Bill > SB447

This bill permits residents to forage for nuts, edible plants, and fungi on state-owned or state-managed property accessible to the public, with several important restrictions and guidelines. Specifically, foraging is allowed only for personal consumption and is prohibited on state research farms, leased lands where permission has not been granted, and restricted areas like highways, law enforcement properties, and correctional facilities. The bill defines "edible plant or fungi" as wild plants or fungi safe for human consumption, "nut" as a dry fruit with a single seed and hard shell, and "personal consumption" as an amount that can be consumed in a few days by an individual. Foragers are encouraged to wear hunter orange clothing for visibility and to be knowledgeable about the safety of the items they are collecting. The bill also includes a provision that after July 1, 2026, people lawfully on Wildlife Management Areas can forage under rules to be established by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. The legislation will become effective on November 1, 2025, and explicitly prohibits foraging from certified agricultural crops or threatened and endangered plant species.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb447&Session=2600