Bill > HB4354

This bill, known as the "Salt Cedar Eradication Act," establishes a program to control and eliminate invasive Salt Cedar plants, which are harmful to water resources, native ecosystems, and agriculture, specifically within counties in Oklahoma's Upper North Fork of the Red River Basin. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission will lead this effort, working with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The program will involve identifying Salt Cedar infestations, developing and implementing removal strategies like mechanical or chemical treatments, and offering financial and technical help to eligible landowners, defined as private, tribal, and public landowners in the affected area. "Eradication" means significantly reducing Salt Cedar populations so they are no longer a major threat. The bill also creates a dedicated "Salt Cedar Eradication Revolving Fund" to receive various sources of funding, including appropriations, grants, and contributions, which can be used by the Commission for eradication activities. The Commission is authorized to create necessary rules and must submit an annual report detailing progress, finances, and recommendations to state leadership. This act will take effect on July 1, 2026, with an emergency clause allowing it to become law immediately upon passage and approval.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb4354&Session=2600