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Read. Follow. Verify.Oklahoma raises grant caps for rural water and economic development projects starting November 2025
Last action · May 7, 2025: Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/07/2025Sponsors: Roland Pederson and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
House Bill 1438 raises the maximum monetary caps for two state-administered grant programs supporting rural water, sewer, and economic development projects, and takes effect on November 1, 2025.
Eligible small towns and rural entities gain access to significantly higher per-project state grant awards without needing local matching funds.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
eligible cities and towns
Municipalities with populations under 7,000 can receive higher individual grant caps up to $350,000 without providing matching funds.
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
The board must administer the increased grant caps, adopt implementing rules, and distribute all funds without retaining administrative fees.
rural water or sewer districts
These districts may apply for and receive project funds, and are explicitly protected from being classified as subordinate entities of counties if it would prevent fair grant distribution.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new maximum grant amount for the Rural Economic Action Plan?
Do small towns need to provide matching funds to receive these grants?
Which communities qualify for funding based on population size?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law without the governor's signature.
Procedural history
34 actions- May 7, 2025HouseBecomes law without Governor's signature 05/07/2025
- Apr 30, 2025HouseSent to Governor
- Apr 30, 2025SenateEnrolled measure signed, returned to House
- Apr 30, 2025HouseEnrolled, signed, to Senate
- Apr 29, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred for enrollment
- Apr 29, 2025SenateEngrossed measure signed, returned to House
Show 28 earlier actions
- Apr 29, 2025SenateFloorMeasure passed: Ayes: 44 Nays: 1
- Apr 29, 2025SenateAmendment restored bill to engrossed version
- Apr 29, 2025SenateTitle restored
- Apr 29, 2025SenateGeneral Order, Amended
- Apr 28, 2025SenateCoauthored by Senator Pederson
- Apr 21, 2025SenatePlaced on General Order
- Apr 16, 2025SenateTitle stricken
- Apr 16, 2025SenateFloorReported Do Pass as amended Appropriations committee; CR filed
- Apr 10, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Appropriations
- Apr 10, 2025SenateFloorReported Do Pass Energy committee; CR filed
- Apr 7, 2025SenateCoauthored by Senator Frix
- Apr 7, 2025SenateRemove as author Senator Frix; authored by Senator Kern
- Apr 1, 2025SenateCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Energy Committee then to Appropriations Committee
- Mar 11, 2025SenateIntroducedFirst Reading
- Mar 11, 2025HouseEngrossed, signed, to Senate
- Mar 10, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred for engrossment
- Mar 10, 2025HouseFloorThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 91 Nays: 2
- Mar 10, 2025HouseGeneral Order
- Mar 3, 2025HouseAuthored by Senator Frix (principal Senate author)
- Mar 3, 2025HouseFloorCR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Committee
- Feb 17, 2025HouseFloorRecommendation to the full committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee
- Feb 11, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee
- Feb 10, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Appropriations and Budget
- Feb 10, 2025HouseCommitteeWithdrawn from Rules Committee
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeSecond Reading referred to Rules
- Feb 3, 2025HouseRemove Representative Boles as principal House author and substitute with Representative Patzkowsky
- Feb 3, 2025HouseAuthored by Representative Boles
- Feb 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst Reading
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of State Grant Limits for Rural Infrastructure
The state significantly increased both the Rural Economic Action Plan and Water Resources Fund grant caps to provide larger financial awards per project starting in late 2025.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.oklegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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