Oklahoma Senate Bill 1396 Summary

• Authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to issue permits for mowing and harvesting hay on state highway rights-of-way through a public bidding process.

• Requires permit holders to assume all liability for hay quality and work-related accidents, sign a liability release, and maintain minimum $1,000,000 liability insurance coverage.

• Grants priority to owners of land abutting the right-of-way until July 30 each year; non-abutting owners limited to permits covering five miles of right-of-way, with harvesting restricted to 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.

• Permits valid for four years; administrative fees credited to the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund, with gross proceeds from public bidding awarded to the Common School Fund.

• Effective July 1, 2014, with emergency declaration.