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Bill

SB 897

Corporation Commission; modifying termination date of Plugging Fund. Effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Micheal Bergstrom and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma extends the Plugging Fund termination date to continue financing the sealing of abandoned oil and gas wells statewide.

Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/14/2025
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Bill Summary · SB 897

Legislative bill overview

SB 897 modifies the termination date of Oklahoma's Plugging Fund, which is administered by the Corporation Commission and finances the plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells. The bill extends or adjusts the operational period of this fund, allowing continued management of well abandonment obligations. The measure became law without the Governor's signature on May 14, 2025.

Why is this important

Abandoned oil and gas wells pose environmental and safety risks, including groundwater contamination and methane emissions. The Plugging Fund ensures these wells are properly sealed when operators cannot or will not do so themselves. Extending the fund's termination date maintains Oklahoma's capacity to address legacy environmental liabilities from decades of oil and gas extraction.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry burden: Changes to fund termination dates may affect how costs are allocated between operators, the state, and taxpayers for well remediation
  • Environmental priorities: Stakeholders may disagree on whether the extended timeline adequately addresses the estimated thousands of unplugged wells in Oklahoma
  • Funding mechanism: The bill's lack of detail in available information raises questions about whether the fund has sufficient resources or if additional revenue sources are needed

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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