OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A legislative panel tasked with planning Oklahoma's water policy for the next 50 years held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday.

The 16-member committee met in the House chamber. The panel focused on existing water law, interstate compacts and the role of Native American tribes and treaties.

A North Texas water district has unsuccessfully tried to gain access to billions of gallons of southeastern Oklahoma water from three tributaries in far southern Oklahoma and sued the state in an attempt to force the sale of water.

Lawmakers have delayed any action on a proposed sale of water to Texas or water-related legislation for several years pending the release of a water plan being developed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board that is due out in October.