Senator Smithland urges action to get septic systems to rural residents

Senator Smithland used a personal-privilege recognition on the Senate floor to press colleagues to address a longstanding rural sanitation problem, saying many residents still rely on "straight line pipes" instead of septic tanks.

"We got citizens all over this state that's using straight line pipes from their restroom facilities," Senator Smithland said, urging the Senate to compile numbers and cost estimates and to consider House Bill 4 as a possible remedy. He said, "Everybody deserves a septic tank" and suggested the legislature consider a task force or a resolution to coordinate support and funding.

Smithland told colleagues he intends to pull together estimates of how many homes lack septic systems and what installation would cost. He framed the effort as similar to other statewide infrastructure drives, noting past broadband initiatives as models for statewide coordination.

The remarks were delivered during the morning session while the Senate was handling house messages and committee reports; Smithland asked senators to be prepared to focus on the issue in the coming two weeks. He did not provide a specific count or cost estimate; those figures, he said, will be developed and returned to the chamber.