Representative Brad Boles

R

District 51

Hi, I'm Brad Boles and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 51st District.


representative

Leadership

Oversight Committee Chair

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Aug 6, 2026
Recent Posts

Lawmakers Mark Signing of Landmark Data Center Protections

OKLAHOMA CITY — House and Senate lawmakers joined Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday for the ceremonial signing of two laws protecting Oklahoma utility customers and groundwater resources as large-scale data centers expand across the state. Stitt ceremonially signed House Bill 2992 , the Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, authored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, and Senate Bill 259 , known as the Groundwater Modernization Act, authored by Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, and Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee. The measures create safeguards to protect Oklahoma families, small businesses and traditional utility customers from bearing utility and infrastructure costs created by large-scale energy users. They also enhance groundwater protections and water-use reporting requirements. "With these two bills now law, Oklahoma families and businesses will not be forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of massive data centers and other large-scale energy users," Boles said. "I appreciate all of my colleagues in the House and the Senate who recognized the importance of protecting Oklahoma ratepayers and Governor Stitt for signing these measures into law. I am pleased we were able to deliver these ratepayer protections for Oklahomans." HB2992 took effect July 1 and protects existing utility customers from infrastructure costs created by large-scale energy users, including data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. It also requires developers to notify adjoining landowners, county commissioners and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission within 60 days of acquiring land for a qualifying project. "As our state continues to attract major energy-intensive industries, we’ve established a framework that ensures those developments pay their own way rather than shifting costs onto Oklahoma families, farmers, ranchers and small businesses," Green said. "Today’s ceremony highlighted our shared commitment to protecting Oklahoma land and ratepayers while supporting responsible and transparent economic growth." SB259 takes effect Nov. 1 and modernizes Oklahoma’s groundwater permitting, monitoring and reporting requirements. The law requires water permit holders to submit annual water-use reports to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and directs the board to establish rules for reviewing reports, investigating complaints of waste and imposing penalties for overuse. "The Groundwater Modernization Act ensures Oklahoma’s most important natural resource is protected as our state attracts new commercial investments," Howard said. "The legislation recognized in today’s ceremony establishes a stronger standard for responsible and transparent groundwater management and conservation across Oklahoma. This law will help safeguard this vital resource for the needs of our communities today and for generations to come." The law prohibits data centers from using groundwater in open-air evaporative cooling systems or other systems that consume groundwater through evaporation without recirculation. To receive a groundwater permit, a data center must demonstrate that it will use low-consumptive cooling technology, such as a closed-loop or dielectric immersion system, which will help preserve groundwater for local communities and farmers. "For those communities that choose to allow data centers, this bill will ensure that water is conserved, and evaporation is limited," Newton said. "It's important to me and those I serve in northwestern Oklahoma, as well as residents throughout the state, that we protect our precious water resources and use the best conservation practices." Stitt says these new laws offer an approach to meeting Americans’ data needs while making sure Oklahomans are not left holding the bill. "This legislation ensures Oklahoma families come first as our economy grows," Stitt said. "In Oklahoma, we welcome the free market to drive prosperity, and we have also set clear guardrails for large load customers to solve for their own power needs. I appreciate legislative leaders for passing a modern solution that keeps Oklahoma a national energy leader while protecting four million Oklahomans from paying for someone else’s power use." The event was held at 9:30 a.m. in the Governor’s Blue Room. Stitt previously approved HB2992 May 11 and SB259 May 20. 

May 13, 2026
Recent Posts

Boles, Green Applaud Governor for Signing Bill Protecting Consumers from Rising Utility Costs Tied to New Data Centers

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, and Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, are praising Gov. Kevin Stitt for signing House Bill 2992 , the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, into law. The measure is designed to protect Oklahoma families, small businesses and traditional utility customers from rising utility and infrastructure costs tied to large-scale energy users such as data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. "As Oklahoma continues to grow and attract this new industry, we have to make sure the cost of that growth does not fall on hardworking families and small businesses," Boles said. "I appreciate Governor Stitt for signing this legislation into law, Senator Green for his partnership and all of my colleagues for recognizing the importance of protecting Oklahoma ratepayers. I am proud that Oklahomans will not be forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of massive data centers and other large-scale energy users while still allowing our state to grow responsibly." Green also praised the signing of the bill, saying the new law will give local communities a voice and greater transparency when new data center developments are proposed in their areas. "As a farmer and rancher, I have serious concerns about the growing number of data centers and how they could impact rural Oklahoma," Green said. "One of my biggest fears is that thousands of acres of prime farmland could be ruined by massive warehouses and industrial sites that drain all the local resources. I don’t want to see that happen here in Oklahoma. The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act brings much-needed transparency to these developments, so deals aren’t made behind closed doors without input from local property owners. I want to thank Representative Boles for being a great partner as we worked on this legislation. I also appreciate the support from the governor and my colleagues across the Legislature." HB2992 sets guidelines for how Oklahoma utilities and regulators manage the growing energy demands of large-scale users, including data centers and AI facilities consuming 75 megawatts or more of power. The law also increases transparency by requiring developers to notify nearby landowners, county commissioners and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission within 60 days of acquiring land for qualifying projects. "This bill makes it clear that when you plug into Oklahoma’s world class energy grid, you come to the table as a partner and do your part to cover the costs," Gov. Stitt said. "That’s how we keep Oklahoma a Top 10 state and the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family. Oklahoma is open for business, and we welcome data centers and other technology investments that want to grow here the right way." The legislation aligns with the Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation issued by President Donald Trump, which calls on leading hyperscalers and AI companies to provide and pay for the energy and infrastructure needed to build and operate data centers. Several major technology companies have also agreed that as energy demand grows alongside new data center development, American households should not bear the cost of the required infrastructure. 36 House and Senate lawmakers from both parties signed on as co-authors of the legislation. The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 becomes effective July 1.

May 6, 2026
Recent Posts

OK Legislature Advances Data Center Ratepayer Protection Bill to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, which aims to shield Oklahoma families and small businesses from higher utility costs tied to large-scale energy users like data centers, is one step closer to becoming law. Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, is the author of House Bill 2992 , which passed the House floor as well as the Senate floor yesterday with a unanimous vote. The measure establishes guidelines for how all Oklahoma electric suppliers and regulators manage the growing energy demands of data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. "I am grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature for their overwhelming bipartisan support to pass this bill and truly appreciate that so many of my colleagues have signed on as co-authors of this bill," Boles said. "I also really appreciate Senator Grant Green who carried this effort forward and got it across the finish line in the Senate. We have a duty to our constituents to put proper ratepayer protections and safeguards in place in state statute. Oklahoma families and small businesses should not be expected to finance major system upgrades required for high-demand users. Those costs should rest with the companies driving the need." The bill defines "large load customers" as new facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand and clarifies that residential, commercial, and traditional industrial customers are not included in that classification. The bill also adds a notice requirement within 60 days of acquiring land for these large load customers requiring them to notify the adjoining landowners, county commissioners, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission which adds more transparency for local communities at the beginning stages of these large projects. Currently, 36 House and Senate lawmakers from both parties have signed on as co-authors of this bill alongside Rep. Boles and Sen. Green, R-Wellston, who are the primary authors. "I’m glad to see this critical reform pass the Legislature unanimously," Green said. "If private companies want to build in this state, they need to pay their own way and be good neighbors to the Oklahomans who have lived off this land their whole lives. Under this legislation, data centers and other facilities that consume massive amounts of energy can't pass their costs on to hardworking Oklahomans. Most importantly, data center developers won’t be able to buy land without notifying the community and nearby neighbors of their plans. This is a major victory for Oklahoma ratepayers that closely aligns with President Trump's broader efforts to protect consumers from higher utility costs." The Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026 now moves to the Governor's office to consider signing into law.