As the second session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned Friday, most everyone was focused on the last-minute budget. Despite the doom-and-gloom of the state’s budget, Oklahoma farmers and ranchers saw several key wins at the state Capitol this year.
1. Aquifer storage and recovery:
As farmers and ranchers know all too well, an adequate supply of water can make or break the agriculture industry. State legislators took another step this year to help prepare Oklahoma for future droughts by passing SB 1219.
The bill, authored by Sen. Eddie Fields and Rep. John Pfeiffer, allows the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to create rules for aquifer storage and recovery. Utilized across the country, the technology captures excess water and pumps it back into underground aquifers for use at a later time. Many Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, especially in the panhandle, rely on groundwater to irrigate crops. The ability to restore those aquifers in periods of heavy rain will prove invaluable. Learn more about the bill here.
2. Commercial driver’s licenses for H-2A workers:
Last year, a Federal Motor Carriers Administration rule change prohibited the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety from issuing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. Temporary agricultural workers on an H-2A visa would not have access to a CDL, which would have greatly hindered their ability to harvest crops.
SB 1018, authored by Sen. Mike Schulz and Rep. Harold Wright, allows DPS to again issue non-domiciled CDLs, allowing the H-2A workers to drive trucks and help farmers get crops to market. Learn more here.
3. Cattle theft penalties:
Cattle theft has a huge impact on farmers and ranchers across Oklahoma. But current state statutes addressing cattle theft were originally written in the 1930s, and had not recently been updated to align with the increase in cattle prices.
Rep. John Pfeiffer, a cattle rancher himself, authored and passed HB 2504 alongside Sen. Ron Justice to update those state statutes to fit today’s market. The bill increases the fine for cattle theft to three times the value of the animals stolen, up to $500,000. In addition, each animal stolen will constitute a separate offense. Find more on the bill here.
4. Feral hogs:
A bill that would have allowed landowners to remove feral hogs any time of day without a permit passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Gov. Mary Fallin. In the place of SB 1142, Fallin issued an executive order requiring the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to expedite the issuance of permits, and also develop rules that:
- allow landowners to remove feral hogs on their property at night with the use of night-vision equipment, off-road vehicles, and handheld or vehicle-mounted headlights;
- require private landowners to provide advance notice to game wardens when attempting to remove feral swine;
- and explain how to access information on feral hog eradication.
Located in all 77 Oklahoma counties, feral hogs are an invasive species causing millions of dollars in damage to farms, ranches, public and private property, ecosystems, and even motorists. Learn more about the invasive species here.
Interested in learning more? Stay tuned for our final Lincoln to Local videos of the session and a new episode of The Break Down.
