SB 1467 requires Oklahoma criminal justice agencies (like police departments, courts, and correctional facilities) to share specific public criminal justice data with approved researchers upon request. This includes information on law enforcement stops, arrests, court proceedings, and corrections, but only if the data is already available to the public under Oklahoma's Open Records Act. Researchers must prove they are "bona fide" (with institutional review board approval and agreements to use data solely for research, without public disclosure) and agencies may charge reasonable fees for search and copying. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with requests not accepted before July 1, 2027, and the Attorney General must provide compliance guidance.
SB 2073, the "Hire Oklahomans Act," prohibits all Oklahoma state entities (including agencies, universities, and local governments) from hiring or renewing employment for individuals under H-1B visas or Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. The law applies only to new hires or contract renewals starting July 1, 2026, and does not affect existing employment agreements. It aims to prioritize public employment opportunities for Oklahoma residents by restricting state-funded positions to individuals not relying on these specific federal visa programs. The bill explicitly states that state employment funded by Oklahoma taxpayers is a matter of state sovereignty, separate from federal immigration authority.
SB 2133 amends Oklahoma law governing the Director of Wildlife Conservation by requiring that the Director can only be removed for cause and after a public hearing by the Wildlife Conservation Commission. Previously, the Commission could remove the Director without specific grounds or process. The bill also updates the language to be gender neutral (replacing "His or her" with gender-neutral terms) and clarifies that the Director serves "at the pleasure of the Commission" under the new removal standards. This directly affects the Director of Wildlife Conservation and the Commission, which appoints and oversees the Director's role. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1522 allows licensed firearm dealers in Oklahoma to enter into written or oral "firearm hold agreements" with owners to temporarily store firearms. It grants dealers immunity from civil lawsuits related to storing or returning firearms under these agreements, except in cases of gross negligence or if the dealer knew the owner was prohibited from owning firearms or posed a danger. The bill directly affects firearm owners seeking temporary storage and licensed dealers offering such services. It becomes effective November 1, 2026, and codifies these provisions in Oklahoma Statutes.
SB 1815 expands homestead exemption eligibility for manufactured home owners in Oklahoma who do not own the land their home sits on. It allows these residents to apply for the exemption if the home is their actual primary residence and they meet other standard requirements. The bill amends statutes to clarify that manufactured homes qualify for homestead exemption regardless of land ownership status, increasing the exemption for qualifying owners. This change directly affects manufactured home residents living on rented land who previously could not access this property tax benefit.
SB 1819 creates the "Citizen Access to County Facilities Act," protecting Oklahoma counties from liability for injuries occurring at public facilities like parks, senior centers, and fairgrounds. It exempts counties from lawsuits related to "inherent risks" of activities (such as natural hazards or participant negligence) if counties post a specific warning notice at facility entrances. The law requires a clear sign stating: "WARNING: Under Oklahoma law, there is no liability for injury... Inherent risks include... potential for you to act negligently." Counties remain liable for willful negligence or known, unaddressed hazards. This affects all participants using county facilities but excludes county employees from the "participant" definition.
SB 2020 strengthens parental access to information about minor children by modifying Oklahoma's medical, educational, and counseling privacy laws. It removes minors' ability to block parents from accessing confidential communications with healthcare providers (amending 12 O.S. §2503) and clarifies parental rights to review school records, direct education, and make healthcare decisions (amending 25 O.S. §2002). The bill also revises medical treatment laws (63 O.S. §2602) to limit when minors can consent to treatment without parental involvement and updates disclosure rules for counselors (59 O.S. §§1910, 1939). These changes directly affect parents, legal guardians, and minors under 18 in healthcare, education, and counseling settings.
SB 1761 allows Oklahoma churches to host temporary overnight religious retreats, ministry events, or shelter for displaced persons without violating building codes, as long as they follow specific safety rules. The bill removes the previous exception for emergencies (keeping a 75-day annual limit on stays) and prohibits local governments from enforcing building codes against churches offering these services - provided they don’t charge fees or operate like hotels. Churches must install fire safety measures (sprinklers or alarms) in overnight areas and cannot convert religious use to commercial lodging. This directly affects churches using existing facilities for religious purposes and local governments enforcing building codes. (SB 1761, effective November 1, 2026)
SB 1762, the "Oklahoma Protection of Fundamental Rights and Public Policy Act," prohibits female genital mutilation (FGM) as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine, while banning corporal punishments like stoning, flogging, or amputation as legal sanctions. It extends the statute of limitations for civil claims involving sexual assault or coercive medical procedures (including those related to gender identity) until the victim's 45th birthday and invalidates marriages entered under coercion, force, or for minors under 18. The bill also prohibits discrimination based on gender or religion in family law matters, such as inheritance or custody, and invalidates arbitration agreements that would enforce discriminatory rules. Male circumcision for religious, cultural, or medical reasons remains permitted under the law.
SB 2083 makes Oklahoma Bar Association membership voluntary for attorneys, allowing them to choose whether to pay annual dues to remain active. Attorneys opting for "inactive" status pay only 20% of dues, are exempt from continuing legal education requirements, and cannot practice law while inactive. The bill also grants the Oklahoma Legislature authority to request disciplinary information from the bar and requires disciplinary committees to include at least one non-lawyer member for transparency. It takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1626 bans specific anti-competitive clauses in health insurance contracts between insurers and healthcare providers. It prohibits "gag clauses" (which hide price or cost information from patients), "anti-steering clauses" (restricting insurers from directing patients to lower-cost providers), "all-or-nothing clauses" (forcing full network inclusion), and "most-favored-nations clauses" (blocking price competition). The law also bans any other contract terms that create anti-competitive effects. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts, allowing Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner to impose penalties or refer cases to the Attorney General for enforcement.
SB 1622 requires tenants who abandon, surrender, or are evicted from residential rental property to pay any unpaid utility charges in their name to the utility company. Landlords are exempt from liability for these unpaid charges if the utility was contracted directly with the tenant, not the landlord. The bill mandates that utility companies must restore services to the rental property upon the landlord’s request if the tenant fails to pay, and they must pursue payment solely from the tenant. This law directly affects tenants leaving rental units with outstanding utility bills and shifts responsibility from landlords to tenants for those specific charges.
