HB 3431 restricts ownership of rare earth mineral rights in Oklahoma by foreign governments designated as adversaries. The bill amends existing law to specifically replace "oil" with "rare earth minerals" in ownership restrictions, focusing on critical minerals vital for technology and defense. It directly affects foreign entities classified as adversaries under state law, preventing them from holding mineral rights for rare earth resources. The key mechanism establishes new ownership limitations for these minerals, though the bill does not define which foreign governments qualify as "adversaries." The amendment clarifies the bill's scope to rare earth minerals, excluding oil and other resources.
HB 3498 modernizes Oklahoma's corporate law framework by updating and clarifying the Oklahoma General Corporation Act and Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act. It directly affects all corporations and limited liability companies operating in Oklahoma, including their boards, officers, and shareholders. Key changes include clarifying rules for contracts with beneficial owners, strengthening fiduciary duty standards for controlling shareholders, updating procedures for stock issuance and corporate meetings, and organizing outdated references into a single, accessible code. The bill also adjusts terminology and jurisdictional references to align with current legal practices.
HB 3500 removes a nine-month deadline for beneficiaries to accept property through a transfer-on-death deed after the owner's death, effective November 1, 2026. It directly affects property owners who create such deeds and their designated beneficiaries, who must now submit an affidavit with the owner's death certificate to claim the property within nine months (for deaths after November 1, 2011). Key provisions include requiring beneficiaries to verify the owner's death, marital status at death, and property details via affidavit, and clarifying that partial acceptance by one beneficiary is valid. Property not accepted within the timeframe reverts to the deceased owner's estate. The bill simplifies the process by allowing notarized affidavits to be recorded without formal acknowledgment.
HB 3443 authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to increase specific permit fees for oversized or overweight vehicles, including Special Overheight Trailer Permits (30-day and annual) and Longer Combination Annual Permits. The bill requires fee adjustments to use a cost-of-living formula through 2024. These changes directly affect trucking companies and drivers who require these specialized permits for oversized loads. The bill does not alter vehicle size or weight limits but modifies the fee structure for existing permit types.
HB 3501 allows alcohol manufacturers in Oklahoma to hold multiple licenses for producing different types of alcoholic beverages (like beer, wine, or spirits) on the same premises, provided they maintain good standing with the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission and Oklahoma Tax Commission. Businesses seeking additional licenses must obtain federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approvals for "alternating proprietorship" arrangements and notify ABLE when applying for a second license at a single location. The bill requires the ABLE Commission to create rules for these arrangements and amends existing law to clarify the Commission's authority over manufacturing licenses - specifically excluding distribution or wholesale licenses. This change directly affects alcohol producers seeking to diversify their operations under one physical location.
HB 3413 requires Oklahoma state agencies to submit detailed annual budget requests by October 1 each year, including specific data on program needs, contractor details, and consultant reports. Agencies must publicly post final consultant reports on the state purchasing website and provide information on shared financial services costs to identify potential savings. The bill mandates standardized reporting formats covering program outcomes, staffing, revenue estimates, and capital lease debt for the current and next two fiscal years. It directly affects all state agencies (excluding higher education institutions) by increasing transparency in budget planning and spending oversight. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3462 updates Oklahoma's plumbing licensing rules by revising definitions and qualification requirements for license applicants. It reclassifies "master plumber" as "plumbing contractor" and specifies that residential journeyman applicants must be 18+ with 3 years of experience, an associate's degree plus 2,000 hours of training, or military experience. Unlimited journeyman applicants require similar education and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed contractor. The bill directly affects plumbing professionals seeking licenses in Oklahoma, particularly those applying for residential or unlimited journeyman or contractor credentials.
HB 3979 increases the funding cap for Oklahoma's Infrastructure Pool and Economic Development Pool from $100 million to $125 million each. It requires 65% of funds from both pools to support smaller municipalities (under 300,000 residents) and 35% to serve all eligible local governments regardless of size. The bill applies directly to Oklahoma cities and counties seeking infrastructure or economic development financing through these pools. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3831 formally designates Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1) as the state's official urban search and rescue team for emergency deployments, requiring it to be the first asset sent for out-of-state disaster responses under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Revenue Fund for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Revolving Fund, with $2 million specifically allocated to support OK-TF1's Oklahoma City and Tulsa teams. Funds must cover deployment costs, training, equipment, and operational expenses but cannot be used for routine fire department operations or facilities. This establishes clear funding and operational guidelines for OK-TF1's disaster response capabilities within Oklahoma.
HB 3644 (the Blake Burgess Act) requires hospitals with emergency departments and ambulatory surgical centers to implement standardized VTE (venous thromboembolism, or blood clot in veins) risk assessments for patients using nationally recognized tools and provide annual training to non-physician clinical staff. It mandates a statewide VTE registry managed by a private, nonprofit entity meeting specific criteria, which hospitals must report to starting July 2027 with data including patient age, zip code, sex, diagnosis details, and treatment. The registry collects information to improve VTE care quality, monitor outcomes, and inform state health reports, with hospitals required to submit data on VTE incidence, patient demographics, and treatment. The law directly affects hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and their clinical staff through new screening, training, and reporting obligations.
HB 3941, titled the "Oklahoma Secretary-Bailiff Compensation Reform Act of 2026," establishes a framework for future changes to compensation for Oklahoma secretary-bailiffs (court staff positions). The bill creates a noncodified legal provision (meaning it won't be included in Oklahoma’s official statutes) and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026. It directly affects secretary-bailiffs working in Oklahoma courts by initiating a process for reforming their pay structure, though the bill itself does not specify new compensation rates or mechanisms. The legislation is procedural, focusing on naming the reform effort and its implementation timeline.
HB 3980 creates a program to help assistant district attorneys in rural Oklahoma pay back education loans. It provides state-funded repayment assistance of up to $5,000 per year (capped at $50,000 total) for eligible employees who work full-time in designated high-need rural districts. Participants must complete 2,000 hours of service for every $5,000 covered, and must repay the state pro-rata if they leave before meeting this requirement. The program is funded through a new state revolving fund managed by the District Attorneys Council.
