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 1346 creates a state program to provide competitive loans for water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Oklahoma. It establishes a $250 million revolving fund administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, which will allocate funds based on community size: 50% to projects in areas with under 30,000 residents, 25% to medium-sized communities (30,000-400,000), and 25% to large cities (over 400,000). The program requires loan applicants to meet criteria like project urgency, conservation efforts, and matching funds, with a reimbursement requirement if projects fail to meet terms. The Board must publish an interactive map showing project status, locations, and timelines on its website.
HB 2975 requires Oklahoma poultry feeding operations to create detailed Nutrient Management Plans for handling poultry waste. These plans must include specific waste storage methods (like covered storage during emergencies), strict rules against applying waste during rain, saturated ground, or on frozen land, and soil/waste testing data. Farms must renew these plans every six years and maintain records of all waste applications. The bill directly affects all poultry operations in Oklahoma by setting concrete environmental handling requirements.
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 2037 removes specific energy conservation rules from Oklahoma law by repealing Sections 456, 457, and 458 of Title 19 O.S. 2021 and Section 5-131.2 of Title 70 O.S. 2021. This bill eliminates existing statutory requirements related to energy conservation without creating new provisions. It takes effect on November 1, 2025, after being approved by the governor on May 9, 2025. The repeal directly affects the legal framework governing energy conservation in Oklahoma, removing these specific sections from the state code.
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.
SB 469 modifies eligibility requirements for Oklahoma's Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program, which provides up to 25% rebates for businesses implementing qualifying emission-reduction projects within the state. The bill clarifies submission deadlines (requiring documentation within six months after fiscal year-end completion) and adds a preliminary review process for applications before project funding is spent. It also specifies that applicants must have filed all required Oklahoma tax returns and maintain $1 million general liability insurance with workers' compensation coverage. The changes apply to businesses seeking rebates administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma Tax Commission, using funds from dedicated revolving funds. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
