HB 3240 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy allowing daily prayer or reading of the Bible or other religious texts during school hours, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. The policy must include a consent form for students and employees, acknowledging their choice to participate, specifying opportunities for individual or group activities, and waiving legal claims under the First Amendment. Schools must prohibit participation without consent, ban public address system use for religious content, and ensure the activity does not replace instructional time. Parents or students may revoke consent at any time, and schools must provide a model consent form. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public schools, students, and employees.
HB 3638 creates Oklahoma's participation in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program starting in 2027, providing supplemental food benefits to eligible children during school breaks. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) will administer the program, coordinating with the State Department of Education to determine eligibility and share data (while complying with privacy laws). Benefits will follow the same food restrictions as Oklahoma's SNAP program, and the program's implementation depends on available legislative funding. A special fund for administrative costs will be established in the State Treasury, funded by federal and other sources, and the bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 4422 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to verify applicants' immigration status using the federal SAVE system before approving benefits for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It establishes a five-year bar for qualified aliens who entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, from receiving TANF or certain other benefits, unless exceptions apply. If SAVE verification shows unverified status, the department must notify the Oklahoma Attorney General, who may then alert U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill directly affects non-citizen legal residents applying for TANF or SNAP benefits, mandating status checks and specific notification procedures.
SB 1403 modifies Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Incentive Program by extending eligibility periods and adjusting wage requirements. It extends incentive contracts from 15 to 30 years for businesses in the entertainment industry (NAICS 711211) without additional funds, while lowering the required annual payroll for manufacturing businesses (NAICS 3111-3119) from $2.5 million to $1.5 million. The bill also adds special provisions for businesses operating on contaminated Superfund sites, allowing them to qualify for incentives if they meet environmental remediation requirements and generate 50% of Oklahoma taxable income at the site. These changes directly affect new businesses seeking state tax incentives for job creation and payroll growth.
This resolution declares May as Alpha-gal Awareness and Prevention Month in Oklahoma to highlight a tick-bite allergy (alpha-gal syndrome) causing severe, life-threatening reactions and requiring strict avoidance of certain meats and dairy. It urges health providers, educators, and community groups to increase public awareness about this condition and tick-borne illnesses. The resolution directs the Oklahoma State Department of Health to use this month for education and prevention efforts. It is a symbolic measure focused on raising awareness, not creating new laws or funding.
HB 3885 amends Oklahoma school suspension rules to require specific penalties for students in grades 3-5 who assault school staff or volunteers. First offenses result in a three-day in-school suspension, second offenses trigger a seven-day out-of-school suspension, and third offenses lead to expulsion. School superintendents may adjust these terms case-by-case, but the law applies only to incidents involving physical harm to staff (not other misconduct). The bill does not change suspension rules for students in grades 6-12, who face semester-long suspensions for similar offenses.
SB 1771 authorizes Oklahoma's Workforce Commission to collect specific workforce data from state agencies, schools, and other entities, including program costs, participant wages before and after training, job openings requiring certifications, and funding details. It requires these entities to share the data and mandates the Commission to create a public dashboard displaying workforce development information. The bill also explicitly permits the Commission to hire outside legal counsel for advice on its duties, with costs covered by its funds. These changes take effect November 1, 2026, aiming to improve data transparency and decision-making for workforce programs.
HB 1170, the Oklahoma Public Finance Protection Act, requires state pension fund managers to base all investment decisions solely on financial factors affecting returns or risk, prohibiting consideration of environmental, social, political, or ideological goals. It directly affects all Oklahoma public pension plans (including those managed by state entities, counties, municipalities, and schools) and their fiduciaries. The law mandates that fiduciaries evaluate investments exclusively using "pecuniary factors," such as financial risk and return, and prohibits voting proxies or making investment choices to advance nonfinancial objectives, while allowing incidental consideration of factors with proven material financial impact.
SB 483 allows Oklahoma counties to create programs helping homeless individuals relocate to family members, employers, or others who will provide support. It sets strict eligibility rules: participants must be sober during travel, not on parole without approval, not have used such a program in the past two years, and must be homeless as defined by law (lacking stable housing, including those displaced by violence). Counties must verify with the destination contact before travel and document their agreement, then check in with participants 90 days later. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 3 prohibits the land application of sludge and biosolid materials in Oklahoma until July 1, 2028. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to revoke all existing permits and stop issuing new permits for this practice, directly affecting wastewater treatment facilities and agricultural operations currently using these materials. Key provisions define "biosolid material" to include sludge, perfluoroalkyl, and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with the moratorium taking immediate effect due to an emergency declaration. This law halts all land application activities until the specified date, without providing alternative disposal methods.
SB 96 bans the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat (lab-grown meat made from animal cell cultures) in Oklahoma. It directly affects businesses producing or selling this type of meat, while allowing plant-based meat alternatives to remain available if clearly labeled as plant-based. The law creates the "Oklahoma Meat Consumer Protection Act," requiring the State Board of Agriculture to establish enforcement rules and prohibiting misleading meat labeling. The ban takes effect November 1, 2025.
This Oklahoma House resolution officially designates April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 29, 2026, as Denim Day. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence and encourage people to wear jeans on Denim Day to symbolize that there is no excuse for harassment or assault. It does not change any laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic statement to highlight the issue and promote community support for survivors.
