TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — A bill aimed at shielding Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry from certain climate-related lawsuits is now awaiting action from the governor after clearing both chambers of the Legislature by wide margins.
Senate Bill 1439, authored by Julie Daniels and carried in the House by Anthony Moore, would block certain climate-related lawsuits against oil and gas companies. The measure passed the House 74-16, largely along party lines, after clearing the Senate.
Supporters say the bill is intended to protect Oklahoma’s energy industry from what they describe as frivolous claims and to keep the state business-friendly. Opponents warn it could limit accountability and prevent some cases from ever being heard in court.
Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, who spoke against the bill, said the legislation would stop some lawsuits before they reach a courtroom.
“The bill seeks to give complete immunity to fossil fuel companies from being held accountable before the conversation even comes to the courts; that case is going to be dismissed. It’s not going to go anywhere. It’s not going to give any opportunity for a family, or a town that sees that there is a harm caused from being able to seek compensation,” Alonso-Sandoval said.
Alonso-Sandoval also argued the bill’s language is broad and could apply beyond drilling. The bill covers oil and gas production, transportation, and the sale and use of oil and gas products. He said that breadth could affect certain health-related claims, such as cases in which emissions from a company are linked to respiratory issues in a community, potentially preventing those lawsuits from moving forward.
He also pointed to politics as a factor in the bill’s momentum.
“In Oklahoma, the oil and gas and fossil fuel lobby is very strong, given that it is an election year, a lot of people will just support legislation like that because they recognize it could benefit them politically. I think we need to stand with the people that elected us and protect their right to be able to sue if they’ve seen some harm done to them,” Alonso-Sandoval said.
As the bill heads to the governor, Alonso-Sandoval warned it could have broader impacts on the state and future legislation.
“Ultimately, that harms Oklahomans because we have to foot the bill, we have to pay the cost it can open the door for other industries to also seek some level of immunity from being held accountable,” he said.
The governor can sign the bill into law or veto it. If it becomes law, it could change what types of lawsuits are allowed in Oklahoma and who can be held accountable moving forward.
