SB 1616 requires school athletic associations in Oklahoma to hold public hearings for specific decisions - such as rule violations, eligibility determinations, and hardship waivers - under the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. This applies directly to all school athletic associations that are members of public school districts, mandating they follow open meeting rules for notice, agendas, and voting. The bill amends existing law to add this requirement to association policies, ensuring transparency for these proceedings. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2138 creates the "Oklahoma Controlled Prescribed Burn Indemnity Fund" to reimburse landowners for damages when prescribed burns escape beyond their property, excluding insurance-covered losses or damage to the landowner's own property. It requires landowners to develop detailed burn plans (including weather conditions, firebreaks, and smoke management), notify adjacent landowners 60 days in advance, and alert fire departments 48 hours before burns. Landowners must pay a $100-$250 fee to file plans and can receive up to $1 million per incident, with payments made pro-rata if funds are insufficient. The bill directly affects landowners conducting prescribed burns, local fire departments, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, which administers the fund and verifies claims.
SB 2171 authorizes a new controlled hunt for "velvet bucks" (deer with growing antlers covered in velvet-like skin) during a specific nine-day period in August. It requires archery-only hunting, limits participants to one velvet buck per license annually, and counts harvested velvet bucks toward a hunter’s overall annual deer bag limit. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission must issue at least 100 tags annually (with 90% reserved for residents), enforce rules on antler size and hunting methods, and may cancel the hunt without refunds due to population or health concerns. This directly affects residents and nonresidents holding valid deer licenses who wish to participate in this seasonal hunt, effective January 1, 2027.
This bill clarifies eligibility for Oklahoma's Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association coverage when an insurer fails. It ensures Oklahoma residents automatically receive coverage for life, health, and annuity policies, while non-residents may qualify only if the insurer was based in Oklahoma and no other state provides coverage. The bill specifically excludes structured settlement annuities from certain coverage rules and prevents duplicate coverage across states. It does not create new benefits but defines who qualifies under existing law, excluding reinsurance, self-funded employer plans, and certain policy features like dividends or marketing claims.
HB 1572 modifies Oklahoma's sales tax apportionment to increase funding for tourism. It removes a $5 million annual cap on the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Revolving Fund, raises the percentage of sales tax revenue allocated to tourism from 0.87% to 1.0% for fiscal years 2026 and beyond, and changes the distribution to 36% for Promotion, 64% for Capital Improvement, and $6.6 million for Route 66. The bill also eliminates restrictions prohibiting tourism funds from covering salaries. These changes directly affect the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion, Capital Improvement, and Route 66 Commission funds, increasing their available resources for operations and projects.
HB 1064 defines a "hedge fund" as an investment entity focused on high-return equity investments (excluding pension funds, banks, and other financial institutions whose main business isn't equity investing). The bill prohibits hedge funds and their subsidiaries from acquiring single-family residential properties in Oklahoma. It also requires hedge funds already owning such properties as of November 1, 2025, to sell them within 10 years - without selling to another hedge fund or subsidiary. The law aims to limit hedge fund ownership of residential housing by restricting new acquisitions and mandating divestment of existing holdings.
HB 2938 would restrict voting rights for Oklahoma residents who move to another state or country. It prohibits individuals who permanently relocate (or intend to stay indefinitely) from voting in state, county, or local elections - allowing only national elections. Exceptions apply to federal/state government employees required to relocate and those moving temporarily with plans to return to Oklahoma. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and would be codified under Oklahoma Statutes §4-125.
SB 1274 amends Oklahoma Statute 19 O.S. § 215.5 to require district attorneys to represent county officials (like commissioners) who seek protective orders under Title 22 § 60.2. The bill makes existing language gender-neutral and explicitly adds this representation duty to the district attorney's responsibilities. It directly affects county officials needing legal protection in civil matters, ensuring they receive representation from the district attorney's office when requesting a protective order. The change clarifies that district attorneys must provide this specific legal support as part of their advisory role to county boards.
HB 2969 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to include an immigration status attestation on every Medicaid application, where applicants must self-certify their status under penalty of perjury. This attestation is subject to post-enrollment verification, and hospitals or providers cannot face liability for good-faith reliance on it. The bill also mandates that the Authority report information about applicants identified as "illegal aliens" to federal authorities when required by federal law. The changes take effect November 1, 2026, impacting Medicaid applicants and healthcare providers processing applications.
HB 3019 reduces maximum class sizes for Oklahoma public schools in kindergarten through fifth grade over a three-year phase-in. Starting in 2026-2027, classes in kindergarten through second grade may not exceed 22 students; this limit drops to 20 students in 2027-2028, and 18 students starting in 2028-2029. To comply, schools must employ a teacher’s assistant in classes exceeding these limits (with exceptions for special education and certain other classes), and teacher assistants cannot count toward the class size limit. School districts that fail to meet these requirements face reduced state funding calculated based on the number of students over the limit.
HB 3379 prohibits Oklahoma public colleges and universities from asking about a prospective student's criminal history on initial application forms or during early admissions decisions, except for convictions related to sex offenses listed in Oklahoma law (21 Okl. Stat. §§ 843.5, 1111, etc.). After admission, institutions may inquire about criminal history for counseling, campus participation decisions, or specific programs like teacher preparation, but must consider factors like time passed, rehabilitation, and the offense's relevance. The bill specifically prevents denial of admission or academic program continuation for students seeking licensed careers (e.g., teaching) based solely on criminal history, requiring institutions to offer counseling about licensing requirements instead. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 3672 amends Oklahoma's state employee benefits law (74 O.S. 2021, Section 1370) to establish a flexible benefits allowance for state employees. It sets a minimum annual allowance amount based on previous year benefits or current plan premiums (including health, dental, disability, and life insurance), with a 2% annual increase starting in 2022. Employees who opt out of the state's basic health plan receive $150 monthly instead of flexible benefits, and can use "pay conversion dollars" to cover costs exceeding their allowance through salary deductions. The bill also includes specific rules for military-connected employees (TRICARE beneficiaries) who may purchase supplemental coverage under federal guidelines. This directly affects Oklahoma state employees enrolled in the flexible benefits plan.
