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HB4459 • 2026
Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
Water
Active
The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.
- Sponsor
- Newton
- Last action
- 2026-04-01
- Official status
- Second Reading referred to Energy
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
What This Bill Does
- Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
- Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Introduced (2/10/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 (2/11/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Recommendation (3/2/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Recommendation - - Amendment 1 (3/3/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Committee Substitute (3/11/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statements For HB 4459 (Senate): HB4459 ENGR FI.PDF (Fiscal (Senate))
Limits and Unknowns
- This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: HB4459 FA1 CaldwellTr-CC
3/11/2026 6:05:58 pm
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Trey Caldwell
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
FLOOR AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page Section Lines
Of the Engrossed Bill
By striking the Title.
- HB4459 FA1 CaldwellTr-CC
3/11/2026 6:05:58 pm
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Trey Caldwell
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
FLOOR AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page Section Lines
Of the Engrossed Bill
By striking the Title.
Plain English: Req.
- Req.
- No.
- 16354 Page 1
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
POLICY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO.
- 4459 By: Newton
POLICY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
An Act relating to waters and water rights; amending
82 O.S.
Plain English: HB4459 POLREC-AMD1 Carl Newton-JBH
3/2/2026 11:08:26 am
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Carl Newton
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page 3 Section 1 Lines 9
Of the Engrossed Bill
by deleting the phrase "two hundred percent (200%)" and inserting in lieu
thereof the phrase "one hundred fifty percent (150%)";
On page 3, Section 1, Line 10 by adding after the "." the following
sentence "Usage greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) in any one
year shall be considered waste pursuant to Section 1020.15 of this
title."; and
On page 3, Section 1, line 16 by adding after the word "a" and before the
word "groundwater" the following word "voluntary".
- HB4459 POLREC-AMD1 Carl Newton-JBH
3/2/2026 11:08:26 am
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Carl Newton
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page 3 Section 1 Lines 9
Of the Engrossed Bill
by deleting the phrase "two hundred percent (200%)" and inserting in lieu
thereof the phrase "one hundred fifty percent (150%)";
On page 3, Section 1, Line 10 by adding after the "." the following
sentence "Usage greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) in any one
year shall be considered waste pursuant to Section 1020.15 of this
title."; and
On page 3, Section 1, line 16 by adding after the word "a" and before the
word "groundwater" the following word "voluntary".
Plain English: HB4459 POLPCS1 Carl Newton-JBH
2/9/2026 3:48:26 pm
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Carl Newton
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page Section Lines
Of the Engrossed Bill
By deleting the content of the entire measure, and by inserting in lieu
thereof the following language:
Req.
- HB4459 POLPCS1 Carl Newton-JBH
2/9/2026 3:48:26 pm
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS
Amendment submitted by: Carl Newton
Adopted: _____________________________
______________________________________
Reading Clerk
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma
SPEAKER:
CHAIR:
I move to amend HB4459
Of the printed Bill
Page Section Lines
Of the Engrossed Bill
By deleting the content of the entire measure, and by inserting in lieu
thereof the following language:
Req.
- No.
- 16026 Page 1
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
PROPOSED POLICY
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO.
- 4459 By: Newton
PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to waters and water rights; amending
82 O.S.
Bill History
-
2026-04-01
Senate
Second Reading referred to Energy
-
2026-03-12
House
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
-
2026-03-12
Senate
First Reading
-
2026-03-11
House
General Order
-
2026-03-11
House
Amended
-
2026-03-11
House
Title stricken
-
2026-03-11
House
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 65 Nays: 28
-
2026-03-11
House
Referred for engrossment
-
2026-03-04
House
CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee
-
2026-02-16
House
Policy recommendation to the Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Energy
-
2026-02-16
House
Authored by Senator Jech (principal Senate author)
-
2026-02-03
House
Second Reading referred to Energy and Natural Resources Oversight
-
2026-02-03
House
Referred to Energy
-
2026-02-02
House
First Reading
-
2026-02-02
House
Authored by Representative Newton
Official Summary Text
Waters and water rights; metering of wells; requiring Water Resources Board provide certain allocation of groundwater; permits; requirements; measurements; effective date.
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Introduced (2/10/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 (2/11/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Recommendation (3/2/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Proposed Policy Committee Recommendation - - Amendment 1 (3/3/2026)
Bill Summaries/Fiscal Impact for HB 4459 (House): Committee Substitute (3/11/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statements For HB 4459 (Senate): HB4459 ENGR FI.PDF (Fiscal (Senate))
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
ENGR. H. B. NO. 4459 Page 1
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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4459 By: Newton of the House
and
Jech of the Senate
[ waters and water rights - metering of wells -
Oklahoma Water Resources Board - allocation of
groundwater - existing permit holders - new permit
requirements - excessive use of water – waste -
voluntary groundwater use measurement program -
distribution of board-approved measuring systems -
annual certification - effective date ]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 82 O.S. 2021, Section 1020.19, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1020.19. Upon request of a majority of the landowners
residing within a A. To encourage groundwater conservation,
beginning January 1, 2027, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall
provide a five-year flex allocation of groundwater usage based off
ENGR. H. B. NO. 4459 Page 2
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the previously determined allocated annual use of the basin or
subbasin, the Board is authorized to require that water wells be
metered and that such meters as the Board shall approve be utilized
by the applicant and placed under seal, subject to reading by the
agents of the Board at any time. The Board may also require that
the applicant report the reading of such meters at reasonable
intervals. A five-year flex allocation shall not require a new
permit for existing permit holders. A five-year flex allocation
shall be available for:
1. Existing permit holders for groundwater use permits in
basins or subbasins, based upon the maximum annual yield
determination at the time of the original application;
2. New applicants for groundwater use permits in basins or
subbasins based upon the current maximum annual yield determination;
and
3. New and existing applicants and temporary permit holders for
groundwater use permits in basins or subbasins where the maximum
annual yield has yet to be determined.
B. An applicant for a five-year flex allocation shall be
required to:
1. Submit an annual usage report of the prior year's usage from
a Board-approved water measurement system; and
2. Pay the annual groundwater permit fee.
ENGR. H. B. NO. 4459 Page 3
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C. A five-year flex allocation shall allow the permit holder to
exceed the determined annual allocation in any year of the five-year
allocation; provided, that the applicant shall adhere to the
cumulative annually determined allocation of the basin or subbasin
over the five-year period. The permit holder shall not exceed the
permitted annual allocation by over one hundred fifty percent (150%)
in any of the five (5) years. Usage greater than one hundred fifty
percent (150%) in any one year shall be considered waste pursuant to
Section 1020.15 of this title.
D. 1. For all permit holders not participating in the five-
year flex program described above, groundwater irrigation districts
created pursuant to Section 1021.1 et seq. of this title or a
conservation district participating in a conservation cost-share
program pursuant to Section 3-3-101 et seq. of Title 27A of the
Oklahoma Statutes shall develop a voluntary groundwater use
measurement program that provides board-approved measuring systems
to members, on a loan or cost share basis, for use in verifying the
volume of water pumped from wells and irrigation systems to ensure
system efficiency and proper water use accounting.
2. The groundwater irrigation district or conservation district
shall issue an annual certification that the permit holder has
participated in the program. The certification shall be submitted
with the permit holder's annual water use report.
E. Nothing in this section shall apply to domestic wells.
ENGR. H. B. NO. 4459 Page 4
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SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
Passed the House of Representatives the 11th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate