate before using eminent domain for high-voltage transmission lines (over 300 kV). The bill directly affects utility companies seeking to expand infrastructure and private property owners whose land might be targeted for such projects. These changes amend Oklahoma’s eminent domain law (27 O.S. §7) to restrict certain facility siting and add oversight for major transmission projects. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Oklahoma Legislature and referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee.
