Panel advances bill to move scrap‑dealer oversight to DEQ amid funding questions

Representative Pfeiffer presented HB 3,728, which would transfer responsibility for scrap‑dealer licensing and weights & measures functions from the Department of Agriculture to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Pfeiffer said the Department of Agriculture currently runs the program at a cost of about $20,000 with roughly $16,000 collected in licensing fees and that DEQ indicated it would need "about $100,000" to run the program properly.

Committee members raised enforcement concerns, citing theft of copper and other metals. Representative Rowe asked whether enforcement could be expanded; Pfeiffer said a funding increase would be required for meaningful expansion and that the committee planned to meet with the Scrap Dealers Association, the Department of Agriculture and DEQ to discuss licensing fees and structure. Pfeiffer acknowledged some operators that identify as salvage yards are not subject to the same licensing requirements as scrap dealers and said the committee would work through that distinction.

After discussion the committee voted and staff announced 6 yeas, 0 nays; the chair declared HB 3,728 passed out of committee. Sponsors said further meetings with industry and agency representatives are scheduled to resolve funding and enforcement questions.