Read the full stored bill text
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2426 By: Fetgatter of the House
and
Mann of the Senate
[ emergency weather response – Oklahoma Severe
Weather Media Tracking and Research Regulatory Act
of 2025 – severe weather trackers – vehicles –
criteria – Service Oklahoma – license –
requirements – renewal fees – punishment for
violations – suspension or revocation of licenses –
rules – Severe Weather Tracker Licensure Fund –
expenditures – identification and equipment –
authorizations – weather trackers – fines and
revocation of license – codification – effective
date ]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-300 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Severe
Weather Media Tracking and Research Regulatory Act of 2025".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-301 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
As used in the Oklahoma Severe Weather Media Tracking and
Research Regulatory Act of 2025:
1. "Field research team" shall mean a privately funded research
team in the field of meteorology and sanctioned by a Doctor or
principle researcher of the National Science Foundation or National
Institute of Science and Technology;
2. "Professional severe weather tracker" shall mean a licensed
individual or company hired or contracted via a qualified media
outlet, or in a reserve role of up to two (2) years of inactivity
with a qualified media outlet, or is affiliated with a research
program at a qualified institution for higher education;
3. "Professional severe weather tracker’s primary vehicle"
shall mean a primary vehicle which complies with the provisions of
the Oklahoma Severe Weather Media Tracking and Research Regulatory
Act of 2025, and defined further in Section 3 of this act;
4. "Qualified institution for higher education" shall mean any
college or university regulated by the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education who offers a course or program in meteorology,
including federal or state research programs in the field of severe
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
weather, which shall include vehicles gathering atmospheric
conditions and radar vehicles;
5. "Qualified media outlet" shall mean a commercial television
or radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
for the broadcast or transmission of television programming via
broadcast, cable, streaming, or other platforms as recognized by the
Federal Communications Commission; and
6. "Significant weather event" shall mean:
a. a confirmed tornado or tornado emergency which wholly
or partially covers one or more counties located in
the State of Oklahoma issued by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National
Weather Service Storm Prediction Center,
b. a confirmed tornado or tornado emergency which covers
any county within a neighboring state, in which such
county borders the State of Oklahoma, issued by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center,
c. red flag fire warning issued by the NOAA National
Weather Service or the Oklahoma Forestry Services of
the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and
Forestry, or
d. flash flood warning or flood warning issued by the
NOAA National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-148.1 of Title 47, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Any vehicle categorized as a professional severe weather
tracker’s primary vehicle as defined in the Oklahoma Severe Weather
Media Tracking and Research Regulatory Act of 2025 shall:
1. Be authorized to be equipped with a combination of green and
yellow flashing lights. The lights shall be visible at five hundred
(500) feet in normal sunlight;
2. Display markings clearly identifying such vehicle as being
utilized for severe weather tracking and identifying the qualified
media outlet or qualified institution of higher education with which
the tracker is affiliated;
3. Cause to be displayed in sharp contrasting colors visible
from fifty (50) feet, in conformance with the rules of Service
Oklahoma, on both sides of such vehicle and as applicable:
a. the license number issued by Service Oklahoma and the
Federal Communications Commission license number of
the qualified media outlet with whom the tracker
maintains the employment or contractual relationship,
or
b. the license number issued by Service Oklahoma, as well
as an identifying number developed by Service Oklahoma
for qualified institutions of higher education; and
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
4. Not be violative of the provisions of subsection B of
Section 264 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes as it relates to
restrictions on utilizing insignia from law enforcement agencies to
influence traffic enforcement and shall not be violative of other
provisions of law.
SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-302 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Service Oklahoma shall be authorized to create a
professional severe weather tracker license.
B. Any professional severe weather tracker employed or
contracted with by any qualified media outlet shall be eligible to
apply for a license authorized in this subsection. Such licensee
shall:
1. Cause a copy of his or her license issued by Service
Oklahoma to be kept on file with such outlet;
2. Ensure the professional severe weather tracker's primary
vehicle conforms with the requirements of Section 3 of this act;
3. Shall have been employed or contracted with a qualified
media outlet no less than one (1) year and shall not have been
terminated for cause by a qualified media outlet in the last four
(4) years;
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
4. Submit to an electronic national criminal history record
check pursuant to Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma
Statutes;
5. Supply Service Oklahoma with a letter from the hiring entity
of the qualified media outlet stating the belief of such hiring
entity that the prospective professional severe weather tracker
possesses the knowledge, experience, and training to exercise the
privileges and duties of the license responsibly;
6. Provide a copy of valid and continuing insurance coverage as
required by Sections 7-101 et seq. of Title 47 of the Oklahoma
Statutes to Service Oklahoma;
7. Take an emergency driving course provided by an institute of
higher education, a technology center school district, or a private
instructor who is certified by the Council on Law Enforcement
Education and Training before receiving a license and upon every
renewal; and
8. Carry minimum vehicle insurance of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00) of combined single liability or other coverage of
the same amount.
C. Any professional severe weather tracker employed, contracted
with, or otherwise affiliated with any qualified institution for
higher education shall be eligible to apply for a license authorized
in this subsection. Such licensee shall:
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1. Cause a copy of his or her license issued by Service
Oklahoma to be kept on file with the dean, director, or other
designated individual by the institution who shall be responsible
for the maintenance of records associated with the institution's
meteorology program;
2. Ensure the professional severe weather tracker's vehicle
conforms with the requirements of Section 3 of this act;
3. Submit to an electronic national criminal history record
check pursuant to Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma
Statutes;
4. Supply Service Oklahoma with a letter from the dean,
director, or other designated individual by the institution who
shall be responsible for the maintenance of records associated with
the institution's meteorology program stating the belief of such
person that the prospective professional severe weather tracker
possesses the knowledge, experience, and training to exercise the
privileges and duties of the license responsibly;
5. Provide a copy of valid and continuing insurance coverage as
required by Sections 7-101 et seq. of Title 47 of the Oklahoma
Statutes to Service Oklahoma;
6. Take an emergency driving course provided by an institute of
higher education, a technology center school district, or a private
instructor who is certified by the Council on Law Enforcement
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Education and Training before receiving a license and upon every
renewal; and
7. Carry minimum vehicle insurance of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00) of combined single liability or other coverage of
the same amount.
D. Any professional severe weather tracker who is a member of a
field research team as defined in Section 2 of this act and is led
by an individual who has received his or her Doctorate of
Meteorology shall be eligible to apply for a license authorized in
this subsection. Such licensee shall:
1. Cause a copy of his or her license issued by Service
Oklahoma to be kept on file with the Doctor or other designated
individual by the Doctor who shall be responsible for the
maintenance of records associated with the research being conducted;
2. Ensure the professional severe weather tracker’s primary
vehicle conforms with the requirements of Section 3 of this act;
3. Submit to an electronic national criminal history record
check pursuant to Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma
Statutes;
4. Supply Service Oklahoma with a copy of the completion of the
Doctor’s doctoral degree in the field of meteorology, a copy of the
funding statement from or scope of research to be performed for the
National Science Foundation or National Institute of Science and
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Technology, and a letter from the Doctor attesting the applicant is
a member of the research team;
5. Provide a copy of valid and continuing insurance coverage
for the vehicle as required by Section 7-101 et seq. of Title 47 of
the Oklahoma Statutes to Service Oklahoma;
6. Take an emergency driving course provided by an institution
of higher education, a technology center school district, or a
private instructor who is certified by the Council on Law
Enforcement Education and Training before receiving a license and
upon renewal; and
7. Carry minimum vehicle insurance of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00) of combined single liability, or other coverage of
the same amount.
E. The fees for a license issued pursuant to this section shall
be sufficient to only cover the costs of the implementation and
administration of this act, however under no circumstances shall the
fee authorized in this subsection exceed Five Hundred Dollars
($500.00) for a three-year license for the initial application and
shall expire at the end of the calendar year of the third year. The
fee for any subsequent renewal shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars
($250.00) for any subsequent renewal.
F. Service Oklahoma shall issue a letter of reprimand, cancel,
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license of an
operator when it finds the licensee or applicant has not complied
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
with or has violated any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Severe
Weather Media Tracking and Research Regulatory Act of 2025, or any
rules adopted by Service Oklahoma. A suspension or revocation shall
be for a period of time deemed appropriate by Service Oklahoma for
the violation. Any canceled, suspended, or revoked license shall be
returned to Service Oklahoma by the licensee, and the licensee shall
not be eligible to apply for another license until the period of
suspension or revocation has elapsed.
G. Service Oklahoma shall promulgate rules to effectuate the
provisions of this act.
H. The provisions of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act
shall apply to the implementation and administration of this act.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-303 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund
for Service Oklahoma to be designated the "Severe Weather Tracker
Licensure Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject
to fiscal year limitations. All monies accruing to the credit of
the fund are hereby appropriated and shall be budgeted and expended
by Service Oklahoma for the restricted purposes of the monies as
prescribed by law. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon
warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services for approval and payment.
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-304 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Professional severe weather tracker's primary vehicles shall
comply with the marking provisions of Section 3 of this act.
B. Once the conditions of a significant weather event have been
met, a professional severe weather tracker located in the area for
which the significant weather event is located may:
1. Activate the visual signals authorized by Section 3 of this
act;
2. Travel upon roads, highways, and county roads closed by the
Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, any
city or county, or any law enforcement agency by reason of
conditions triggered by the significant weather event. Provided,
upon the determination by any law enforcement officer that the
conditions which caused such closure present too grave a risk for
the life and safety of the professional severe weather tracker, law
enforcement may prevent the continued travel upon or entry to any
closed road;
3. Proceed past a red light or traffic control signal as
defined in Section 1-178 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
only after coming to a complete stop and ensuring the absence of
cross traffic;
4. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as speeding does not
endanger life or property;
5. Disregard regulations governing direction of movement; and
6. Disregard regulations governing turning in specified
directions.
C. The exemptions granted to a professional severe weather
tracker in this section shall apply only when the tracker is
properly and lawfully making use of flashing green and yellow lights
or a combination of flashing green and yellow lights meeting the
requirements of Section 3 of this act.
D. The provisions of this section shall not limit the liability
of a professional severe weather tracker. The provisions of this
section shall not relieve the professional severe weather tracker
from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all
persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the
consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.
E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that
any motor vehicle yield right-of-way and stop for any professional
severe weather tracker.
F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a
professional severe weather tracker to impersonate a law enforcement
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
officer or first responder, or to block roads or prevent the free
and regular flow of traffic upon the roads of this state.
G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt a
professional severe weather tracker from obligation to yield right-
of-way and stop for authorized emergency vehicles, as prescribed in
Section 1-103 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-305 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Any professional severe weather tracker found to be in violation
of the provisions of this act shall be subject to a fine, not to
exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and revocation of his or her
license by Service Oklahoma.
Such fine or revocation shall be in addition to any criminal or
civil penalties that the professional severe weather tracker may be
subject to for any other violations of the laws of this state.
SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 19-306 of Title 47, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit or limit the
rights of any individual from engaging in recreational or commercial
storm chasing who is not in possession of or eligible to receive a
license authorized by this act. However, a license received
pursuant to this act shall not be used for the purpose of getting a
ENGR. H. B. NO. 2426 Page 14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
better filming location. The license shall only be used for the
purposes of keeping up with a storm or its conditions and traveling
through restricted locations, not to restricted locations.
SECTION 9. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate