Oklahoma City, OK – A bill filed ahead of the Oklahoma Legislature’s 2026 session would significantly limit civil lawsuits against oil and gas companies, including claims tied to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
House Rep. Anthony Moore, a Republican from Clinton, is a co author of Senate Bill 1439, alongside Sen. Julie Daniels. The proposal is titled the Energy Security and Independence Act.
The measure would block most civil liability claims against companies that lawfully produce, manufacture, and sell fossil fuels in Oklahoma, unless a lawsuit alleges specific violations of environmental or labor laws.
According to the bill, its intent is to prevent legal action against energy companies when fossil fuels are produced and sold in compliance with existing regulations and function as intended.
The legislation broadly defines prohibited lawsuits to include claims of fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or failure to warn, when those claims are connected to climate change, its impacts, or greenhouse gas emissions.
If passed, the bill would sharply limit the ability of cities, counties, or private individuals to pursue climate related lawsuits against oil and gas companies operating legally within the state.
Supporters say the bill is meant to protect Oklahoma’s energy industry from what they view as politically driven litigation that could threaten jobs, energy production, and economic stability. Moore has consistently supported policies aimed at protecting the oil and gas sector, a major employer across western Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s proposal is part of a broader national effort. A similar bill has been introduced in Utah, and last year a group of Republican state attorneys general urged the U.S. Department of Justice to provide a federal liability shield for energy producers facing climate lawsuits.
Critics argue the legislation weakens corporate accountability. Climate advocates and former elected officials have warned that shielding companies from lawsuits could limit communities’ ability to seek damages related to environmental or public health concerns.
SB 1439 will be eligible for consideration when Oklahoma lawmakers convene for the 2026 legislative session.
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