Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2119 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/16/2025

                             
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
HOUSE BILL 2119 	By: Kannady 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to easements; enacting the Oklahoma 
Uniform Easement Relocation Act of 2025; defining 
terms; providing applicability of act to certain 
easements; excluding certain easements from relation; 
establishing the right of a property owner to 
relocate an easement in certain circumstances; 
providing that a property owner may commence a civil 
action to relocate an easement; provid ing the 
requirements for commencing a civil action to 
relocate an easement; provi ding the court guidelines 
in creating an order for relocation of an easement; 
requiring the recordation of certain documents prior 
to relocation of an easement; providing for 
reasonable expenses related to the relocation of an 
easement; requiring the parties to a civil action for 
easement relocation to act in good faith in 
facilitating relocation; provid ing when a proposed 
easement relocation is considered to be final and 
complete; providing and limiting the effect of an 
easement relocation; provid ing that the right of a 
property to relocate an easement under this act 
cannot be waived, excluded, or restricted by 
agreement; providing that the law should be applied 
and construed to promote uniformity with other states 
that enact the act; providing relation to the 
Electronic Signatures in Global National Commerce 
Act; providing that the act applies to an easement 
created before, on, or after the effective date of 
this bill; providing for codification; and provid ing 
an effective date. 
 
 
 
 
   
 
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1501 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numberi ng, reads as follows: 
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma 
Uniform Easement Relocation Act of 2025 ". 
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1502 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
As used in this act: 
1.  "Appurtenant easement " means an easement tied to or 
dependent on ownership or occupancy of a unit or a parcel of real 
property. 
2.  "Conservation easement " means a nonpossessory prop erty 
interest created for one or more of the following conservation 
purposes: 
a. retaining or protecting the natural, scenic, wildlife, 
wildlife habitat, biological, ecological, or open 
space values of real property , 
b. ensuring the availability of real pr operty for 
agricultural, forest, outdoor recreational, or open 
space uses, 
c. protecting natural resources, including wetlands, 
grasslands, and riparian areas ,   
 
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d. maintaining or enhancing air or water quality , or 
e. preserving the historical, architectural , 
archeological, paleontological, or cultural aspects of 
real property. 
3.  "Dominant estate" means an estate or interest in real 
property benefitted by an appurtenant easement. 
4.  "Easement" means a nonpossessory property interest t hat: 
a. provides a right to enter, use, or enjoy real property 
owned by or in the possession of another , and 
b. imposes on the owner or possessor a duty not to 
interfere with the entry, use, or enjoyment permitted 
by the instrument creating the easement or in the case 
of an easement not established by express grant or 
reservation, the entry, use, or enjoyment authorized 
by law. 
5.  "Easement holder" means: 
a. in the case of an appurtenant easement, the dominant 
estate owner, or 
b. in the case of an easement in gross, public utility 
easement, conservation easement, or negative easement, 
the grantee of the easement or a successor. 
6.  "Easement in gross" means an easement not tied to or 
dependent on ownership or occupancy of a unit or a parcel of real 
property.   
 
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7.  "Lessee of record" means a person holding a lessee 's 
interest under a recorded lease or memorandum of lease. 
8.  "Negative easement" means a nonpossessory property interest 
whose primary purpose is to impose on a servient estate owner a duty 
not to engage in a specified u se of the estate. 
9.  "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit 
entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, 
agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity. 
10.  "Public utility easement" means a nonpossessory pr operty 
interest in which the easement holder is a publicly regulated or 
publicly owned utility under federal law or law of this state or a 
municipality.  The term includes an easement benefiting an 
intrastate utility, an interstate ut ility, or a utility co operative. 
11.  "Real property" means an estate or interest in, over, or 
under land, including structures, fixtures, and other things that by 
custom, usage, or law pass with a conveyance of land whether or not 
described or mentioned in the contract of sale or instrument of 
conveyance.  The term includes the interest of a lessor and lessee , 
and unless the interest is personal property under law of this state 
other than this act, an interest in a common -interest community. 
12.  "Record", used as a noun, means information that is 
inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or 
other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.   
 
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13.  "Security instrument" means a mortgage, deed of trust, 
security deed, contract for deed, lease, or other rec ord that 
creates or provides for an interest in real property to secure 
payment or performance of an obligation, whether by acquisition or 
retention of a lien, a lessor 's interest under a lease, or title to 
the real property.  The term includes: 
a. a security instrument that also creates or provides 
for a security interest in personal property , 
b. a modification or amendment of a security instrument , 
and 
c. a record creating a lien on real property to secure an 
obligation under a covenant running with the r eal 
property or owed by a unit owner to a common -interest 
community association. 
14.  "Security-interest holder of record " means a person holding 
an interest in real property created by a recorded security 
instrument. 
15.  "Servient estate" means an estate or interest in real 
property that is burdened by an easement. 
16.  "Title evidence" means a title insurance policy, 
preliminary title report or binder, title insurance commitment, 
abstract of title, attorney 's opinion of title based on examination 
of public records or an abstract of title, or any other means of   
 
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reporting the state of title to real property which is customary in 
the locality. 
17.  "Unit" means a physical portion of a common -interest 
community designated for separate ow nership or occupancy w ith 
boundaries described in a declaration establishing the common -
interest community. 
18.  "Utility cooperative" means a non-profit entity whose 
purpose is to deliver a utility service, such as electricity, oil, 
natural gas, water, sanitary sewer, storm wa ter, or 
telecommunications to its customers or members and includes an 
electric cooperative, rural electric cooperative, rural water 
district, and rural water association. 
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of la w to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1503 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this 
section, this act applies to an easement established by express 
grant or reservation or by prescription, implication, necessity, 
estoppel, or other method. 
B.  This act may not be used to relocate: 
1.  A public utility easement, conservation easement, or 
negative easement; or 
2.  An easement if the proposed location would encroac h on an 
area of an estate burdened by a conservation easement or would   
 
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interfere with the use or enjoyment of a public utility easement or 
an easement appurtenant to a conservation easement. 
C.  This act does not apply to relocation of an easement by 
consent. 
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1504 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A servient estate owne r may relocate an ease ment under this act 
only if the relocation does not materially: 
1.  Lessen the utility of the easement; 
2.  After the relocation, increase the burden on the easement 
holder in its reasonable use and enjoyment of the easement; 
3.  Impair an affirmative, eas ement-related purpose for which 
the easement was created; 
4.  During or after the relocation, impair the safety of the 
easement holder or another entitled to use and enjoy the easement; 
5.  During the relocation, disrupt the use and e njoyment of the 
easement by the easement holder or another entitled to use and enjoy 
the easement, unless the servient estate owner substantially 
mitigates the duration and nature of the disruption; 
6.  Impair the physical condition, use, or value of the dominant 
estate or improvements on the dominant estate; or 
7.  Impair the value of the collateral of a security -interest 
holder of record in the servient estate or dominant estate, impair a   
 
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real property interest of a lessee of record in the dominant estate , 
or impair a recorded real property interest of any other person in 
the servient estate or dominant estate. 
SECTION 5.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1505 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplicatio n in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  To obtain an order to relocate an easement under this act, a 
servient estate owner must commence a civil action. 
B.  A servient estate owner that commences a civil action under 
subsection A of this section: 
1.  Shall serve a summons and petition on: 
a. the easement holder whose easement is the subject of 
the relocation, 
b. a security-interest holder of record of an interest in 
the servient estate or dominant estate , 
c. a lessee of record of an interest in the dominant 
estate, and 
d. except as otherwise provided in paragraph 2 of this 
subsection, any other owner of a recorded real 
property interest if the relocation would encroach on 
an area of the servient estate or dominant estate 
burdened by the interest; and 
2.  Is not required to serve a summons and petition on the owner 
of a recorded real property interest in oil, gas, or minerals unless   
 
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the interest includes an easement to facilitate oil, gas, or mineral 
development. 
C.  A petition under this section must state: 
1.  The intent of the servient estate owner to seek the 
relocation; 
2.  The nature, extent, and anticipated dates of commencement 
and completion of the proposed relocation; 
3.  The current and proposed locations of the easement; 
4.  The reason the easement is eligible for relocation under 
Section 3 of this act; 
5.  The reason the proposed relocation satisfies the conditions 
for relocation under Section 4 of this act; and 
6.  That the servient estate owner has made a reasonable attempt 
to notify the holders of any public-utility easement, conservation 
easement, or negative easement on the servient estate or dominant 
estate of the proposed relocation. 
D.  At any time before the court renders a final order in an 
action under subsection A of this section, a person served under 
subparagraph b, c, or d of paragraph 1 of subsection B of this 
section may file a document, in recordable form, that waives its 
rights to contest or obtain relief in connection with the relocation 
or subordinates its interests to the relocatio n.  On filing of the 
document, the court may order that the person is not required to 
answer or participate further in the action.   
 
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SECTION 6.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1506 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  The court may not approve relocation of an easement under 
this act unless the servient estate owner: 
1.  Establishes that the easement is eligible for relocation 
under Section 3 of this act ; and 
2.  Satisfies the conditions for relocation under Section 4 of 
this act. 
B.  An order under this act approving relocation of an easement 
must: 
1.  State that the order is issued in accordance with this act; 
2.  Recite the recording da ta of the instrument creating the 
easement, if any, and any amendments, and any notice as described by 
Section 71 of Title 16 of the Oklahoma statues ; 
3.  Identify the immediately preceding location of the easement; 
4.  Describe in a legally sufficient man ner the new location of 
the easement; 
5.  Describe mitigation required of the servient estate owner 
during relocation; 
6.  Refer in detail to the plans and specifications of 
improvements necessary for the easement holder to enter, use , and 
enjoy the easement in the new location;   
 
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7.  Specify conditions to be satisfied by the servient estate 
owner to relocate the easement and construct improvements necessary 
for the easement holder to enter, use, and enjoy the easement in the 
new location; 
8.  Include a provision for payment by the servient estate owner 
of expenses under Section 7 of this act; 
9.  Include a provision for compliance by the parties with the 
obligation of good faith under Section 8 of this act; and 
10.  Instruct the servient estate owner to recor d an affidavit, 
if required under subsection A of Section 9 of this act, when the 
servient estate owner substantially completes relocation. 
C.  An order under subsection B of this section may include any 
other provision consistent with this act for the fai r and equitable 
relocation of the easement. 
D.  Before a servient estate owner proceeds with relocation of 
an easement under this act, the owner must record, in the county 
records of each jurisdiction where the servient estate is loca ted, a 
certified copy of the order under subsection B of this section. 
SECTION 7.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1507 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A servient estate owner is responsible for reasonable expenses 
of relocation of an easement under this act, including the expense 
of:   
 
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1.  Constructing improvements on the servient estate or dominant 
estate in accordance with an order unde r Section 6 of this act; 
2.  During the relocation, mitigating disruption in the use and 
enjoyment of the easement by the easement holder or another person 
entitled to use and enjoy the easement; 
3.  Obtaining a governmental approval or permit to relocate the 
easement and construct necessary improvements; 
4.  Preparing and recording the certified copy required by 
subsection D of Section 6 of this act and any other document 
required to be recorded; 
5.  Any title work required to complete the relocation or 
required by a party to t he civil action as a result of the 
relocation; 
6.  Applicable premiums for title insurance related to the 
relocation; 
7.  Any expert necessary to review plans and specifications for 
an improvement to be constructed in the relocated easement or on the 
dominant estate and to confirm compliance with the plans and 
specifications referred to in the order under paragraph 6 of 
subsection B of Section 6 of this act; 
8.  Payment of any maintenance cost associated with the 
relocated easement whi ch is greater than the maintenance cost 
associated with the easement before relocation; and   
 
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9.  Obtaining any third-party consent required to relocate the 
easement. 
SECTION 8.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Sectio n 1508 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
After the court, under Section 6 of this act, approves 
relocation of an easement and the servient estate owner commences 
the relocation, the ser vient estate owner, th e easement holder, and 
other parties in the civil action shall act in good faith to 
facilitate the relocation in compliance with this act. 
SECTION 9.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1509 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  If an order under Section 6 of this act requires the 
construction of an improvement as a condition for relocation of an 
easement, relocation is substantially complet e, and the easement 
holder is able to enter, use, and enjoy the easement in the new 
location, the servient estate owner shall: 
1.  Record, in the land records of each jurisdiction where the 
servient estate is located, an affidavit certifying that the 
easement has been relocated; and 
2.  Send, by certified mail, a copy of the recorded affidavit to 
the easement holder and parties to the civil action.   
 
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B.  Until an affidavit under subsection A of this section is 
recorded and sent, the easement holder may enter, use, and enjoy the 
easement in the current location, subject to the court's order under 
Section 6 of this act approving relocation. 
C.  If an order under Section 6 of this act does not require an 
improvement to be constructed as a condition of the relocation, 
recording the order under subsection D of Section 6 of this act 
constitutes relocation. 
SECTION 10.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1510 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Relocation of an easement under this act: 
1.  Is not a new transfer or a n ew grant of an interest in the 
servient estate or the dominant estate; 
2.  Is not a breach or default of, and does not trigger, a due -
on-sale clause or other transfer -restriction clause under a security 
instrument, except as otherwise determined by a court under law 
other than this act; 
3.  Is not a breach or default of a lease, except as otherwise 
determined by a court under law other than this act; 
4.  Is not a breach or default by the servient estate owner of a 
recorded document affected by the relocatio n, except as otherwise 
determined by a court under law other than this act;   
 
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5.  Does not affect the priority of the easement with respect to 
other recorded real property interests burdening the area of the 
servient estate where the easement was located bef ore the 
relocation; and 
6.  Is not a fraudulent conveyance or voidable transaction under 
law. 
B.  This act does not affect any other method of relocating an 
easement permitted under law of this state other than this act. 
SECTION 11.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1511 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
The right of a servient estate owner to relocate an easement 
under this act may not be waived, excluded, or restricted by 
agreement even if: 
1.  The instrument creating the easement prohibits relocation or 
contains a waiver, exclusion, or restriction of this act; 
2.  The instrument creating the easement requires consent of the 
easement holder to amend the terms of the easement; or 
3.  The location of the easement is fixed by the instrument 
creating the easement, another agreement, previous conduct, 
acquiescence, estoppel, or implication. 
SECTION 12.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1512 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:   
 
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In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must 
be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect 
to its subject matter among the states that enact it. 
SECTION 13.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1513 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
This act modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic 
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. , Section 
7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 
101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C., Section 7001(c), or authorize 
electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 
103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. , Section 7003(b). 
SECTION 14.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statute s as Section 1514 of Title 60, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
This act applies to an easement created before, on, or after the 
effective date of this act. 
SECTION 15.  This act shall become effective N ovember 1, 2025. 
 
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