PRIA Logo™
OklahomaSB 1314Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenate

Groundwater use; increasing cap of certain fund related to commercial drilling and plugging. Effective date.

Sponsored By: Darcy Jech (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Stronger fines and stop-work orders for drillers

Starting Nov 1, 2026, the Board can fine up to $5,000 per violation after notice and a hearing. It can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license. It can order you to stop noncompliant work and make fixes. If you do not pay or comply, the Attorney General can collect the penalty.

Cleanup fund for bad wells, $25K cap

Starting Nov 1, 2026, the state runs a cleanup fund for wells and borings that pollute groundwater. The fund can pay for remedial work when a covered well causes pollution. The fund pays no more than $25,000 for each well, borehole, or pump. Costs above $25,000 are not paid by the fund.

New licenses and tests for drillers and pump installers

Starting Nov 1, 2026, commercial well drillers and pump installers in Oklahoma must hold a license and pay an annual fee. The rules cover groundwater, monitoring, observation, heat‑exchange and geothermal wells, geotechnical borings, and commercial pump work. The Board can require exams and other steps to get and keep a license. Before work, licensees must file required data. After finishing, they must file a completion report and, when required, a pumping test log.

How Oklahoma funds and oversees well cleanups

Starting Nov 1, 2026, the cleanup fund must keep at least $100,000. Once the fund reaches $100,000, extra fees, reimbursements, and penalties go into a Regulation Account. The Board uses that account for inspections, licensing, enforcement, education, and council travel costs. The Board can set up an Advisory Council to recommend rules and review fund uses.

State inspections can shut unsafe wells

Starting Nov 1, 2026, the Board can inspect wells, borings, pumps, and abandoned wells. With owner consent or a court order, it can enter property to inspect. If it finds a violation or a health hazard, it can disapprove use until the problem is fixed. You can ask for a hearing if you disagree.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Darcy Jech

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Carl Newton

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 187 • No: 2

House vote • 5/4/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 85 • No: 2

House vote • 4/13/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 4/13/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 46 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

Committee vote: Energy

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 05/07/2026

    5/11/2026Senate

  2. Sent to Governor

    5/5/2026Senate

  3. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/5/2026House

  4. Enrolled, to House

    5/5/2026Senate

  5. Referred for enrollment

    5/4/2026Senate

  6. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/4/2026House

  7. Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 85 Nays: 2

    5/4/2026House

  8. General Order

    5/4/2026House

  9. CR; Do Pass Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee

    4/13/2026House

  10. Policy recommendation to the Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee; Do Pass Energy

    4/1/2026House

  11. Referred to Energy

    3/30/2026House

  12. Second Reading referred to Energy and Natural Resources Oversight

    3/30/2026House

  13. First Reading

    2/26/2026House

  14. Engrossed to House

    2/26/2026Senate

  15. Referred for engrossment

    2/25/2026Senate

  16. Measure passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0

    2/25/2026Senate

  17. General Order, Considered

    2/25/2026Senate

  18. Placed on General Order

    2/16/2026Senate

  19. Withdrawn from Appropriations committee

    2/16/2026Senate

  20. Coauthored by Representative Newton (principal House author)

    2/10/2026Senate

  21. Referred to Appropriations

    2/5/2026Senate

  22. Reported Do Pass Energy committee; CR filed

    2/5/2026Senate

  23. Second Reading referred to Energy Committee then to Appropriations Committee

    2/3/2026Senate

  24. Authored by Senator Jech

    2/2/2026Senate

  25. First Reading

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled (final version)

    5/5/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (House)

    4/16/2026

    PDF

  • House Committee Report

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • House Policy Committee Report

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Engrossed

    2/26/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (Senate)

    2/17/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report

    2/5/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/29/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation