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
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 263 By: Murdock
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to invasive species; amending Section
7 1, Chapter 372, O.S.L. 2023 (27A O.S. Supp. 2024,
8 Section 3-8-101), which relates to short title;
8 renaming act; amending Section 2, Chapter 372, O.S.L.
9 2023 (27A O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-8-102), which
9 relates to pilot program; updating definitions;
10 specifying entities eligible for cost-sharing of
10 funds; expanding number of active project areas;
11 amending Section 3, Chapter 372, O.S.L. 2023 (27A
11 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-8-103), which relates to
12 North Canadian Watershed Restoration Revolving Fund;
12 updating language; updating statutory references;
13 updating statutory language; and providing an
13 effective date.
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16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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17 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 372, O.S.L.
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18 2023 (27A O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-8-101), is amended to read as
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19 follows:
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20 Section 3-8-101. This act shall be known and may be cited as
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21 the "Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Water Restoration Act".
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22 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY Section 2, Chapter 372, O.S.L.
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23 2023 (27A O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-8-102), is amended to read as
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24 follows:
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Req. No. 590 Page 1
1 Section 3-8-102. A. As used in the Terry Peach North Canadian
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2 Watershed Water Restoration Act:
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3 1. "Commission" means the Oklahoma Conservation Commission;
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4 2. "Harmful woody species" means a tree or shrub species that
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5 is rapidly encroaching into adjoining lands and is likely to cause
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6 harm to the environment or economy. Harmful woody species include,
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7 but are not limited to, Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Redcedar),
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8 Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper), Juniperus monosperma
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9 (oneseed juniper) and, Tamarix ramosissima (salt cedar), Juniperus
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10 pinchotii (redberry juniper), Juniper ashei (ashe juniper), and
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11 Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite); and
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12 3. "North Canadian Watershed" means the an area of land in
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13 Oklahoma that drains or sheds water into the North Canadian River a
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14 waterway or water basin.
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15 B. There Subject to the availability of funds, there is hereby
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16 created a statewide pilot program to remove or eradicate harmful
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17 woody species in the North Canadian Watershed watersheds to be
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18 administered by through the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. To
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19 accomplish the goals listed in this section, the Commission is
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20 authorized to use the funds available in the North Canadian
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21 Watershed Water Restoration Revolving Fund established in Section 3
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22 of this act 3-8-103 of this title. The purpose of the program is to
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23 manage and eradicate, where possible, harmful woody species that
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24 damage grazing lands, create significant wildfire risk, reduce
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Req. No. 590 Page 2
1 wildlife habitat and reduce water flow into the North Canadian River
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2 waterways and water basins.
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3 C. In administering the pilot program, the Commission shall:
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4 1. Cooperate with landowners, state agencies, and other
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5 political subdivisions for removal of harmful woody species;
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6 2. Measure the density of harmful woody species and estimate
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7 water used by those species;
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8 3. Create a study using a parallel watershed with no control of
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9 harmful woody species;
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10 4. Utilize available funds to cost-share with landowners,
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11 recognized governmental entities, or not-for-profit organizations
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12 for expenses incurred in the eradication of harmful woody species by
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13 prescribed burn, biological controls, mechanical removal, or
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14 herbicide applications;
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15 5. Develop grant programs with conservation districts, rural
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16 fire departments, and prescribe burn associations for resources
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17 needed for prescribed burns, mechanical removal, biological control,
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18 or herbicide applications on harmful woody species;
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19 6. Bring attention to the problems posed by harmful woody
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20 species to create awareness, demonstrate value to all stakeholders,
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21 and encourage landowners to participate in the program; and
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22 7. Have at least two three active project areas in the program,
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23 consisting either of one above the Canton Lake dam and one below,
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Req. No. 590 Page 3
1 above Lake Overholser, and the North Fork Red River into Lugert-
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2 Altus Reservoir.
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3 D. The Commission is authorized to promulgate any rules and
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4 procedures to effectuate the provisions of this section.
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5 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY Section 3, Chapter 372, O.S.L.
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6 2023 (27A O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-8-103), is amended to read as
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7 follows:
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8 Section 3-8-103. There is hereby created in the State Treasury
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9 a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to be
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10 designated the "North Canadian Watershed Water Restoration Revolving
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11 Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal
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12 year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the
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13 Conservation Commission from appropriations, federal grants or
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14 funds, municipal contributions, private contributions, and any other
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15 sources, including interest earned from the income in the fund, that
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16 are designated for deposit to such fund or designated for duties
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17 associated with harmful woody species removal from the North
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18 Canadian Watershed watersheds throughout the state. All monies
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19 accruing to the credit of said the fund are hereby appropriated and
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20 may be budgeted and expended by the Conservation Commission to
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21 perform the duties imposed on the Commission by law. Expenditures
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22 from said the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State
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23 Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the
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Req. No. 590 Page 4
1 Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for
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2 approval and payment.
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3 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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5 60-1-590 MR 12/30/2024 7:21:25 PM
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Req. No. 590 Page 5Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.