Storm chaser licensing and regulation? These legislators want to see it happen.

State Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC) and State Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee) are the authors of Senate Bill 158, the Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response and Tracking Regulatory Act, which aims to create a licensure and regulatory framework for professional storm chasers in Oklahoma.

Specifically, the measure would create a 'professional severe weather tracker' license for individuals specifically contracting with either television stations or Oklahoma colleges or universities. The license would cost $500, with a $250 annual fee, in addition to requirements for insurance.

According to the legislation, obtaining this license would allow the licensee to use emergency flashing lights on their vehicle during significant weather events, be considered an emergency vehicle, and be able to use roads that have been closed by law enforcement during weather events.

Awareness of the bill hit the storm chasing community this afternoon over on Twitter/X, and let's just say the response was not favorable.

State Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) had this to say in a reply to an amateur storm chaser:

"There is zero reason to expand government control over an activity that has long been a vital, community-driven effort. Rather than protecting Oklahomans, this bill restricts and charges money to the very storm chasers and stations that help keep Oklahomans informed and safe."

Weather has always been something of a hobby for me, and when I was a teenager I attended numerous storm spotter trainings put on by the Nation Weather Service's Tulsa office (by the way, they have a number of these free public training events throughout the area in February and March). Together with a friend, we signed up as volunteer storm spotters with the county emergency management department. No license, no fee, no cost. Seems like some sort of similar arrangement could be worked out with the state emergency management department rather than creating a $500 license.

Plus, specifically tying this license to only chasers with television stations or universities with meteorology departments seems to totally miss the growth and reach of new media.