OklahomaOklahoma law provides statewide removal program for harmful trees and shrubs
Starting November 1, 2026, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will oversee statewide removal of harmful trees and shrubs, with help for landowners depending on available money.
What it does
Starting November 1, 2026, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission will run a statewide program to remove rapidly spreading trees and shrubs likely to harm the environment or economy.
Starting November 1, 2026, the law provides help with landowners' removal costs when money is available. It also provides for grants with local groups that support removal.
Argument forRemoving harmful trees and shrubs could protect grazing land and reduce wildfire risks while helping more water reach rivers and basins.
Argument againstLandowners could still face removal costs they cannot afford because help with those costs depends on available program money.
More detail
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission will administer the statewide removal program. The program covers watersheds across Oklahoma. The commission must work with landowners, state agencies, and local governments. Covered trees and shrubs must spread rapidly into nearby land and be likely to harm the environment or economy. The commission must measure their density, estimate their water use, and study a comparison watershed where they are not controlled. The program must have at least two active project areas, one above the Canton Lake dam and one below. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
The commission must use available money to share landowners' removal costs and develop grants with local groups that support removal. Assistance covers harmful tree and shrub removal. Grant programs involve conservation districts, rural fire departments, and associations that conduct controlled burns. Help with landowners' costs depends on available money. The fund can receive state funding, federal grants, local and private contributions, and other designated money. Money in the fund remains available across budget years. These assistance and funding provisions take effect November 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 11Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/07/2026Became Law
- May 5Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 5Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 5Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 4Referred for enrollment
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 4Fourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 79 Nays: 9Major
- May 4SA's read, adoptedMajor
- Apr 27SA's received
- Apr 27Engrossed to HouseMajor
- Apr 23Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Measure passed: Ayes: 43 Nays: 1Major
- Apr 23Enacting clause restored
- Apr 23Title restored
- Apr 23General Order, Amended
- Apr 13Placed on General Order
- Apr 13Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Apr 6Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 6Enacting clause stricken
- Apr 6Reported Do Pass as amended Agriculture and Wildlife committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Agriculture and Wildlife Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Mar 12First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 11Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 85 Nays: 9Passed House
- Mar 11Coauthored by Representative(s) Ranson
- Mar 11General Order
- Mar 5Title stricken
- Mar 5Authored by Senator Kern (principal Senate author)
- Mar 5CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget CommitteeMinor
- Mar 3
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Referred to Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Appropriations and BudgetMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Dobrinski
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Environment & Energy