Senate Bill No. 259 seeks to amend Oklahoma's laws regarding groundwater use, reporting, metering, and permitting. The bill requires permit holders to submit annual reports of their water usage to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) and introduces penalties for those who willfully fail to report. It expands the OWRB's responsibilities to include investigating complaints about groundwater usage and implementing a metering schedule. Additionally, the bill establishes new rules for groundwater use in cooling systems at data processing facilities, emphasizing low-consumptive technologies. The OWRB is also tasked with developing a phase-in schedule for metering requirements and modernizing data collection systems, ensuring that all permitted groundwater wells are equipped with flow meters or alternative measuring systems.

Furthermore, the bill enhances the OWRB's authority by allowing it to release easements no longer needed and creating a special account for funds related to training and conferences. It mandates training workshops for rural water district board members in collaboration with the Oklahoma Rural Water Association. Notably, the bill introduces progressive fines and penalties for overuse of water allotments by both permitted and unpermitted well users, excluding domestic users. These penalties will escalate based on the severity and frequency of violations, potentially leading to permit suspensions for those who repeatedly disregard regulations. The act is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 82-1085.2
House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill: 82-1085.2
Committee Substitute: 82-1085.2
Floor (House): 82-1085.2
Floor (Senate): 82-1085.2
Engrossed: 82-1085.2
Amended And Engrossed: 82-1085.2
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 82-1085.2