SB 480 modifies Oklahoma's definition of "public utility" to exclude certain green hydrogen electricity producers from regulatory oversight. It allows entities producing green hydrogen to receive electricity solely for on-site use (or through contracts with utilities for their own facilities), without being classified as public utilities. The bill requires any project under this provision to include a natural gas component in power generation. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not obligate public utilities to serve these entities.
SB 573 allows small businesses operating within Oklahoma incubators to qualify for up to 10 years of state income tax exemption on business income earned while occupying the incubator space. To maintain this exemption after 2025, businesses must annually submit specific financial and operational details - including employment levels, subcontractor payments, revenue estimates, and other financial information - to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce using a form created by the agency. The bill requires the Commerce Department to establish this reporting framework and mandates that businesses disclose prior tax exemptions and additional state incentives received. This law, effective November 1, 2025, applies directly to small businesses using incubator facilities to access the tax benefit.
HB 2151, the "Federal Education Guidance Disclosure Act," requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to post federal education guidance documents (like memos or bulletins) online within 15 days of receipt, unless they contain sensitive or confidential information. The department must create a dedicated website within 90 days of the law's effective date (November 1, 2025), featuring hyperlinks to all posted documents. It also mandates that rescinded federal guidance remain accessible online with clear notices of rescission and the rescission date. This law directly affects the State Department of Education's public disclosure practices, making federal education policy interpretations more accessible to the public without altering actual education policies.
SB 723 updates Oklahoma law to clarify which positions at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from standard civil service rules. It adds 11 specific healthcare and administrative roles - including physician assistants, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and Veterans Center administrators - to the list of exempt positions. The bill removes outdated references to previous exemption methods and confirms existing exempt positions remain unaffected. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 897 extends the termination date of Oklahoma's Corporation Commission Plugging Fund from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036, ensuring continued funding for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. The fund must be maintained at $5 million; if it drops below this level, the state will impose additional excise taxes on oil and gas producers until the fund is restored. This bill directly affects oil and gas producers who pay the excise taxes and the Corporation Commission, which manages the fund for environmental cleanup. The law becomes effective November 1, 2025.
This bill prohibits the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services from promoting or marketing insurance products other than those covered under the state's Risk Management Program. The law specifically bars the office from selling or advertising additional insurance options alongside the existing coverage for fire departments, fire protection districts, and related emergency services. The restriction applies to all insurance marketing activities connected to the Risk Management Program, ensuring the office only handles the specific insurance and indemnity coverage authorized by current statutes. The bill becomes effective on November 1, 2025, and does not alter the existing insurance coverage or eligibility requirements for participating fire and emergency service entities.
HB 2736 updates Oklahoma's requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure. It mandates that applicants complete at least 120 semester hours of college education (including 24 hours in advanced accounting courses with at least one in auditing) and pass a national criminal history check, with costs paid by the applicant. The bill also specifies that applicants must demonstrate "good character" by having no felony convictions. These provisions apply directly to individuals seeking CPA certification in Oklahoma and take effect November 1, 2025.
SB 786 prohibits consuming marijuana or possessing open marijuana containers in the passenger area of any moving vehicle on public roads, and bans inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke while driving. It increases the trauma-care fee for violations from $100 to $250, requiring payment into Oklahoma's Trauma Care Assistance Fund. The law applies to all drivers on public highways, streets, or alleys, with exemptions only for buses and limousines (where drivers still cannot consume alcohol or marijuana). It became law without the governor's signature on May 14, 2025, and takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 391 extends the Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board's existence until July 1, 2026 (correcting the bill title's "dissolving" error), requiring it to review opioid overdose cases involving adults. The Board gathers confidential records from medical examiners, hospitals, law enforcement, and other agencies to identify systemic issues in medical or law enforcement responses, then makes recommendations for improvement. All case discussions and recommendations remain confidential and privileged, not admissible in court, while the Board must publish an annual public report by February 1 detailing its findings and system coordination. This directly affects state agencies (like mental health services, law enforcement, and medical examiners) and ensures public transparency through annual reports.
HB 2080 clarifies how "Payable on Death" (POD) accounts at Oklahoma credit unions distribute funds after an account owner's death. It specifies that funds go first to designated primary beneficiaries (individuals, trusts, or 501(c)(3) nonprofits), then to contingent beneficiaries if primary ones predecease the owner, and finally to the account owner's estate if no living beneficiaries exist. The bill requires credit unions to notify beneficiaries of a death, allows account owners to specify equal shares for multiple beneficiaries, and mandates that funds must be claimed within 60 days or become non-interest-bearing. This directly affects account owners, credit unions, and beneficiaries managing POD accounts in Oklahoma.
HB 1811 changes Oklahoma insurance rules for chronic condition care. It requires insurers to keep prior authorizations valid for six months for non-inpatient treatments (like outpatient care) and 14 days for inpatient acute care. For ongoing inpatient stays, insurers must approve extensions within 72 hours or continue paying providers; they cannot use stricter criteria than the initial approval. The law does not require coverage for conditions already excluded from policies.
HB 1574 creates the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to inspect and investigate Oklahoma's children's facilities, including privately operated ones receiving state or federal funds. The office can examine records, budgets, and facilities; investigate complaints (including those from foster parents about retaliation); subpoena witnesses; and hold public hearings. It specifically protects foster parents who report issues by prohibiting retaliation for filing grievances or cooperating with investigations. The bill also requires annual reports to state leaders and became law without a governor's signature on May 14, 2025, under an emergency clause.
