The proposed bill establishes the "Wildland Fire Mitigation Act" and the "Wildland Fire Mitigation Program Act" in Oklahoma, aimed at reducing the risk and impact of wildland fires. It authorizes electric utilities to develop an electrical wildland fire mitigation plan, which must include specific procedures for inspecting infrastructure, managing vegetation, and restoring electrical systems after a fire. The bill prohibits the consideration of a utility's adoption or non-adoption of such plans in legal proceedings related to property damage from wildland fires. Additionally, it allows utilities to recover costs associated with implementing these plans under certain conditions.
The bill also creates a Wildland Fire Mitigation Program within the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, which will develop and implement strategies to incentivize fire mitigation practices among landowners and stakeholders. A revolving fund is established to support this program, funded through various sources such as appropriations and grants. The act specifies that damages awarded to property owners due to wildland fires will not include punitive damages and outlines the criteria for determining such damages. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.