OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill to increase the removal and relocation costs on all municipally owned utilities located in a right of way passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week by a vote of 90-10.
The measure, House Bill 2241, applies to utilities in an Oklahoma Department of Transportation right of way and could likely increase some costs to ODOT, an analysis released with the bill said.
“This measure increases includes all municipally owned utilities, not just water in the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s removal and relocation costs when the services are located in a right of way when ODOT is working within the right of way,” the analysis said. “There will likely be some increase in costs to ODOT from this change as it expands the costs on ODOT to all utilities in towns under 10,000 in population per the last decennial census, instead of just water utilities.”
The measure would apply to all utilities in towns under 10,000 in population.
The bill has been sent to the Oklahoma Senate for review.