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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
SENATE BILL 708 By: Hines
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to fire protection districts;
amending 19 O.S. 2021, Section 901.25a, which relates
to inclusion when districts are contig uous; allowing
for certain consolidation of fire protection
districts; providing for certain hearing; requiring
certain vote; and providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 19 O.S. 2021, Section 901.25a, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 901.25a. A. When the respective territories of any
city or town and any district are contiguous they may be included in
the limits of the district in the same manner a s provided for the
organization of fire protection districts. Such territory shall not
be included or added to the territory of the district without the
consent of the board of directors, certified to the board of county
commissioners. In case any such t erritory is added to the district
the property therein shall immediately becom e subject to the lien
for the payment of bonds theretofore authorized by the district in
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the same manner as property within the district at the time of
authorization of such bond s.
B. 1. If the board of directors of two or more fire protection
districts should determine that the citizens they serve would be
equally or better served by the mutual consolidation of the
districts into one district, the board of directors of the
consolidating districts shall develop a plan for consolidation,
including combining board members as provided in Section 901.5 of
this title, determining the millage levy of the proposed district,
and changing ownership of assets and indebtedness. The board of
directors shall present the plan with a resolution for consolidation
to the board of county commissioners of any involved counties for
their approval.
2. Upon the presentation of such petition, the board of county
commissioners shall set a hearing for s uch petition at a time not
less than twenty (20) days nor more than forty (40) days from the
date of the presentation and shall direct the county clerk to give
notice of such hearing by publication in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county in whi ch such proposed district is
located. Such notice shall be published for two (2) consecutive
weeks preceding the date of such hearing. Such notice shall
describe the boundaries of the proposed district, shall state the
time and place of the hearing, and shall state that any person may
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appear and protest the consolidation of the di stricts or the
boundaries of the proposed district.
3. The board of county commissioners shall have jurisdiction to
hear and determine all protests to the consolidation of the
districts and all matters pertaining to the same. At the conclusion
of such hearing, the board of county commissioners shall determine
whether the consolidation of such districts would be conducive to
the public safety of the area incorporated within the b oundaries of
the proposed district. If the board of county commissioners
determines that such district will be conducive to the public safety
of the area incorporated therein, then the board of county
commissioners shall approve the proposed district.
4. Upon approval of the proposed district, the board of county
commissioners shall give such proposed district a name and shall
call an election of the qualified electors in the territory
comprising such proposed district on the question of whether the
proposed district shall be consolidated. The county clerk shall
cause notice of the election to be given by publication once a week
for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
in the territory comprising the proposed district. Such noti ce
shall state the time and place of holding the election and set forth
the description of the boundaries of the proposed district, its
general purpose and intention, and the proposed millage levy of such
district. Such notice shall require the electors t o cast ballots
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which contain the words: “Consolidated Fire Protection District -
Yes”, and “Consolidated Fire Protection District – No”, or words
equivalent thereto. All persons resident of such proposed district,
who are qualified electors in their respe ctive precincts, shall be
qualified to vote on such proposition.
5. Such elections shall be conducted in accordance with the
general election laws of the state and the regular election
officials shall be in charge at the usual polling place of each
regular precinct, or part of a precinct, which shall include lands
within the boundaries of such proposed district. The returns of
such election shall be made direct to the board of county
commissioners who shall meet on the second Monday following such
election and proceed to canvass the vote cast. If, upon canvass, it
appears that at least three -fifths (3/5) of all the votes cast are
“Consolidated Fire Protection District – Yes”, the board of county
commissioners shall, by order, declare such territory duly o rganized
as a single fire protection district under the designated name.
Such order shall be filed for record in the office of the county
clerk by the board of county commissioners and from that date such
district shall be complete.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
60-1-673 MSBB 1/15/2025 9:55:04 AM