HB 4301 requires escrow and title companies to return earnest money to qualified U.S. veterans or active duty military members if a property appraises for less than the contract price. Companies that fail to comply face a $500 civil penalty per violation, with the funds added to the Attorney General's Law Enforcement Revolving Fund. The bill enforces a federal rule (38 C.F.R. § 36.4303(k)) and takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects veterans, active duty military members purchasing property, and the entities handling their escrow payments.
HB 4478 requires Oklahoma school districts to deposit certain activity funds - such as those from ticket sales, concessions, student club dues, or event admissions - into school activity accounts at least once per business week, even if the total is less than $100. This replaces the previous rule allowing daily accumulation until reaching $100. The bill directly affects all public school districts managing activity funds for student clubs, sports, events, and similar programs. It does not change what funds can be collected or how they may be spent, only the frequency of required deposits.
HB 4140 modifies Oklahoma's laws on grand larceny and receiving stolen property by adjusting penalty tiers based on the value of stolen property. It reduces maximum fines for receiving stolen property from $2,500 to $500 across all value ranges and updates felony classifications (e.g., $1,000-$2,500 now triggers a Class D3 felony for both crimes, with a $1,000 fine limit for larceny). The bill also requires courts to order restitution to victims for both offenses. It takes effect November 1, 2026, and directly affects individuals convicted of these property crimes.
HB 4198 creates Oklahoma's "Protection from Workplace Violence Act," allowing employers to seek court-issued protective orders against former employees who harass or stalk current employees. It defines workplace harassment and stalking broadly (including repeated contact, following, or electronic communications) and sets clear procedures for filing petitions, obtaining emergency ex parte orders, and scheduling hearings. The law requires specific information in protective orders, limits hearing timelines, and establishes statewide validity for these orders. It directly affects employers (in businesses with over two employees) and current employees seeking protection from former employees’ threatening behavior.
HB 4335 allows counties and municipalities to regulate retail pet shops (including inspections) but prohibits banning pet shops selling dogs/cats unless the shop has three or more violations of pet breeding/shelter laws within five years. It also extends the notice period for license renewals from 60 to 90 days before expiration, requiring the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to send written notices to license holders. The bill affects local governments, pet shops, and animal shelter operators by clarifying regulatory authority and renewal procedures. It exempts pre-2026 local ordinances and takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 4058 allows Oklahoma drivers to voluntarily include their blood type on state-issued driver licenses or identification cards. The bill directly affects residents who choose to add this optional information during license application or renewal. Key provisions enable the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to issue licenses with blood type fields, though it remains a voluntary choice for applicants. The amendment corrected a typographical error ("diver" to "driver") in the original text but does not change the bill's core provision. This is a minor administrative change with no new requirements or mandates for drivers.
HB 3176 creates the Oklahoma Gas, Artificial Intelligence, and Space Research Hub (GAS Hub) as the state's central coordinator for recruiting a U.S. National Laboratory. The hub will prepare federal-ready sites, coordinate workforce development, aggregate state incentives, and serve as Oklahoma's formal applicant to agencies like the Department of Energy and NASA. It requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to administer the hub, working with state agencies including the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. The bill mandates annual reports on federal engagement and site readiness, with implementation effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1501 requires medical marijuana commercial growers in Oklahoma to post a $50,000 bond (or higher based on reclamation needs) for each license, ensuring funds are available for property cleanup if violations occur. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority can recall these bonds if a property is abandoned, a license is revoked, or a violation necessitates remedial action, using the funds for restoration like removing equipment or addressing environmental hazards. The bill also mandates the Authority to notify local law enforcement when a business license expires and to maintain bond records for two years. This amendment updates existing bond requirements and takes effect on November 1, 2026.
SB 1749 modifies Oklahoma law to require mobile food vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking to obtain annual permits and pass inspections from the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration (not local agencies). It mandates Class K fire extinguishers for grease-related cooking and shifts jurisdiction for fire safety inspections to the State Fire Marshal, who must conduct annual checks with specific geographic coverage. The bill affects mobile food vendors operating LPG-equipped vehicles, updating permit requirements and inspection protocols while clarifying that counties with over 400,000 residents may maintain local regulations. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
SB 2178 requires organizations applying for special event alcohol licenses (such as nonprofits hosting fundraisers or festivals) to hold general liability insurance with at least $1 million per incident and $2 million aggregate coverage for liquor-related incidents. It applies to all special event license applicants, except economic development chambers using licensed caterers for non-fundraising events. The bill updates existing rules to enforce this insurance requirement as a condition for license issuance, aligning special event sales rules with those for permanent liquor licenses. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 1016 requires content creators in Oklahoma who feature minors in compensated online videos to set aside earnings in a trust account for the minor until they turn 18. It mandates detailed record-keeping of minor-related content, views, and earnings, and allows minors aged 13+ to demand removal of their likeness from content. Content creators must maintain these records until the minor turns 21 and face civil penalties for violations, including lawsuits for unpaid trust funds. The law directly affects minors appearing in compensated video content on platforms like social media or streaming services within Oklahoma.
HB 1638 amends definitions within Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act to clarify who qualifies as a "charitable health care provider" and "community health care provider." It specifies that charitable providers serve medically indigent patients without compensation, and community providers must work at federally qualified health centers or meet specific federal application criteria. The bill also refines the definition of "employee" for tort claims, explicitly including certain medical professionals (like those at state hospitals or in mental health contracts) while excluding others, such as physician faculty not acting in administrative roles. These changes directly affect medical providers, government entities handling tort claims, and individuals filing injury or property loss claims against Oklahoma agencies. The bill updates existing legal terminology without creating new substantive requirements.
