Energy policy takes center stage ahead of Oklahoma’s 2026 session
Energy policy — from data centers and artificial intelligence to water use, eminent domain, taxation, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission — is poised to dominate discussion when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes for the 2026 regular session in early February.
More than 60 energy-related bills were filed before last week’s deadline, reflecting the growing impact of energy infrastructure, power demand, and regulatory oversight on communities across the state. While some of the measures include fully developed policy proposals, many were introduced as shell bills — placeholders that allow lawmakers to add detailed language later.
Shell bills are commonly used to preserve legislative flexibility, meet filing deadlines, or serve as vehicles for negotiations that develop closer to session. Critics note they can also limit public scrutiny if substantive language is added late in the process.
Data centers emerge as major flashpoint
Among the most active areas of legislation are bills addressing hyperscale data centers, which have drawn opposition in some Oklahoma communities over concerns related to electricity demand, rate impacts, water use, and infrastructure strain.
Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, filed several measures aimed at data center oversight, including House Bill 3394, the Oklahoma Hyperscale Data Center Directory Act. The bill would require the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to create and maintain a statewide directory of hyperscale data centers.
Clinton also filed HB3392, directing the OCC to conduct a comprehensive study of “large load” electricity users, examining impacts on:
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Electric generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure
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System reliability and resource adequacy
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Utility planning and transmission development
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Electricity rates and cost allocation
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Potential cross-subsidization affecting existing ratepayers
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Infrastructure investments driven by large load customers
A third measure, HB3397, would establish a separate electricity service classification for large energy-use facilities, primarily data centers, with its own tariff schedule distinct from other commercial or industrial users.
Moratorium proposal and statewide research efforts
On the Senate side, Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, R-Blanchard, filed Senate Bill 1488, proposing a moratorium on new data centers until November 1, 2029. The bill would also require the Corporation Commission to study the potential impacts of data centers on:
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State water supplies, including aquifers, streams, and wastewater systems
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Utility rates
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Property values within a three-mile radius of proposed facilities
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Other areas deemed relevant by the Commission
Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, introduced HB3621, creating the Oklahoma State Data Center. Unlike private hyperscale facilities, the proposed center would operate under the Legislative Service Bureau, serving as the state’s primary hub for applied population research, coordination with the U.S. Census Bureau, and management of special censuses.
Corporation Commission modernization bills filed
Several lawmakers filed shell bills focused on modernizing the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, signaling potential regulatory changes ahead.
Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, filed multiple shell measures, including:
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HB3992 – Corporation Commission Modernization Act of 2026
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HB3986 – Gross Production Tax Modernization Act of 2026
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HB3987 – Environmental Quality Act of 2026
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HB3993 – Oklahoma Corporation Commission Modernization Act
Each bill currently contains minimal statutory language and is expected to be fleshed out later in the session.
Similarly, Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, filed HB3192, another shell bill titled the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Modernization Act, along with HB3176, which proposes creation of a national research hub focused on oil, gas, artificial intelligence, and space technologies.
HB3176 would establish the Oklahoma Gas, Artificial Intelligence, and Space Research Hub (GAS Hub) as the state’s central coordinating entity for recruiting and hosting a U.S. National Laboratory, functioning as a state-federal partnership to attract funding, designation, and long-term operations.
As the session approaches, lawmakers, regulators, utilities, and local communities are closely watching how these proposals evolve — particularly those tied to electricity demand growth, AI development, and regulatory authority.