This bill establishes new regulations for public utilities providing municipal water and wastewater services in Oklahoma. It defines key terms such as "public utility" and "qualified operations and maintenance program," which outlines the necessary components for managing and maintaining these utility systems. The governing body of the public utility is required to engage users in understanding their responsibilities and to implement measures to prevent system malfunctions, including the adoption of ordinances related to fats, oils, and grease, as well as backflow-prevention devices. Public utilities that adhere to these standards will be protected from liability for losses or claims resulting from their operations.

Additionally, the bill provides an affirmative defense for third-party contractors operating municipal utility systems against administrative penalties for violations that stem from pre-existing deficiencies in the system. It also limits liability for community public utility systems for issues that arose under previous owners or operators, provided they implement a corrective action plan approved by the Department of Environmental Quality. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.