OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., (The Oklahoma Post) –
Good work. Still some needs to address.
Senate Bill 92, introduced in 2025, aims to address water and wastewater infrastructure challenges through a Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Program. This program, managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB), is designed to offer competitive loans to eligible entities for developing water and wastewater projects. A notable feature of SB 92 is the inclusion of clawback provisions in all funding agreements. This provision mandates that loan recipients agree in writing to reimburse the program for all or part of the loan if certain conditions are not met.
The clawback provision serves as a protective measure for taxpayers, ensuring that funds are used appropriately and that entities failing to fulfill their obligations are held financially accountable. However, while SB 92 establishes this safeguard, it does not explicitly address scenarios where private businesses receive state funds without adequately investing in necessary infrastructure for their projects. To fully protect local taxpayers, additional legislative measures may be required to ensure that private companies are responsible for funding their infrastructure needs before receiving state assistance.
Of course prior to city approval of many businesses, it is the responsibility of the local municipality to hold developers responsible for infrastructure damages and expected improvements needed prior to full approval.
See bill and committee reports below.
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Press Release – February 17, 2025 – Oklahoma House
Senator Bullard secures committee passage of bill to fund local water, wastewater infrastructure
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, has secured initial approval for legislation to appropriate $500 million for local water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Last week, the Senate Energy Committee unanimously approved Bullard’s Senate Bill 92. This bill would make a one-time appropriation to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board so the agency can offer low-interest loans so communities can upgrade and replace their aging water and wastewater infrastructure.
Under the bill, 50% of the funds would be reserved for counties with fewer than 30,000 people. The remaining funds would be evenly divided between mid-sized counties and those with more than 400,000 residents.
“During the ARPA process, we learned that many Oklahoma communities, especially those in rural areas, have billions of dollars in critical water and wastewater projects that they simply can’t afford to tackle on their own,” Bullard said. “This one-time appropriation creates a recurring investment to help municipalities revitalize their water systems to conserve this precious resource and ensure everyone has access to clean drinking water.”
Bullard passed similar legislation through the Senate and the House last year, but the bill stalled amid state budget negotiations at the end of the legislative session.
“Water and wastewater infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating in cities and towns across the state, pushing Oklahoma to the brink of a crisis,” Bullard said. “If we don’t take action soon, Oklahoma could end up like Flint, Michigan, where outdated water systems and decades of neglect led to a public health disaster.”
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For more information, contact: Sen. David Bullard at (405) 521-5586 or David.Bullard@oksenate.gov
*End of Press Release
(Writing by Lee Brooks; Editing by Robbie Robertson)
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