Oklahoma House Bill HB1051

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Roads, bridges and ferries; requiring certain information be kept confidential; requiring utilities make certain information available; effective date.

Impact

The amendments proposed in HB 1051 have significant implications for state laws regarding the operation of public utilities. By establishing confidentiality for utility records, the bill aims to safeguard sensitive operational information. However, it also creates a structured process for utilities to share Geographical Information System (GIS) files with governmental entities, exempting them from public records requests. This allows for better planning and coordination in managing public infrastructure while upholding industry standards for safety and efficiency.

Summary

House Bill 1051 focuses on the management of public utilities and their use of public infrastructure, specifically roads and rights-of-way. The bill amends existing statutes to ensure that certain information provided by public utilities is kept confidential. This includes records that are identified as trade secrets, thereby protecting the operational integrity of utility companies while regulating their use of public highways for installations such as poles, wires, and conduits. It also mandates that public utilities must make certain location information available to governments upon request, ensuring that local authorities have access to vital infrastructure data.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 1051 center on the balance between protecting proprietary information of public utilities and ensuring transparency for local governments. Advocates argue that confidentiality is essential for the competitive functioning of utilities, while opponents may assert that such measures could hinder accountability and transparency. Moreover, the bill stipulates that any failure by utilities to comply with construction and maintenance standards could lead to forfeiture of their rights to use public highways, which has raised concerns regarding the enforceability of such regulations.