HB 1615 Summary

• Amends 82 O.S. 2011, Section 105.6 to modify how the Oklahoma Water Resources Board may institute suits to adjudicate stream water rights.

• Requires the Board to fulfill five conditions before instituting an adjudication suit: provide notice to all persons in affected counties, explain the suit's necessity, consider environmental impacts and groundwater flows, hold a public hearing with comment period, and fully respond to all public comments.

• Prohibits the Board from initiating an adjudication suit if a majority of persons claiming water rights in the stream system object to the adjudication.

• Limits the Board to prosecuting only one adjudication suit per stream system at a time, and restricts such suits to the specific stream system only, excluding tributaries or receiving bodies of water.

• Changes cost allocation from proportional charging to individual water rights holders to charging costs against the state subject to appropriations; declares an emergency effective upon passage.