Senate Bill 1397, by Sen. Mary Easley, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa, would create the "Nutrient Management Act," which requires poultry feeding operations and related businesses to conform to a 2003 lawsuit settlement between the city of Tulsa and Tyson Foods Inc.

The bill is meant to keep Tulsa from incurring additional expenses to enforce the settlement.

The lawsuit originally was filed in 2001 to try to control chicken litter and water pollution in the Tulsa area. A settlement was reached instead of going to trial, requiring businesses to implement a nutrient management plan for reducing chicken litter building up in Oklahoma watersheds.

The bill passed the House without opposition and now returns to the Senate.