HB 3469 changes Oklahoma's oil and gas industry financial surety requirements. It phases out Category A surety (a $50,000 net worth financial statement) for new operators starting November 2025, requiring them instead to use Category B surety (like cash, bonds, or letters of credit). Current operators with Category A can keep it but may switch to Category B, with amounts increasing based on well count over 2026-2028 (e.g., 1-10 wells start at $25,000 in 2026, rising to $50,000 by 2028). The bill also allows operators with lower plugging costs to use reduced Category B amounts (via affidavit) and mandates Category B for operators with fines, compliance issues, or pollution violations.
SB 1854 prohibits Oklahoma utility companies from using eminent domain (government power to take private property) to acquire land for renewable energy facilities, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, battery storage, and hydrogen gas projects. It specifically bans eminent domain for these facilities on private property while allowing it for traditional power infrastructure. The bill also requires a Certificate of Authority from the Corporation Commission for high-voltage transmission lines over 300 kilovolts, though existing electric suppliers are exempt from this requirement for routine upgrades. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 239 modifies Oklahoma's tax credit for electricity generated by zero-emission facilities (like wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal power plants). It limits the credit to tax years ending by 2025, ending the ability to carry forward unused credits beyond that year. For credits claimed after July 2019, taxpayers must choose between receiving an 85% direct refund or carrying the credit forward for up to 10 years (ending in 2025). This bill directly affects businesses and entities generating eligible renewable electricity in Oklahoma, altering how they can use or access these tax credits.
HB 1452 imposes a state tax on owners of wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric facilities in Oklahoma, equal to the federal production tax credit amount they could have claimed. The tax applies regardless of whether the facility owner actually used the federal credit. Government-owned facilities are exempt from this tax, while private owners must report and pay the tax monthly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. All revenue collected flows into the state's General Revenue Fund.
SB 1003 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create rules ensuring electricity grid affordability and reliability. It mandates that the grid maintain 115% guaranteed power capacity (sufficient backup power) to prevent outages, requires new wind/solar projects to include backup power costs in their total expense calculations, and directs the Commission to select new power sources based on the lowest total cost to ratepayers. These rules directly affect electric utilities and the Corporation Commission, with specific requirements including preventing premature retirement of existing power plants unless cost-effective and ensuring power sources meet continuous operating needs during extreme weather. The bill aims to prevent power shortages through measurable reliability standards, effective November 1, 2025.
HB 2751 proposes setback requirements for wind energy towers in Oklahoma counties with specific population density (>8.5 people/sq mile) or low wind speed (<9.5 mph). It requires towers to be placed at least 2.5 times their tip height or 1/4 mile from nearby properties, whichever is greater, and allows counties to vote to waive this requirement via referendum every five years. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission must maintain a public database tracking which counties have active setback rules. The bill failed in the Energy Committee on April 24, 2025, and remains pending. This would directly affect property owners and wind energy developers in designated counties.
SB 1300 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to prioritize energy sources that are affordable, reliable, and secure within the state. It mandates that energy providers prioritize U.S.-sourced fuel (excluding nuclear), ban critical materials from "foreign adversary nations" (as defined by federal designations), and prioritize infrastructure built in Oklahoma or the U.S. The bill also requires a sufficient supply of "green energy" (defined to include nuclear and natural gas meeting EPA standards) that is dispatchable - meaning available on demand - to meet all customer needs without interruptions. This directly affects energy providers and grid operators subject to the Commission's oversight.
HB 1156 sets new distance requirements for wind energy facility construction in Oklahoma. It prohibits building wind towers within 1.5 nautical miles of airport runways (public or municipal), public schools, or hospitals, and within 0.5 miles of adjacent property lines. The bill also requires wind projects needing FAA Form 7460-1 to obtain a "Determination of No Hazard" from the FAA and resolve military impact concerns before construction, with penalties of up to $1,500 per day for non-compliance. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, directly affecting wind energy developers, landowners, and military installations near proposed sites.
HB 1450 places an indefinite moratorium on constructing or expanding new wind and utility-scale solar energy facilities in Oklahoma, affecting all new projects and expansions by state agencies and political subdivisions. The bill exempts facilities already permitted, approved by regional transmission organizations, and operational before the bill's passage, as well as existing operational facilities. It declares an emergency to take immediate effect upon passage, halting all new renewable energy infrastructure development while allowing current projects to continue. The measure directly impacts developers planning new wind or solar projects but does not alter existing operational facilities.
HB 1147 prohibits any individual, corporation, organization, or government entity from constructing, operating, or maintaining facilities designed to capture or store carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere in Oklahoma. This bill directly affects companies or projects developing carbon capture technology that targets atmospheric CO2, banning such activities statewide. Violations are classified as endangering citizens, subjecting violators to penalties outlined in Oklahoma Statutes Section 2-3-504. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025.
