SB 753 — Invasive woody species; creating the Oklahoma Invasive Woody Species Stewardship for State-Leased Lands Act. Effective date.

STATESENATE OFFLOOR OKLAHOMAVERSION 1stMarch Session3, of2025 the3 60thCOMMITTEE Legislature (2025) FLOOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

Deevers of6 the Senate and West (Rick) of the House 8 FLOOR SUBSTITUTE [ invasive woody species control - rates - inspections - violations - resources - contests of findings - promulgation of rules - codification - effective date ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

As used in this act,act: “invasive woody species” means a native or non-native tree or shrub species that threatens and causes harm Req.

No.1.

1963“Invasive Pagewoody 1species” means a native or non-native tree or shrub species that threatens and causes harm to the environment, water resources, or economy.

Invasive woody species include, but are not limited to, Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Redcedar), SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB753 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper), Juniperus monosperma (oneseed juniper), and Tamarix ramosissima (salt cedar).cedar);

and 2.

“Lessee” means any individual, organization, or entity leasing state-owned land.

AsUpon establishedorigination in the Oklahoma Constitution, the Commissioners of thea Landnew Officelease areor responsiblerenewal for the management of thea permanentlease schoolon fundstate-owned andproperty theafter management of trust assets for the exclusiveeffective purposedate of providingthis maximumact, benefitsa oflessee currentshall andbe futurerequired beneficiaries.to:

Invasive1. woody species threaten to, and have caused harmed to, the environment, water resources, and the economy, including having caused harm to and devaluing the trust assets and the permanent school fund.

InvasiveRemove woodyno speciesless arethan likelyeighty-five topercent cause(85%) furtherof harminvasive towoody andspecies furtheron devalue the Office’sleased trustproperty, assetsas offollows: the permanent school fund.

Ina. order to protect and maintain the value of trust assets of the permanent school fund, and to manage trust assets for the benefit of current and future beneficiaries, the Office is hereby authorized to remove and manage invasive woody species as provided in this act.

twenty-five percent (25%) by the end of the first year, b.

forty-five percent (45%) by the end of the second year, c.

sixty-five percent (65%) by the end of the third year, and d.

eight-five percent (85%) by the end of the fourth year.

Provided, however, if the lessee renews for a subsequent lease for the property, the lessee shall remove no less than ninety-five percent (95%) by the end of the first year of his or her renewed lease;

2.

Submit a management plan to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Commissioners of the Land Office outlining the strategy the lessee intends to employ for the removal and ongoing SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB753 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) maintenance of invasive woody species on the property within ninety (90) days of the origination date of the lease;

and 3.

Maintain the minimum removal requirement of invasive woody species pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection throughout the duration of the lease.

ByLease Decemberrates 15 of each year, the Office shall identifybe andreduced prioritizeto trustoffset landsthe thatdocumented havecosts beenincurred harmed and devalued by invasive woody species and shall submit a management plan to the Oklahomarequirements Conservationof Commission,this outliningact. the strategy that the Req.

No.The reduction shall be agreed upon between the lessee and the state upon approval and review of anticipated costs prior to the origination of the lease.

1963A Pagelessee 2may Commissionersreceive ofa thecredit Landagainst Officethe intendlease toimposed employon for the removalcosts andincurred ongoingby maintenancethe requirements of invasivethis woodyact. species on trust lands.

The Commissioners of the Land Office shallin becoordination authorizedwith to:the Oklahoma Conservation Commission shall:

EnterProvide intothe programslessee runwith by,a indescription coordinationof with,the orproperty in contract with thea Oklahomadetermination Conservationof Commission,growth otherby stateinvasive orwoody federalspecies agencies,prior orto entitiesorigination lawfullyof engagingthe inlease prescribedto burnsassist forwith the removal andpursuant managementto paragraph 1 of invasivesubsection woodyB species;of this section;

ContractConduct annual inspections of leased lands to ensure compliance with vendorsthe formanagement plan submitted by the removallessee andpursuant managementto paragraph 2 of invasivesubsection woodyB species;of this section.

3.The lessee shall make the leased property available for inspection upon notice from the Commissioners of the Land Office;

Contract with its lessee for the removal and management3. of invasive woody species;

andProvide 4.an appraisal for all improvements associated with the management plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 1062 of SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB753 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) Title 64 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

EngageThe inappraisers anyas othera lawfulpart activityof fortheir appraisal shall determine the removalfair andmarket managementrental value of invasivethe woodyland. species.

For purposes of this section, “fair market rental value” is the annual price in cash a willing but not obligated lessee would pay, and a willing but not obligated lease holder would charge, for the same or similar lands for the highest and best legal use of the property, agricultural or commercial.

a.

In determining the fair market rental value, the appraisers shall consider the following:

(1) present land use, (2) acres of land in cultivation, pasture, timber, and nonproductive, (3) soil types and productivity, (4) availability of water, (5) improvements made pursuant to this act, (6) cash rental price of comparable agricultural land, and (7) effective cash return on the lease holder’s share of crop rent from comparable agricultural land for the five-year period preceding the appraisal.

b.

The appraisers shall reconcile the variables to arrive at their estimation of fair market rental value of the land;

provided, that they shall give weighted SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB753 SFLR Page 4 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) preference to comparable cash rentals charged on other lands of the same or similar quality in the area.

Appraisals conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed those rates associated with the Conservation Stewardship Program implemented by the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service.

By1. February 15 each year, the Commissioners of the Land Office shall submit electronically a report to the Legislature detailing the actions taken and the program made under the provisions of this act.