October 3, 2024
It appears that a vetoed bill, which, if passed, would have enabled more regulation and understanding of how commercial irrigators use Oklahoma’s underground water stores, isn’t completely dead yet.
Senate Bill 1341, authored by Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus), passed in both the House and Senate last spring but was vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Now, a new version of the bill could come to a vote during the next legislative session. Currently, interim studies are being conducted, and according to Elk City City Manager Tom Ivester, he was summoned by the Senate Energy and Environment Committee to the Capitol to speak on the matter.
Back in February, Sen. Howard stated that the original bill stemmed from recommendations based on a critical groundwater study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey. He explained that the bill would have applied only to the Upper Red River Basin in Southwest Oklahoma, which includes southern Beckham County. If it had passed, it would have required some irrigators, specifically those drawing from aquifers at risk of depletion, to install meters on their wells.
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