Senator Burns Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 133 to Strengthen Groundwater Permit Requirements

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate has advanced legislation to ensure accountability and transparency in the groundwater permitting process. 

Senate Bill 133, authored by Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, requires any person applying for a groundwater permit to include documentation of a valid, unexpired driver license issued by the state of Oklahoma or U.S. passport with their application.

“This legislation is about protecting Oklahoma’s water resources and ensuring that those applying for groundwater permits are properly identified,” Senator Burns said. “Requiring valid identification helps improve oversight and prevents misuse of our state’s groundwater supply. This is a necessary step to prevent fraudulent applications and ensure groundwater resources are managed responsibly.”

The measure comes in response to growing concerns about the integrity of groundwater permit applications and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent potential exploitation of Oklahoma’s natural resources. 

By requiring valid identification, Senate Bill 133 aligns the permitting process with existing state and federal documentation standards.

The bill now moves to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for further consideration.

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For more information, contact: Sen. George Burns at (405) 521-5614 or George.Burns@oksenate.gov