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HB 3475

Waters and water rights; creating the Waters and Water Rights Modernization Act of 2026; effective date.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Boles

Oklahoma's HB 3475 modernizes state water management and water rights law, potentially reshaping water allocation, groundwater rules, and competing user priorities across agriculture, energy, and municipalities.

Second Reading referred to Rules
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Bill Summary · HB 3475

Legislative bill overview

HB 3475 introduces the Waters and Water Rights Modernization Act of 2026, which appears designed to update Oklahoma's water management and water rights framework. The bill is currently in early stages of the legislative process, having just completed first reading and been referred to the Rules Committee for second reading consideration.

Why is this important

Water rights are critical to Oklahoma's agriculture, energy production, and municipal water supplies. Modernizing water rights laws can affect how water is allocated during droughts, how groundwater depletion is managed, and how competing water users resolve disputes. Changes to water rights frameworks can have significant economic impacts on farming, ranching, industrial operations, and residential water availability.

Potential points of contention

  • Groundwater management concerns - Updates to groundwater extraction rules could face opposition from agricultural operations that rely on current extraction practices, or conversely from environmental groups seeking stricter depletion controls
  • Water rights allocation priorities - Any shift in how water is prioritized between agricultural, industrial, municipal, and environmental uses may create conflict between different stakeholder groups
  • Existing water rights holders - Modernization efforts often require clarifying or reassigning water rights, which can disadvantage current rights holders or create costly permit modifications

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

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