HB 1166: Cities and towns; annexation; procedures; annexation of territory without consent of majority of owners; effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add strict limitations on city annexation, including a ban on using connecting strips for annexation and a cap of 8 square miles for small cities (population 12,000 or less). The Senate version also introduced a new requirement for municipalities to create and publish a detailed service plan detailing future water, sewer, and fire services before annexation can occur.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed for smaller municipalities by adding a population-based cap on annexation size and prohibiting specific types of annexation (connecting strips) that were previously allowed.

REQUIREMENT

Added a prohibition against annexing land via connecting strips that serve no municipal purpose other than establishing contiguity.

Added a cap limiting municipalities with a population of 12,000 or less to annexing no more than 8 square miles at one time.

Added a mandatory requirement for municipalities to prepare and publish a service plan outlining future infrastructure services before annexation.

Modified the consent threshold for small municipalities to require 65% of acres and 25% of population consent instead of a simple majority.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a mechanism to automatically detach (reverse) the annexation if the municipality fails to complete the required service plan within 120 months.

House Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated to reflect the official Floor version of the legislation, replacing the 'Committee Substitute' header with 'House of Representatives - Floor Version' and adding the names of the sponsoring legislators. The substantive legal text regarding annexation procedures, consent thresholds, and service plans remains identical to the Committee version, indicating no changes to the bill's policy or requirements.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's legal requirements has not changed; only the document header and metadata were updated to reflect its progression from committee review to the House floor.

TECHNICAL

The document title was changed from 'Committee Substitute' to 'House of Representatives - Floor Version' to indicate the bill has been reviewed and amended by the committee and is now ready for floor debate.

The names of the bill's sponsors (Representative Kelley and Senator Howard) were added to the header, which were previously omitted in the committee draft.

Internal committee tracking numbers and page markers specific to the committee version were removed or adjusted to match the standard floor version format.

House Conference Committee Substitute → House Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Conference Committee Substitute (final agreement between House and Senate) back to a House Committee Substitute (House version), removing Senate-specific amendments. Substantively, the bill now prohibits municipalities with populations of 12,000 or less from annexing land via connecting strips unless it serves a municipal purpose, limits their total annexation area to 8 square miles, and raises the required owner consent thresholds to 65% of acres and 25% of the population.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed for smaller municipalities (population 12,000 or less) by restricting the method of annexation and capping the total area they can annex at one time.

REQUIREMENT

Removed Senate amendments that modified detachment procedures, prohibited attaching taxes for sinking funds, and restricted petitioning for annexation for ten years after detachment.

Added a prohibition on municipalities with 12,000 or fewer residents from annexing land via connecting strips unless the strip serves a municipal purpose.

Increased the required owner consent for annexation to 65% of acres and 25% of the population for small municipalities.

Added a requirement for municipalities to mail notices to the Department of Transportation and the board of county commissioners.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the maximum annexation area for small municipalities from an undefined limit to a strict cap of 8 square miles.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Conference Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reclassified from a 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' to a '2nd Conference Committee Substitute,' indicating it has been finalized after negotiations between the House and Senate. The substantive policy text regarding annexation procedures appears to be reorganized and renumbered, but the core legal requirements for property owner consent, notice periods, and service implementation plans remain consistent with the previous version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on amending Oklahoma statutes regarding municipal annexation and detachment procedures; no change in applicability was detected.

TECHNICAL

The document title and header were updated to reflect the final Conference Committee version, replacing the earlier Proposed Policy Committee Substitute designation.

The text of the act and its sections were renumbered and restructured, likely to align with the final conference agreement, though the specific legal obligations for annexation appear preserved.

The list of sponsors was updated to include additional names (Miller, Steagall, Howard, Murdock, Bullard, and Sacchieri) reflecting the final legislative compromise.

Enrolled (final version) → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to simplify the text and remove provisions related to sinking funds and liability for detached territory. The core requirements for annexation, such as consent thresholds and service plan timelines, remain largely the same, but the language is now cleaner and more direct.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing sections that addressed liability for detached land and the prohibition on attaching ad valorem taxes to sinking funds.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the provision prohibiting municipalities from attaching ad valorem taxes to an annexed area's sinking fund to satisfy judgments.

Removed the provision prohibiting landowners from petitioning for annexation for ten years after their land is detached.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific requirement that a service plan must be included in the public hearing notices.

Changed the consequence for failing to complete municipal services within the timeline: the territory now detaches automatically after 120 months, whereas the previous version allowed owners to petition a court for enforcement.

TECHNICAL

Reformatted the entire bill text to remove redundant headers and streamline the statutory language for clarity.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 5 edits · May 30, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, adding new sponsors and expanding the scope to include detachment procedures and tax limitations. Key substantive changes include clarifying that property owners can sue to enforce service completion plans or petition for detachment if services aren't finished, adding a ten-year ban on re-annexation for detached land, and prohibiting municipalities from using annexed land for sinking funds to satisfy judgments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely governing annexation procedures to also cover detachment procedures, liability of detached territory, and restrictions on using annexed land for tax sinking funds.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a mechanism allowing property owners to directly petition a court to enforce the completion of municipal service plans or to initiate a detachment process if services are not completed on time.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a provision prohibiting owners of land detached from a municipality from petitioning for annexation for ten years following the detachment.

FISCAL

Added a prohibition preventing municipalities from attaching ad valorem taxes to an annexed area specifically to create a sinking fund for satisfying certain judgments.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the bill title and summary to reflect the new provisions regarding detachment, liability, and tax restrictions, while retaining the original annexation consent thresholds.

SCOPE

Added new sections regarding the liability of detached territory and the procedures for detaching municipal territory.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 4 edits · May 28, 2025

MODERATE

The bill modifies the notice and public hearing requirements for annexing territory without owner consent, specifically updating how and where notices must be published and mailed. It clarifies the service plan availability and adjusts the mailing protocols to ensure broader public awareness and proper notification of affected landowners.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on municipal annexation procedures, but the specific requirements for public notice and hearing have been expanded and clarified.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the text governing how the governing body must direct the publication and mailing of annexation notices.

Added a requirement that the notice must state the proposed service plan is available for inspection at a specified location.

Refined the mailing instructions to specify using current ownership rolls, clarify road maintenance responsibilities, and mandate certified mail for large agricultural parcels.

Added a provision requiring notice publication in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the territory sought to be annexed.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 3 edits · May 28, 2025

MINOR

The bill was amended to change its title and purpose from establishing a new 'Cities and Towns Act' to amending a specific existing statute regarding annexation procedures. The substantive policy changes include raising the consent threshold for small municipalities (under 12,000 people) from a simple majority to 65% of acres and 25% of the population, and adding a prohibition on annexing land solely for the purpose of creating a connecting strip.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from creating a comprehensive new act to amending a single existing section of the Oklahoma Statutes (11 O.S. 2021, Section 21-103).

REQUIREMENT

Increased the property owner consent requirement for small municipalities (population 12,000 or less) from a simple majority to 65% of acres and 25% of the population to be annexed.

Added a prohibition preventing municipalities from annexing land solely to create a connecting strip for contiguity or to capture territory within an existing annexation area.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title and short description to reflect that it amends an existing statute rather than establishing a new act.

Cities and towns; annexation; procedures; annexation of territory without consent of majority of owners; effective date.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors