The bill amends various sections of the Oklahoma Statutes concerning groundwater management, introducing new reporting requirements for permit holders who must now submit annual usage reports to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board by January 31 of the following year. It establishes penalties for willful failure to report and clarifies that conservation practices leading to reduced usage will not impact future permitted shares. The bill also expands the Board's responsibilities to include investigating complaints about groundwater usage and mandates that all water wells requiring a permit be equipped with flow meters or alternative measuring systems for accurate reporting.

Furthermore, the bill enhances the Board's authority to impose fines for violations of groundwater regulations and to address wasteful practices. It creates a Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund dedicated to groundwater protection efforts, separate from the Board's general budget. The bill also sets a timeline for implementing meter and measurement requirements by August 1, 2026, and establishes a five-year allocation system for groundwater permits. Additionally, it appropriates $1.5 million from the General Revenue Fund to support the Board's monitoring duties, with the bill set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 82-1085.2