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Oklahoma Legislature· HB 2096Referred to Revenue and Taxation

An act relating to wildlife habitat development, the official text

Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1                     STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 2096                 By: Menz

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5

6                               AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to wildlife habitat development;

    amending 29 O.S. 2021, Section 3-312, which relates

8   to a program to promote wildlife habitat development

    on private lands; providing that land in the program

9   is exempt from eminent domain; and providing an

    effective date.

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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

14  SECTION 1.        AMENDATORY  29 O.S. 2021, Section 3-312, is

15 amended to read as follows:

16  Section 3-312. A. In order to encourage wildlife habitat

17 conservation on private lands, the Department of Wildlife

18 Conservation shall establish a program for wildlife habitat

19 maintenance, enhancement, development, preservation, restoration,

20 and management on private lands. To implement the program, the

21 Department shall enter into multiyear contracts for approved

22 projects on privately owned lands detailing the landowners'

23 responsibilities.

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    Req. No. 12217                                                 Page 1
1   B. The Department shall promulgate rules pursuant to the

2 Administrative Procedures Act to implement the program. Such rules

3 may provide for incentives to participate in the program.

4   C. Nothing in this section or in the contract executed pursuant

5 to subsection A of this section shall be interpreted or construed to

6 constitute a financial or general obligation of the state. No state

7 revenue shall be used to guarantee or pay for any damages to

8 property or injury to persons as a result of the provisions of this

9 section or the contract.

10  D. 1. Any landowner contracting with the Department pursuant

11 to the provisions of this section:

12  a. except as otherwise provided by this subsection, owes

13  no duty of care to keep the premises safe for entry or

14  use by others for any recreational purposes, or to

15  give any warning of a dangerous condition, use,

16  structure, or activity on such premises to persons

17  entering for such purposes, or

18  b. who either directly or indirectly invites or permits

19  without charge any person to use such property for

20  recreational purposes, does not thereby:

21  (1) extend any assurance that the premises are safe

22                  for any purpose,

23  (2) confer upon such person the legal status of an

24                  invitee or licensee, or

    Req. No. 12217                                              Page 2
1           (3) assume responsibility for or incur liability for

2                   any injury to person or property caused by an act

3                   or omission of such persons.

4   2. Nothing in this section limits in any way any liability

5 which otherwise exists for:

6           a. willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against

7           a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity, or

8           b. injury suffered in any case where the owner of land

9           charges the person or persons who enter or go on the

10          land for the recreational use thereof.

11  E. Lands entered into the program are exempt from eminent

12 domain.

13  SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

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15  60-1-12217      JL  01/15/25

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    Req. No. 12217                                              Page 3
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