Bill > HB2989

This bill, titled the "Wildland Fire Mitigation Act," aims to reduce the risk and impact of uncontrolled fires on forests, grasslands, and other wildlands, which are defined as "wildland fires." It allows electric utilities, which include electric cooperatives and other public utilities that provide electricity, to develop and implement an "electrical wildland fire plan" to mitigate the risk of their equipment causing or worsening these fires. This plan can detail geographic areas of high risk, inspection and vegetation management procedures, facility upgrades, and restoration plans. While utilities can recover reasonable costs associated with these plans through customer rates, the adoption or content of such a plan cannot be used against them in legal proceedings seeking damages for property loss from a wildland fire. The bill also establishes that individuals who negligently, recklessly, or intentionally cause a wildland fire are liable for property damage, regardless of land ownership, but it sets limits on damages awarded to property owners, excluding punitive or treble damages and capping awards at the cost of restoration or the difference in property value. Furthermore, it creates the "Wildland Fire Mitigation Program Act," tasking the Oklahoma Conservation Commission with developing and implementing a program to incentivize landowners and land managers to adopt fire mitigation practices, including a pilot program in historically impacted areas, and establishes a dedicated "Wildland Fire Mitigation Program Revolving Fund" to support these efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2989&Session=2600