SB 1714 requires Oklahoma state agencies to establish or improve internal employee suggestion programs focused on generating cost savings. Employees who submit ideas resulting in $5,000+ in annual savings may receive financial rewards of 10-25% of the savings (capped at $20,000 per person), with agencies also permitted to offer non-cash recognition for efficiency improvements. The bill creates a Statewide Cost Savings Incentive Fund, funded by 20% of all verified statewide savings, to provide supplemental funding to agencies meeting annual budget reduction targets. Agencies must annually report cost-saving suggestions, implemented measures, and savings to state leadership, with the new Incentive Awards Committee recognizing top contributors.
SB 1820 amends Oklahoma law to classify dueling with deadly weapons as a Class C1 felony punishable by imprisonment. It also creates a new defense for assault charges (under Sections 644/647 of Title 21) where a defendant claims the victim consented to non-serious conduct that posed a recognized risk in the victim's occupation, medical treatment, or scientific research. This defense does not apply if the conduct was related to gang membership. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2026, and defines "serious bodily injury" as harm creating a substantial risk of death or permanent disfigurement.
SB 1887 modifies Oklahoma school training requirements for staff handling allergies, anaphylaxis, and concussions. It updates the law to require school employees to complete annual training on food allergies, recognizing anaphylaxis, and administering epinephrine **only once every other academic year** (instead of annually), starting before the school year begins or upon hiring. This change applies directly to teachers, school nurses, and other staff responsible for student health emergencies. The bill also updates related policies for concussion management and medication storage but focuses the key change on reducing the training frequency. The training must still be documented in staff files and can be delivered online or in person.
SB 1988 increases fees for money transfer businesses in Oklahoma, requiring a $20 fee per transaction under $500 plus 4% for amounts over $500. It also creates a tax credit for customers who pay these fees, allowing them to claim the fee amount against their income tax. The bill modifies rules for claiming the credit, specifying it can't reduce tax below zero and must be claimed in specific tax years (e.g., 2009-2010 fees claimed on 2010 returns). All fees collected will fund the Drug Money Laundering and Wire Transmitter Revolving Fund. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.
SB 1973 amends Oklahoma's Crime Victims Compensation Act to expand the definition of "allowable expense" to include educational costs. Specifically, it adds reimbursement for tuition and fees at private schools, career and technology programs, public or private colleges, and academic tutoring services. This change directly affects crime victims or their dependents applying for compensation under the Act, allowing them to claim these new educational expenses as part of their reimbursement. The bill modifies Section 142.3 of the Act to include these provisions, effective upon passage.
SB 1922 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections to publicly share two specific types of inmate information: (1) programs inmates participated in (such as work or education), and (2) any disciplinary actions taken against them. This applies directly to the public, who will gain access to these records through the Department's website or other public channels. The bill mandates the Department to create rules for implementing this transparency measure and takes effect on November 1, 2026. It does not change sentencing, prison conditions, or other operational aspects of corrections.
SB 49 adds a new sales tax exemption for nonprofit organizations providing services to abused and neglected children in Oklahoma. The bill amends Oklahoma’s sales tax code to exempt these specific nonprofits from paying sales tax on purchases directly related to their child welfare services. To qualify, organizations must submit required documentation proving their services align with this exemption, which applies to tangible personal property and services used for this purpose. This policy change directly affects eligible child welfare nonprofits by reducing their operational costs.
SB 26 removes earnings limits for retired Oklahoma teachers who return to classroom teaching in public schools under specific conditions. It allows eligible retirees (who have not worked for public schools in the past year) to earn full salary for three years without income restrictions, starting July 1, 2025. This applies to teachers retiring after July 2025 who return to active classroom roles in common or career tech school districts. The change modifies existing rules that previously limited postretirement earnings for 36 months, with exceptions based on retirement date. The bill affects current and future retirees in Oklahoma’s public school system who rejoin teaching roles.
SB 1342 increases the monthly cash payment for Oklahoma school district employees who opt out of the cafeteria health plan. Certified personnel (e.g., teachers) and support staff will receive $500 per month as taxable compensation instead of the previous $69.71 and $189.69, respectively. The change applies to all employees choosing not to participate in the school-district-sponsored cafeteria plan after November 1, 2026. This replaces the previous tiered benefit structure with a flat $500 amount for both employee categories. The bill updates statutory language and effective dates but does not alter the health plan options themselves.
SB 1375 requires Oklahoma public high school students (grades 8-12) to complete a specific computer science unit to earn a standard diploma, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It replaces the current "two units of computer technology" graduation requirement with a more defined computer science curriculum, including programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets or databases. This policy directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students seeking a standard diploma, updating existing graduation requirements under state education law. The bill repeals prior versions of the same curriculum section to implement this change.
HB 3069 changes Oklahoma's charter school application process by removing the requirement that applicants must submit applications either to a sponsor or their school district. Instead, applicants for traditional charter schools (not virtual charters, which still submit to the Statewide Charter School Board) can choose where to submit their application. The bill also adds a 10-hour training requirement for applicants and sponsors on charter school processes, to be completed before submission. These changes apply to applications filed after July 1, 2024, and aim to streamline the application pathway for new charter schools.
HB 3126 redirects funds from Oklahoma's oil and gas lease revenues to create a dedicated revolving fund for concurrent enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses. It requires the Commissioners of the Land Office to transfer bonus and delay rental income from oil and gas leases into a new "Concurrent Enrollment Revolving Fund," which can be invested to generate interest and provide ongoing funding. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must use these funds exclusively for concurrent enrollment, with no other purposes allowed. This ensures a stable, continuing source of support for high school students accessing college-level coursework.
