HB1855 directs the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management to contract with a vendor to design and develop a statewide Stormwater Management Predictive Analytic Solution. The system is intended to function as an early warning and advanced flood monitoring tool that can access and visualize relevant data, forecast future conditions, improve forecasting models, and provide real-time tracking and alerts. The stated goals are to improve situational awareness, flood resiliency, and stormwater management across the state.
The bill requires the system to be operational by February 28, 2026. Beginning March 31, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Office of Emergency Management must submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate summarizing information from the system and analyzing trends across years of data collection. The act would take effect November 1, 2025, and the new law would be codified in Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 683.24a.
Impact
HB1855 would create a new statutory duty for the Office of Emergency Management to procure and oversee a statewide predictive stormwater and flood monitoring platform. It would add a new codified section to Oklahoma law, establish implementation and reporting deadlines, and formalize ongoing state-level collection and analysis of stormwater and flood-related data for emergency management purposes. The bill primarily affects state emergency management operations, flood monitoring infrastructure, and any vendor selected to build and operate the system.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a proactive disaster-relief and resilience initiative focused on flood preparedness and improved forecasting. The absence of recorded objections or amendments suggests the bill was, at minimum, introduced as a technical and administrative emergency-management proposal rather than a highly contentious policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise from the bill’s requirements include the cost of contracting for a statewide predictive system, the technical feasibility of integrating and visualizing relevant data across jurisdictions, and questions about data ownership, maintenance, and long-term funding. If debated, those concerns would likely involve the Office of Emergency Management, appropriations stakeholders, and lawmakers focused on budget, infrastructure, and local stormwater management needs.
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