Bill No. 951, introduced by Senators Murdock and Archer, amends Section 1023 of Title 64 of the Oklahoma Statutes regarding the granting of commercial and agricultural leases by the Commissioners of the Land Office. The bill establishes that any permanent improvements made on commercial trust property after July 1, 1989, will revert to the trust at the end of the lease. It also mandates that the Commissioners require payment of ad valorem property taxes on improvements and indemnify themselves from financial obligations related to the land. Additionally, the bill updates statutory references and language to ensure clarity and compliance with current laws.

Significantly, the bill introduces a requirement for an appraiser selected by the Commissioners to assess improvements made by the current lessee on agricultural leases. When a new lease is granted, the new lessee must reimburse the previous lessee for the appraised value of these improvements, with failure to do so constituting a lease default. The bill also prohibits charging additional fees to lessees for irrigation if the water is not sourced from lands managed by the Commissioners. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.