Oklahoma Bills

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 4318: Revenue and taxation; sales tax; use tax; deduction for vendor; effective date.

HB 4318 allows Oklahoma businesses collecting sales and use tax to deduct a small amount for record-keeping and filing costs. Specifically, it authorizes a 1% deduction on the tax owed (capped at $1,000 per month per business account), but excludes deductions for direct payment permits or late filings (unless due to a declared natural disaster). The bill applies directly to businesses that collect and remit sales/use tax in Oklahoma, covering both the tax calculation process and monthly reporting requirements. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 4149: Strong Readers Act; references; legislative findings; declaring intent of the Legislature; reading screenings; reading deficiencies; parent notifications; State Department of Education; reading panel; alternate reading assessments; promotion to fourth grade; retaining third grade; good-cause exemptions; intensive reading instruction; intensive acceleration class; reporting requirements; teacher training requirements; eighth-grade reading level; driver license; remedial reading for driver licenses; alternative reading proficiency tests; motorcycle licenses; testing site requirements; documentation requirements; out of state test results; school enrollment, completion, or lawful excuse for minors to obtain a driver license; violations; alternate route to obtain driver license; employer fines; attendance officers; Department of Public Safety; license cancellation; definitions; exceptions; forms; effective date; emergency.

HB 4149, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading proficiency three times yearly using state-approved tools. It prohibits the "three-cueing system" (meaning/structure/visual cues) in reading instruction and mandates evidence-based teaching methods focused on phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students who do not meet grade-level reading standards may be retained in third grade, with schools required to provide intensive reading instruction, notify parents, and establish acceleration classes for retained students. The law aims to ensure students achieve grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade through standardized assessments and targeted support.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 4146: School employees; paid maternity leave; expanding eligibility to employment at any school district or technology center school district for at least one year; effective date; emergency.

HB 4146 expands paid maternity leave eligibility to full-time school employees in Oklahoma who have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past year. This includes employees in public school districts, technology center districts, rehabilitation services, correctional facilities, and juvenile affairs. Eligible employees receive six weeks of paid leave immediately after childbirth, which supplements but does not replace existing sick leave for pregnancy-related needs. The bill requires state funding through a revolving fund or allocated education budget to cover the leave costs, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 4413: Air emission standards; defining terms; requiring municipal solid waste incinerators to develop certain plan; effective date.

HB 4413 requires facilities burning hospital, medical, or infectious waste to comply with existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air emission standards. It prohibits any facility not meeting current EPA standards, monitoring, reporting, and permitting requirements from burning such waste in Oklahoma. The bill directly affects municipal solid waste incinerators that handle medical waste, mandating they align with federal rules or cease this activity. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and codifies EPA definitions for medical waste as used in 40 C.F.R. §60.51c.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1956: Memorial highways; designating the CPT David Ward Neely Memorial Highway. Effective date.

SB 1956 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 169 (from Double Creek Bridge south to the Nowata-Rogers County line) as the "CPT David Ward Neely Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install markers bearing this name along the designated route. It takes effect on November 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation honoring CPT David Ward Neely, with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on residents or regulations.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1535: Personal Privacy Protection Act; adding certain exceptions to authorize disclosure of personal affiliation information. Effective date.

SB 1535 amends Oklahoma's Personal Privacy Protection Act to clarify when public agencies may disclose "personal affiliation information" (data identifying people as members, donors, or volunteers of 501(c) nonprofit organizations). It generally prohibits public agencies from requiring or disclosing this information but adds specific exceptions, such as for lawful court orders, Attorney General investigations, or court proceedings with protective orders to prevent public release. The bill directly affects individuals who support nonprofits and public agencies handling such data, ensuring privacy while allowing limited disclosures under strict legal conditions. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2054: Abortion; creating the Oklahoma Mother and Child Protection Act; authorizing certain qui tam actions. Emergency.

SB 2054 creates Oklahoma's "Mother and Child Protection Act," which prohibits the manufacture, distribution, or provision of abortion-inducing drugs in the state (defined to include drugs like mifepristone used for medication abortion). The law allows private citizens - not the state - to file lawsuits (via "qui tam" actions) against violators, with exceptions for medical emergencies (e.g., life-threatening conditions, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage-related cases). It specifically exempts drugs prescribed for non-abortion medical purposes (like chemotherapy) and does not apply to actions taken under federal law. This bill directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone distributing such drugs in Oklahoma.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1438: Insurance; requiring certain filings; establishing requirements to determine excessive profit; requiring return of certain amounts. Effective date.

SB 1438 requires private passenger auto insurers in Oklahoma to annually report financial data (like earned premiums, losses, and expenses) to the Insurance Commissioner. If an insurer’s combined underwriting profit over three years exceeds 5% above projected profit, it must refund the excess to policyholders. Refunds must be issued as cash or future premium credits within 60 days, distributed pro rata based on the final year’s earned premiums. This directly affects insurers writing personal auto policies, excluding commercial coverage, and aims to ensure profits align with policyholder benefits.

died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1444: Insurance; allowing rates to be excessive; requiring filings with Insurance Commissioner; allowing Commissioner to give written notices; requiring Commissioner to disapprove rates; increasing certain time frames for filings. Effective date.

SB 1444 updates Oklahoma’s insurance rate review rules. It clarifies that rates in competitive markets cannot be deemed "excessive," while non-competitive market rates must meet stricter standards to avoid being labeled excessive (e.g., unreasonably high profits or service costs). Insurers must file rates 30 days before effective date in competitive markets (up from 60 days), with the Insurance Commissioner allowed to request additional time or disapprove rates. The bill also extends deadlines for advisory organizations to submit data and updates statutory references. It directly affects all insurers filing rates in Oklahoma, aiming to streamline reviews while maintaining rate fairness standards.

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1878: Criminal procedure; authorizing bail to be me with a surety bond; requiring Court of Criminal Appeals to adopt uniform statewide bond schedule. Effective date.

SB 1878 prohibits Oklahoma courts from accepting bail payments made by charitable bail organizations for defendants. This directly affects defendants who rely on these organizations to secure pretrial release. The bill amends state law to require courts to reject bail payments if they suspect a charitable group paid for it, though it does not change bail amounts or eligibility. The law would take effect on November 1, 2026, if enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 1628: Driver licenses; prohibiting Service Oklahoma from issuing non-domiciled commercial driver license. Emergency.

SB 1628 prohibits Oklahoma's Service Oklahoma from issuing new non-domiciled commercial driver licenses or commercial learner permits to non-resident drivers. It specifically targets commercial drivers who do not reside in Oklahoma, banning new licenses while allowing existing non-domiciled licenses to remain valid until expiration. The bill updates Oklahoma law (47 O.S. § 6-111) to clarify this restriction and requires applicants to meet federal and state testing rules. This policy change directly affects non-resident commercial drivers seeking to operate vehicles in Oklahoma.

Topics ✗ Transportation

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2115: Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; creating certain fund; establishing certain requirements for fund; exempting certain monies from certain requirements; transferring certain funds; renaming certain fund; exempting certain purchases from certain requirements. Effective date.

SB 2115 modifies Oklahoma law to streamline how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles certain funds. It exempts federal funds received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from being deposited into the state treasury, allowing direct distribution to veterans. The bill creates the Oklahoma Veterans Assistance Fund, requires electronic quarterly reporting to state leaders, and exempts specific funds from annual spending limits. These changes primarily affect the Department’s financial operations and reporting for veterans' programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Bill results