Sponsor lays over bill that would require department to reimburse agriculture operations for AG-filed suits

Representative Harden read a proposed committee substitute for SB 722 that would create a new statutory provision requiring the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to reimburse agricultural operations for economic losses resulting from agency actions taken under court orders in lawsuits filed by the state attorney general.

Harden said the language responds to recent litigation and an ongoing AG opinion and that the intent is to protect producers facing potentially ruinous judgments and loss of livelihood. He cited potential losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for affected operations and said the bill was prompted by requests from agriculture stakeholders.

Committee members pressed on the bill's scope: whether the reimbursement obligation would apply only to suits filed by the attorney general, how reimbursement values would be determined, and whether the provision would apply to other industries. Harden said the draft needs work and requested to lay the bill over for further drafting to answer those questions.

Outcome: With chairman approval the bill was laid over and will remain the committee’s property for further work.

Provenance: The transcript records the PCS reading, discussion of an existing AG opinion and the decision to lay the bill over for further drafting.