Bill > SB1008

This bill amends Oklahoma's water rights regulations by requiring all groundwater permit holders to implement a system for measuring water usage, such as pump and irrigation monitoring telemetry devices that can report water consumption. Starting January 1, 2026, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board will introduce a five-year "flex allocation" approach to groundwater usage, which allows permit holders more flexibility in their annual water consumption while still maintaining overall conservation goals. Under this new system, permit holders can exceed their annual allocation in individual years, as long as they do not surpass the total allocation over the five-year period and do not use more than 200% of their annual allocation in any single year. Permit holders must submit annual usage reports from Board-approved measurement systems and pay annual permit fees. The bill specifically exempts domestic wells from these requirements. The new regulations aim to encourage more efficient water use and provide better tracking of groundwater consumption across Oklahoma's various basins and subbasins, with the new rules becoming effective on November 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1008&Session=2600