Oklahoma City, OK — The Oklahoma Legislature is moving closer to approving a measure aimed at shielding oil and gas companies from climate-related lawsuits.
House Bill 1439, authored by Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, advanced Wednesday out of the House Energy Committee on a 9-3 vote. Moore, who represents District 57 in western Oklahoma and serves as Speaker Pro Tempore, said the proposal is intended to halt what he described as repetitive litigation targeting fossil fuel producers.
Moore told committee members the bill would prevent a cycle of lawsuits seeking similar judgments against oil and gas companies.
“The reality is, in this scenario, if you file a lawsuit and you obtain a judgment, someone tomorrow could then file the same lawsuit and go try to get the same judgment, and over, and over, and over,” Moore said. “It’s just a cyclical, never-ending cycle.”
He added that restricting such lawsuits is necessary to protect both the state’s economy and energy production.
“The world’s economy, without oil and gas, I mean, we’re back at the Stone Ages,” Moore said.
Moore also argued that Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry is a leader in reducing emissions and environmental impact.
“They’re actually leading the way,” he said. “We’re not going to make it worse on them by allowing them to be subject to these frivolous lawsuits.”
According to the bill language, HB 1439 would prohibit certain legal actions against companies that lawfully produce, manufacture, transport, or sell fossil fuels when those products function as intended. The measure also seeks to preserve access to affordable and reliable energy while supporting economic growth, including jobs, tax revenue, and related benefits.
The proposal further defines “covered civil liability action” to include lawsuits or administrative proceedings tied to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, or their alleged effects, brought against entities involved in the fossil fuel supply chain.
The bill previously passed the Oklahoma Senate on a 40-7 vote on March 10. It now advances to the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee for further consideration.
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