Senate Unanimously Advances Frix Bill Providing Relief for Families Impacted by Contaminated Homes

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate has passed Senate Bill 1319, legislation by Senator Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, directing the Corporation Commission to establish a process for homeowners to receive remediation assistance if their property is contaminated by a substance under the commission’s jurisdiction.

Frix stated he filed the bill following an incident in which a Fort Gibson family was forced to leave their home after it became unlivable due to a suspected leak from a nearby abandoned well.

“SB 1319 addresses the devastation the Meredith family faced when their home became unlivable, and they had no choice but to leave for their children’s safety,” Frix said. “No family should have to go through such an experience alone or without support from the state regulatory agency. With this bill advancing, homeowners across Oklahoma will soon have greater protections and a clear path to get the help they need if contamination threatens their home.”

Under the bill, the Corporation Commission shall determine the amount of remediation assistance necessary to remediate and abate the environmental emergency. The measure also allows the Commission to purchase the property of the homeowner if such an action is determined to be the best course of action.

SB 1319 provides that a homeowner is not required to file an insurance claim to be eligible for remediation assistance, but they must pursue all valid claims.

The legislation is now eligible for consideration in the House of Representatives, where Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, is serving as the bill’s author.

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For more information, contact: communications@oksenate.gov.