HB 2085 reorganizes Oklahoma's Uniform Building Code Commission, establishing a 13-member body with specific representation from construction trades, engineering, local regulators, and the insurance industry. It requires continuing education and certification for building code officials, including free regional training for state-licensed inspectors and fees for others to cover program costs. The law directly affects contractors, inspectors, architects, engineers, and municipalities by setting minimum building standards they must follow and creating a fee-based system to fund training. The commission now has authority to adopt statewide building codes, while allowing local governments to enforce stricter standards. The bill became law on May 15, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
This Oklahoma bill changes how lodging tax is calculated by excluding free rooms (comped) and discounted rooms where hotels receive no payment from taxable income. It applies to all counties and cities collecting lodging tax under existing law. Hotels will no longer owe tax on rooms provided at no cost to customers or employees, or discounted rooms without third-party reimbursement. The change takes effect January 1, 2026.
SB 473 requires entities receiving funding under Oklahoma's Rural Economic Action Plan of 1996 to develop a plan measuring the community impact (such as local business growth or resident well-being) of their projects. These entities must use public surveys or input from local governments to gather this data and submit a report detailing the effects of at least two projects to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce by January 1, 2028. Costs for creating the plan and report must be covered using existing initial planning funds allocated under the Rural Economic Action Plan. The bill applies directly to organizations administering rural economic development projects funded through this program.
HB 1060, the Oklahoma Uniform Easement Relocation Act of 2025, establishes rules for property owners (servient estate owners) to seek court-approved relocation of certain easements burdening their land. It allows relocation only if the new location does not materially lessen the easement's utility, increase burden on the holder, impair the easement's purpose, or compromise safety. The law explicitly excludes public-utility easements, conservation easements, negative easements, and relocations by mutual agreement. It applies to easements created by express grant, reservation, or other methods but requires court approval to ensure the relocation meets strict fairness standards.
SB 873 updates outdated property descriptions in Oklahoma law related to University Hospitals Authority. It amends statutes to remove lengthy, obsolete legal descriptions of hospital properties (like specific land parcels in Oklahoma City) and clarifies transfer details between the Authority and the Department of Human Services. The bill also creates a specific exemption for certain requirements related to the public Level 1 Trauma Center. This is a procedural update to modernize legal records, not a change to hospital operations or funding.
SB 607 allows statements made by domestic abuse victims to law enforcement within one week of an incident, on protective order applications within one week, or as testimony at protective order hearings to be automatically admissible as evidence in criminal and juvenile domestic abuse cases. This applies to pre-trial hearings, probation revocation hearings, and other related proceedings. The bill directly affects victims seeking legal protection and prosecutors building cases, streamlining the use of timely victim statements without requiring additional verification. It becomes effective November 1, 2025, and codifies these admissibility rules in Oklahoma's Evidence Code.
This Oklahoma bill establishes a maximum staffing ratio requiring retail pharmacies to maintain no more than five pharmacy technicians for every one licensed pharmacist. It also updates regulations for pharmacy technicians by mandating permits, setting a renewal fee of up to $75 annually, and outlining procedures for late renewals and permit reinstatement. The law applies to all licensed retail pharmacies in Oklahoma and takes effect on November 1, 2025.
SB 251 expands eligibility for Oklahoma county mental health and substance abuse funding to include employment, education, and housing programs alongside existing treatment services. It requires the state to allocate at least 0.5% of total funds to each county government or multi-county partnership applying for grants. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislative leaders detailing funding distribution and services provided. These changes aim to broaden community-based support options while ensuring minimum funding for all participating counties.
SB 920 requires developers to obtain a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics before constructing buildings within a specified radius of existing or planned heliports or vertiports. This law directly affects property owners, developers, and construction companies planning projects near these aviation facilities. The key provision mandates that the state agency review and approve construction near such sites to ensure safety and compatibility with aerospace infrastructure. The bill became law on May 15, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
HB 2836, now law as of May 15, 2025, establishes clear procedures for Oklahoma veterans who choose to pay for services instead of using free state or federal veterans' assistance. The bill requires veterans to provide a written waiver acknowledging they understand free services are available through the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs or federally chartered organizations, and that they are voluntarily selecting paid help. This waiver must be signed, state the veteran's awareness of free options, and be retained by the service provider for one year for potential review by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. The law directly affects veterans opting for paid assistance, ensuring transparency in their decision to forgo free government-provided support.
SB 880 eliminates a requirement that five of the seven members of Oklahoma's Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors must hold a master's or higher degree. The bill amends state law to remove this educational criterion, allowing board members to qualify with only a bachelor's degree or lower. This change directly affects individuals seeking appointment to the board, expanding eligibility for the five membership slots previously restricted by the degree requirement. The amendment updates statutory language without altering other board composition rules, such as experience requirements or appointment procedures.
SB 253 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid agency (the Oklahoma Health Care Authority) to include specific funding details in its annual budget request. It mandates that the budget reflect new state and federal funding needed to cover the most recent audited costs for reimbursing nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities serving individuals with intellectual disabilities. The audited cost must be calculated using the latest cost report submitted to the agency. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.
