Proposed Oklahoma bill creating storm chaser licenses advances to House floor
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KXII) - Oklahoma House Bill 2426 would change the way professional storm chasers operate in the Sooner State.
The bill would create a licensing system for a ‘Professional Severe Weather Tracker,’ a person or company hired by a qualified media outlet, or part of a qualified institution that offers a course or program in meteorology.
In a significant weather event, like tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings, the professional severe weather trackers would be able to travel on roads, highways and county roads that are closed, drive through stop lights and signs, exceed maximum speed limits and activate lights alerting others they are a storm chaser.
Representative Scott Fetgatter, who authored the bill, said amateur storm chasers could still chase, but to qualify for those exemptions, a license would be required.
“In order to get the license you would be required to take some driver training, you would have to be insured properly, there are things like that in this bill that you would be required to do if you would like to get this license.” Fetgatter said. “If you don’t want to do those things, then you don’t have to get a license, and you can continue to chase the storm the way you’ve been chasing.”
Fetgatter said the bill is about public safety, something the Oklahoma Highway Patrol doesn’t agree with.
“We know that driving in emergency mode is something that takes a lot of training, takes a lot of experience, and we don’t feel like this particular bill is going to give the type of training that these drivers need to be able to safely drive the roads of Oklahoma,” said Lt. Mark Southall with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. “Not to mention the equipment concerns that there are there. With the way this bill is written now, there’s no siren required, but going through an intersection, as troopers, we know that we utilize our lights and siren to safely get to a scene, so without a siren, it’s definitely a concern.”
At most, about 300 people would be eligible for a license, costing no more than $500.
The bill passed committee, and it will now head to the House floor.
Copyright 2025 KXII. All rights reserved.
