( REUTERS/ Drone Base)
A bill to fund $50 million in repairs and improvements to the Arkansas River Levee Systems was sent to the Governor this past week.
The State Senate approved the measure on a vote of 36-6. Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa was the author of the bill.
“The Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the levees along the Arkansas River are among the worst in the country and are in dire need of repairs,” sai the Senator.
“After the devastating floods in 2019, it has become increasingly apparent that this infrastructure needs attention. I am appreciative of those who recognized the urgent nature of these projects and voted in favor of this measure.”
HB 3288, approved in the House on a 95-1 vote, also establishes the Arkansas River Levee Improvement Revolving Fund for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The $50 million in funds will be placed in the revolving fund to carry out the repairs, while the remaining funding for the $191 million project will come from federal funding and local partners.
Upon being signed into law, the funds would be available in Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1. Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, serves as the House author of HB 3288.