SB 1008 — 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.

SENATE CHAMBERFLOOR STATEVERSION OFFebruary OKLAHOMA24, DISPOSITION2025 FLOOR3 AMENDMENTCOMMITTEE No.SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO.

________1008 COMMITTEEBy: AMENDMENT (Date) I move to amend Senate Bill No.

1008,Murdock page6 2,An linesAct 1relating throughto 10,water byand removingwater subsectionrights; A.

Renumberingamending subsequentO.S. subsections Amend title to conform Submitted by:

_______________________2021, SenatorSection Murdock1020.19, Murdock-MR-FA-SB1008which 3/4/2025relates 1:46to PMmetering (Floorof Amendmentswells; Only) Date and Time Filed:

Untimelyrequiring Amendmentall Cyclepermit Extendedholders Secondaryto Amendmentutilize 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.

SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1008 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 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 SENATE FLOOR VERSION - SB1008 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 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.