The Oklahoma Farm Bureau and other agriculture organizations say SQ 777 is necessary to ward off unnecessary and even harmful regulation sought by animal rights and environmental advocates.

Opponents, including those groups as well as several municipalities, predict the measure will lead to the erosion of environmental and animal safety protections and handcuff state government as agricultural practices evolve. There is also some concern the Legislature could repeal existing laws, which would then be difficult or impossible to replace.

Pruitt said Tuesday the “safety and health of water is clearly a compelling government interest. The DEQ — the Department of Environmental Quality — the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the Department of Agriculture that have oversight now, that have regulatory authority with respect to water quality, that’s not going to change. Their ability to issue rules and regulations is not going to change.”

But, he added, “what will change, as they do that, is have they used the least restrictive approach to (regulating) farming and ranching and agriculture practices?”