Senate Bill 998 modifies how electric utilities in Oklahoma recover costs for certain infrastructure investments. It establishes a presumption for utilities to recover costs for transmission upgrades approved by federal or regional authorities. The bill also outlines a process for utilities to seek Corporation Commission approval for capital expenditures related to federal environmental compliance or for new power generation facilities. If approved, these costs are generally deemed recoverable through rate adjustments.
SB 36 amends Oklahoma law to exempt five state authorities - the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, Commissioners of the Land Office, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and Grand River Dam Authority - from the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission's property management rules. This means these entities no longer need Commission approval for leasing, purchasing, or transferring real property, and they are excluded from requirements to sell underutilized assets or deposit proceeds into the Maintenance of State Buildings Revolving Fund. The bill updates statutory language to clarify these exemptions while maintaining other provisions for state agencies not listed. It takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.
SB 375 amends Oklahoma statutes governing how the Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority solicit construction management and design consultant services for transportation projects. It requires new disclosures in solicitations about whether a construction inspector will be used and the inspector’s employer (state employee or external entity), and mandates that any change in inspector selection must undergo specific approval. The bill also sets a 30-day deadline for submitting interest in consultant roles and requires departments to form committees to rank qualified consultants based on qualifications, capacity, past performance, and Oklahoma resident work percentages. These changes directly affect transportation departments, contractors, and construction inspectors involved in public road and infrastructure projects.
Senate Bill 644 amends Oklahoma's Massage Therapy Practice Act by updating language related to preemption. It clarifies that state law generally supersedes local ordinances and regulations concerning massage therapists. However, the bill adds exceptions, allowing cities, counties, and other local subdivisions to maintain regulations related to zoning requirements, occupational license fees for health care professions, and licensing for business locations offering massage therapy. This bill affects massage therapists and local governments in Oklahoma and becomes effective November 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 751 modifies the Oklahoma State Architectural and Licensed Interior Designers Act. It changes the financial threshold for when certain public building projects are exempt from requiring a licensed architect. Specifically, the bill raises this exemption from $158,000 to $300,000 for construction, additions, or alterations to buildings used by state, county, municipal, or federal government entities, as well as public trusts and agencies. This means government projects below the new $300,000 value will not be required to use a licensed architect.
HB 1833 establishes the "Rethinking Paying Subminimal Wage to Persons with Disabilities Task Force." This task force is created to examine current labor practices and wages specifically for individuals with disabilities. The bill outlines the task force's purpose, details its required membership, and mandates reporting requirements. An amendment to the bill extended the deadline for the task force's work or reporting to November 1, 2027.
House Bill 2082 is an Oklahoma transportation bill that repeals Section 504 of Title 69 of the Oklahoma Statutes. This specific section of law pertains to streets, roads, and state-owned parking lots. The bill's repeal effectively removes the existing legal provisions outlined in that section, thereby altering the regulations for these transportation areas. It includes an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon becoming law.
SB 774 modifies the identification requirements for state-issued medical marijuana patient licenses in Oklahoma. The bill changes the unique identification number on these licenses from twenty-four characters to twelve characters. It also mandates that medical marijuana patient licenses include a PDF417 barcode. These changes affect individuals holding medical marijuana licenses and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which is responsible for issuing and verifying them.
SB 190 simplifies SNAP (food stamp) eligibility for Oklahomans aged 60+ or with disabilities who have no earned income and live in a household of similarly qualified individuals. It creates a 36-month eligibility period without full recertification, requires only annual income reporting, and allows simplified application forms. The bill also increases the medical expense deduction for SNAP households: up to $175 per eligible member (or $350 total per household) for costs like prescriptions and doctor visits. These changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for seniors and disabled Oklahomans while complying with federal SNAP requirements, effective July 2025.
Senate Bill 494 repeals Sections 3316 and 3317 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. These sections of existing law relate to CompSource Oklahoma, a state agency that provides workers' compensation insurance. By repealing these sections, the bill removes specific statutory language concerning CompSource Oklahoma from state government law. This change will become effective on November 1, 2025.
HB 1663 modifies the procedures for the sale of real estate with unpaid property (ad valorem) taxes, impacting property owners, county treasurers, and potential buyers. It authorizes county treasurers to conduct online auctions for these resale properties, offering an alternative to traditional in-person sales. The bill also adjusts the period during which property can be redeemed before a resale auction begins and clarifies the timing for online sales. Additionally, it updates notice requirements for property owners and mortgage holders and clarifies minimum bid requirements for these sales.
HB 1222 modifies the release process for individuals arrested for specific offenses in Oklahoma. It requires those arrested for domestic violence, certain controlled substance violations, or a second or subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) offense to appear before a magistrate, judge, or court to have bail determined. For domestic violence arrests, the bill outlines numerous factors a court must consider when setting bail and prohibits release on a personal recognizance bond. For repeat DUI arrests, judges must consider public safety and provide written findings on the bail amount.
