HB 1412 changes how Oklahoma school districts compensate teachers with advanced, lead, or master certificates. Instead of providing salary increases, districts must pay stipends using lottery funds (as specified in Section 713 of Title 3A) for these certified educators. The law, signed by the governor on May 23, 2025, directly affects teachers holding these higher-level credentials. It modifies Oklahoma Statutes § 6-190 to require stipends from lottery revenue rather than general salary adjustments.
SB 684 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act by increasing the annual credit limit to $7,500 for eligible taxpayers claiming credits for private school tuition and related education expenses. It changes the tax years for which the credit limit applies and requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online list of all taxpayers claiming the credit, including their names, credit amounts, and the specific law authorizing the credit. This bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers claiming the education credit and participating private schools, which must provide information to the Tax Commission. The law also specifies that qualified expenses include tuition at accredited private schools or certain educational services like tutoring and materials. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's approval.
HB 1075 requires school superintendents to provide written dismissal recommendations for teachers and administrators with specific, documented reasons. If a recommendation involves potential criminal charges or certificate revocation issues, it must be forwarded to the Oklahoma State Board of Education. The bill also mandates that if an investigation clears an educator of wrongdoing, the record is expunged from State Board files. All recommendations are kept confidential under Oklahoma law, with strict rules for handling requests by school districts during employment decisions.
SB 1086 requires Oklahoma voter registrations to be canceled if a voter is identified as non-citizen through government database matches. It mandates that voters who match non-citizen records must provide REAL ID-compliant proof of citizenship within 30 days, or face registration cancellation. The bill also restricts access to voter registration lists, requiring applicants to prove U.S. citizenship and residency, and bans commercial use or internet sharing of the list. These changes take effect November 1, 2025.
SB 535 amends Oklahoma's Open Records Act by removing a specific requirement (subparagraph "p") related to how public agencies must respond to certain public records requests. This change modifies the procedural steps public bodies must follow when fulfilling those requests. The bill, which became law without the Governor's signature on May 27, 2025, directly affects all Oklahoma public agencies that process public records requests. It streamlines the response process by eliminating the referenced provision.
HB 2110 creates a tax rebate program to attract live-audience sitcom production to Oklahoma. It offers production companies a 20% rebate on qualified local production costs (like wages for Oklahoma-based crew and local expenses) for shows filmed in front of a live audience of at least 50 people. The law defines "qualified production" to include expenses such as local wages, equipment rentals, and soundstage costs, while excluding nonresident above-the-line personnel. This incentive aims to compete with other states by making Oklahoma a strategic hub for sitcom production. The bill became law on May 25, 2025.
HB 2013, "Dylan's Law," requires health insurance companies to cover epilepsy treatments equally to other conditions, prohibits dropping coverage solely due to an epilepsy diagnosis, and mandates coverage for medically necessary neurostimulation devices. It also allows individuals with epilepsy (diagnosed by a licensed doctor) to voluntarily add a unique symbol to their Oklahoma driver's license or ID card by June 1, 2026, to help first responders identify their condition during emergencies. The symbol cannot be used for any other purpose and may be removed at any time. These provisions became law on May 25, 2025, without a gubernatorial signature. The bill directly affects people with epilepsy and insurers operating under the Affordable Care Act in Oklahoma.
HB 1003 modifies Oklahoma's rape statutes by raising age thresholds for certain offenses. It increases the age of protection from 16 to 18 years in key situations (e.g., when a victim is under 18, in school, or in foster care), and clarifies that school employees engaging in sexual conduct with students under 20 must be 18 or older. The bill also updates age difference rules for consent-based cases, requiring perpetrators to be at least 18 and four years older than the victim (who must be 16 or older). These changes directly affect minors in educational or foster care settings and their adult perpetrators. The law took effect May 27, 2025, without gubernatorial action.
SB 562 strengthens Oklahoma's Bus Passenger Safety Act by expanding criminal penalties for violence targeting buses and passengers. It defines "bus" broadly to include vans, railcars, and other public transit vehicles, and makes it a felony to seize control of any bus (up to 20 years in prison), intimidate drivers/passengers (up to 10 years), or use deadly weapons during such acts (up to 20 years). The bill also prohibits discharging firearms in buses or terminals without valid self-defense justification (up to 5 years). These provisions directly affect bus passengers, drivers, and transit staff by increasing legal consequences for threats and violence against them.
SB 1032 creates a legal defense for bars, restaurants, and other licensed alcohol establishments in Oklahoma when employees violate alcohol service laws (e.g., serving minors, intoxicated people, or those with mental deficiencies). To qualify for this defense, businesses must require all employees to hold valid ABLE Commission licenses, complete mandatory seller-server training within 14 days of hire (and every two years after), adopt written policies prohibiting such sales, and obtain written employee acknowledgment of these policies. If an employee lacks a valid license, the business is automatically liable. The ABLE Commission can rebut the defense by proving an employee committed similar violations three times within a year, shifting the burden to the business to demonstrate compliance. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1257 prohibits roofing contractors from promising to pay insurance deductibles or compensating homeowners for services as an inducement. It requires contractors to provide written notices about this rule with initial estimates and mandates that complaints about violations be sent to the Insurance Department and Attorney General for investigation. The law directly affects roofing contractors and homeowners dealing with insurance claims, ensuring contractors cannot mislead insureds about deductible costs. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.
This bill modifies Oklahoma's minimum wage calculation by allowing employers to count up to 50% of tips, meals, or lodging toward meeting the state's minimum wage requirement, provided the base cash wage meets federal standards (29 C.F.R. § 531.50(a)(1)). It directly affects tipped workers (like restaurant staff) and their employers when Oklahoma's minimum wage exceeds the federal rate. The key provision updates how wages are computed, ensuring employers cannot reduce cash wages below federal thresholds while crediting qualifying non-cash compensation. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
