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28	28	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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30	30	1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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32	32	HOUSE BILL 1551 By: Patzkowsky
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38	38	AS INTRODUCED
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40	40	An Act relating to agriculture; amending 2 O.S. 2021,
41	41	Section 3-220, which relates to noxious weeds;
42	42	providing that poison hemlock an d Kudzu are a noxious
43	43	weed; providing for the eradication of poison hemlock
44	44	and Kudzu; removing fine; requiring counties and
45	45	state agencies to treat and prevent noxious weeds on
46	46	certain lands; and providing an effective date.
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52	52	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
53	53	SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 2 O.S. 2021, Section 3 -220, is
54	54	amended to read as follows:
55	55	Section 3-220. A. 1. The plants musk thistle (Carduus nutans
56	56	L.), Scotch thistle (Onoprodum acanthium L.), and Canada thistle
57	57	(Cirsium arvense), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) , and Kudzu
58	58	(Pueraria montana) are designated as noxious weeds. The Legislature
59	59	finds that these thistles and poison hemlock and Kudzu are a public
60	60	nuisance in all counties across this st ate.
61	61	2. It shall be the duty of every landowner in each county to
62	62	treat, control, or eradicate all Canada thistles, musk thistles, or
63	63	Scotch thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu growing on the
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90	90	landowner's land every year as shall be sufficient to prevent t hese
91	91	thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu from going to seed.
92	92	3. The Department of Transportation, the boards of county
93	93	commissioners, and any other public, private, or corporate entity
94	94	who shall maintain rights -of-way in the State of Oklahoma shall be
95	95	responsible for removing any thistle , poison hemlock, and Kudzu
96	96	infestation that occurs within their jurisdiction.
97	97	4. Failure of the landowner to treat, eradicate, or control all
98	98	musk, Canada, or Scotch thistle may result in a fine not to exceed
99	99	One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation per day All
100	100	counties and state agencies shall treat, control, or eradicate all
101	101	Canada thistles, musk thistles, or Scotch thistles, poison hemlock
102	102	and Kudzu growing on land s owned by or leased by a county or state
103	103	agency every year as shall be sufficient to prevent these thistles,
104	104	poison hemlock, and Kudzu from going to seed .
105	105	5. Upon written complaint, the State Department of Agriculture
106	106	shall inspect the type of thistle , poison hemlock, or Kudzu
107	107	infestation, assess t he nature and extent of the thistle , poison
108	108	hemlock, or Kudzu infestation on the property of the landowner and
109	109	determine the most appropriate thistle or weed treatment, control,
110	110	or eradication method available for the type of thistle , poison
111	111	hemlock, or Kudzu and location of the property.
112	112	B. The State Board of Agriculture shall:
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139	139	1. Promulgate rules setting categories or degrees of
140	140	infestation which would require specified treatment, control, or
141	141	eradication;
142	142	2. Include musk thistles, Scotch thistles, and Canada thistles,
143	143	poison hemlock, and Kudzu, as prohibited noxious weed and weed seed
144	144	pursuant to the Department 's authority and responsibility under
145	145	Article 8 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Code;
146	146	3. By November 1, 2000, and annually thereafter prior to the
147	147	growing season of musk thistles, Scotch thistles, and Canada
148	148	thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu, complete an annual survey
149	149	detailing the degree of infestation of these thistles , poison
150	150	hemlock, and Kudzu across the state. The results of these surveys
151	151	shall be reported to Oklahoma State University; and
152	152	4. In all counties of this state, provide information to
153	153	newspapers of general circulation stating that musk thistles, Scotch
154	154	thistles, and Canada thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu are a
155	155	public nuisance and that it is the duty of every public, private, or
156	156	corporate landowner to tre at, control, or eradicate these thistles ,
157	157	poison hemlock, and Kudzu growing on any property owned by the
158	158	landowner. The information shall be provided at the beginning of
159	159	the cycle of growth of the musk thistles, Scotch thistles, and
160	160	Canada thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu and at other times as
161	161	necessary to inform landowners of the provisions of this subsection.
162	162	The information material shall also include:
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189	189	a. information detailing the process by which an
190	190	interested landowner may receive assistance pursu ant
191	191	to this subsection for the removal of thistles , poison
192	192	hemlock, and Kudzu from infested property,
193	193	b. the telephone number of the Department, and
194	194	c. a statement informing the landowner that failure to
195	195	remove musk thistles, Scotch thistles, and Canada
196	196	thistles, poison hemlock, and Kudzu may subject the
197	197	landowner to legal action requiring the treatment,
198	198	control, or eradication of these thistles , poison
199	199	hemlock, and Kudzu.
200	200	C. Upon request of the landowner or the Department, the
201	201	designated Oklahoma State Un iversity extension agent for a
202	202	particular county shall evaluate or, if there is no extension agent
203	203	for a particular county, the Department shall inspect the type of
204	204	thistle, poison hemlock, or Kudzu infestation, assess the nature and
205	205	extent of the thistle , poison hemlock, or Kudzu infestation on the
206	206	property of the landowner, and determine the most appropriate
207	207	thistle, poison hemlock, or Kudzu treatment, control, or eradication
208	208	method available for the type of thistle , poison hemlock, or Kudzu
209	209	and location of the property.
210	210	SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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212	212	60-1-10280 JL 01/01/25

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1551 Compare Versions