Water and water rights; metering of wells; requiring all permit holders to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to implement certain allocation to encourage conservation after certain date. Effective date.

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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
February 24, 2025

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 1008 By: Murdock

An Act relating to water and water rights; amending
82 O.S. 2021, Section 1020.19, which relates to
metering of wells; requiring all permit holders to
utilize certain system for use of water; authorizing
the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to implement
certain allocation to encourage conservation after
certain date; specifying requirements for
participation; prohibiting excessive use; exempting
certain wells from provisions; and providing an
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 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.

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A. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall require all permit
holders authorized to take and use groundwater to implement a system
of measuring groundwater usage from all wells associated with the
permit. The Board shall determine which measurement systems may be
utilized, which shall include, but not be limited to, pump and
irrigation monitoring telemetry devices capable of reporting usage.
Such measuring systems shall be in proper operating conditions at
all times when groundwater is being produced. Data from the
measuring system shall be utilized for the annual groundwater use
report.
B. To encourage groundwater conservation, beginning January 1,
2026, the Board shall provide a five-year flex allocation of
groundwater usage based off the previously determined allocated
annual use of the basin or subbasin. 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

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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.
C. 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.
D. 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 two hundred percent (200%) in
any of the five years.
E. Nothing in this section shall apply to domestic wells.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND WILDLIFE
February 24, 2025 - DO PASS AS AMENDED BY CS