SB 1917 bans the installation of solar energy devices (like panels) on agricultural land in Oklahoma, directly affecting farmers and ranchers who use land primarily for farming or ranching. The bill restricts solar installations to single-family homes and commercial/industrial properties only, prohibiting them on any land classified as agricultural by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. It defines "agricultural land" as property used for farming or ranching under state agriculture department oversight. The law takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration, with no exceptions for existing installations on farmland after the effective date.
SB 2069 prohibits hunters in Oklahoma from taking migratory birds (including ducks, geese, doves, and cranes) by baiting or hunting on baited areas. It defines "baited areas" as locations where salt, grain, or feed was placed to attract birds, banning hunting there for 10 days after removal. The bill allows exceptions for normal agricultural practices like grain scattering during harvest but imposes fines ($250-$750 for first offenses) and automatic license revocation (1-10 years) for violations. This directly affects hunters using prohibited methods, with stricter penalties for repeat offenses. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 2078, the Oklahoma Diesel Engine Freedom Act, declares federal mandates requiring diesel exhaust fluid for vehicles operating solely within Oklahoma void, asserting the state's authority under the 10th Amendment to regulate intrastate emissions. It allows the manufacture, sale, and use of diesel engines not requiring exhaust fluid within Oklahoma, prohibits state agencies from enforcing federal diesel fluid requirements, and imposes fines up to $2,500 for violations. The bill repeals an existing Oklahoma statute (47 O.S. 2021, Section 12-423) related to emission control systems. It applies specifically to vehicles engaged only in intrastate commerce, not interstate travel.
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.
SB 1474 requires oil and gas operators in Oklahoma to pay two annual fees: $25 per acre for surface disturbance on agricultural land (until reclamation is certified) and $0.01 per barrel for produced water. Operators can earn credits - up to 100% of the surface fee or 75% of the water fee - by implementing specific environmental practices like reduced well pads, water recycling, or pollinator-friendly reclamation. The collected fees fund the new Water and Agricultural Protection Revolving Fund, which will finance groundwater testing, land restoration, abandoned well plugging, and water recycling research. The bill applies directly to oil and gas operators working on agricultural land or handling produced water, with fees effective November 1, 2026.
This bill prohibits the land application, sale, or distribution of biosolids (wastewater treatment byproducts) containing perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on agricultural land in Oklahoma. It specifically bans materials like sewage sludge, compost made with sludge, or fertilizers derived from sludge, with limited exemptions for food-processing byproducts (e.g., spent grain from brewing) and animal manure. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and Agriculture must enforce the ban, develop PFAS remediation plans for affected farmers, and submit reports by February 2027 detailing implementation and costs. The law targets PFAS contamination risks in soil and crops while allowing alternative agricultural materials to be used.
HB 4350 establishes a five-year flexible groundwater allocation system for permit holders in Oklahoma's basins starting January 1, 2027. It allows existing and new groundwater permit holders to exceed their annual usage limits in individual years (by up to 200%) while requiring total usage over five years to stay within the basin's overall allocation. Permit holders must install approved meters, submit annual usage reports, and pay annual fees, but domestic wells are excluded. The bill aims to encourage conservation by providing flexible usage within cumulative basin limits. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
HB 4068, the Oklahoma Truth in Environmental Marketing Act, requires businesses selling products or packaging in Oklahoma to substantiate environmental claims like "compostable," "recyclable," or "carbon neutral" with reliable evidence (e.g., scientific studies or third-party certifications). It mandates that businesses maintain documentation for five years and disclose specifics like emission calculations and offset verification for "carbon neutral" claims. The Oklahoma Attorney General enforces the law, with penalties up to $2,500 per violation per day for false claims, and collected fines fund enforcement and consumer education. The law applies to all businesses making environmental marketing claims in Oklahoma and takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3404 establishes the Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Indemnity Fund to reimburse landowners for damages caused when prescribed fires spread beyond intended areas (excluding insurance-covered losses or damage to the landowner's own property). Landowners must develop approved burn plans with local conservation offices, notify adjacent landowners, pay a $250 fee, and file plans 30 days before burning to participate. The fund covers up to $1 million per fire event, with payments made pro-rata if insufficient funds exist, and claims must be filed within 60 days of the incident. This directly affects landowners conducting prescribed burns who meet the administrative requirements.
SB 1488 establishes a moratorium on building new data centers (defined as facilities with 100+ megawatts of capacity) in Oklahoma until November 1, 2029. The bill requires the Corporation Commission to study data centers' impacts on water supplies, utility rates, nearby property values, and security, and to recommend regulations for grid health, environmental protection, and data privacy. The Commission must submit an electronic report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the moratorium ends. This directly affects data center developers and operators seeking to expand in Oklahoma, while delaying new construction to allow for regulatory analysis.
