This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require future Oklahoma Attorneys General to be licensed attorneys who have practiced law in Oklahoma for at least ten years. It specifically adds this requirement to Section 3 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, which already sets age and residency qualifications for state executive offices. The amendment would apply only to the Attorney General position, not to other offices like Governor or State Treasurer listed in the existing section. If approved by voters, this change would become part of the state constitution, affecting all candidates seeking the Attorney General role.
HB 3706 requires all Oklahoma public elementary schools to provide at least 60 minutes of daily mathematics instruction for full-day kindergarten through fifth-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The instruction must align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics (OAS-M) approved by the State Board of Education. This law directly affects K-5 students and public elementary schools across Oklahoma, mandating a specific daily math time requirement. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon approval. The bill does not change existing math standards but enforces a minimum daily instructional time.
HB 3942 requires Oklahoma's Incentive Evaluation Commission to annually assess state economic incentives (like tax credits or grants) from 2024 onward. It mandates a schedule for evaluating all incentives based on fiscal impact and goals, with exemptions only for minimal-cost programs. Each evaluation must analyze the incentive's economic impact, effectiveness, alignment with state priorities, and recommendations for retention or changes. The Commission must report findings to lawmakers and the public by December 15 each year, including cost estimates, goal achievement, and suggestions for policy improvements. This directly affects state agencies administering incentives and lawmakers reviewing their value.
HB 3976 establishes a grant program under Oklahoma's State Department of Health to help rural and small hospitals open new facilities or keep existing ones open by funding infrastructure, equipment, or technology needs. Hospitals applying must contribute at least 20% of project costs through cash or in-kind donations. The program will be funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, which replenishes itself and can be used continuously without annual budget limits.
HB 3787 requires all candidates for municipal, county, or school board positions in Oklahoma to meet the state's basic voting eligibility requirements as defined in the Oklahoma Constitution. This means candidates must be U.S. citizens, residents of the district, and otherwise qualified to vote in Oklahoma elections. The bill amends existing election laws to enforce this standard for all state, county, municipal, and school board offices, effective November 1, 2026. It does not change the specific requirements but ensures candidates already must meet these standards.
HB 3749 establishes the "Counties and County Officers Act of 2026" as the official name for this legislation and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. This is a procedural bill with no substantive policy changes; it does not alter county governance or officer responsibilities. The bill simply provides a name and effective date for future reference, as it is explicitly stated to not be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes. No specific provisions or affected parties are defined beyond this naming and timing mechanism.
HB 3721 is a procedural bill defining terms for analyzing Oklahoma retirement legislation. It establishes clear categories like "nonfiscal retirement bill" to identify legislation that doesn't change retirement system costs or benefits (e.g., minor adjustments, disability standard modifications, or one-time benefit increases under specific funding conditions). The bill creates a framework for classifying pension-related bills based on fiscal impact, requiring the Legislative Actuary to review them. It does not alter current retirement benefits, contributions, or funding levels but sets rules for how such bills are processed. This is a technical clarification for legislative staff, not a policy change affecting retirees or systems.
HB 3584 modifies Oklahoma's sentencing rules for human trafficking convictions. It requires individuals convicted of human trafficking (as defined in Section 748) to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole, with no earned credits allowed to reduce this time. The bill expands the definition of "human trafficking" to explicitly include child sex trafficking and trafficking involving minors, while defining key terms like "coercion" and "commercial sex." This policy directly affects convicted traffickers, particularly those involved in cases exploiting children or forcing commercial sex acts.
HB 3697 extends the deadline for defendants to file an answer in civil lawsuits from 20 to 30 days after being served. It allows defendants to reserve additional time (20-30 days beyond the original deadline) but waives certain legal arguments if they use this option. The bill clarifies when specific defenses - like lack of jurisdiction or failure to state a claim - must be raised via motion rather than in a formal response. This directly affects defendants in Oklahoma civil cases by changing procedural timelines and defense strategies.
HB 3930 clarifies that only trained dogs qualify as service animals under Oklahoma law, explicitly excluding emotional support and therapy animals. It requires businesses selling or providing emotional support animals (including verification or ID tags) to give written notices stating these animals do not grant service animal rights. The bill imposes fines of $100-$250 for first violations and $500 for repeat violations for misrepresenting emotional support animals as service animals. This directly affects businesses selling emotional support animals and consumers who might falsely claim service animal status.
HB 3791 protects healthcare providers and parents regarding alternative treatments. It states that doctors, nurses, and physician assistants may recommend holistic or natural treatments they believe are beneficial without risking license loss (Section 1A). Parents or legal guardians may choose such treatments for their children instead of medical advice, with no legal repercussions for child neglect (Section 1B). The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3722 requires Oklahoma voter registration applicants to explicitly select a recognized political party or "Independent" status on their form. Previously, voters who skipped this step were automatically registered as Independents; this bill changes that by mandating applicants choose a party affiliation or Independent designation to complete registration. The bill does not alter which parties are recognized but ensures all applicants actively affirm their political preference during registration. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new and updated voter registrations.
