SB 577 requires manufacturing facilities seeking a five-year property tax exemption to submit annual information to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, including proof of out-of-state sales revenue and wage compliance. It mandates the Tax Commission to share specific data with the Incentive Evaluation Commission to verify exemption eligibility. The bill updates requirements for facilities to qualify, including an annual investment cost threshold adjusted for inflation (based on CPI) and wage standards tied to Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Program. This affects manufacturers building, expanding, or acquiring facilities with qualifying investments, ensuring transparency in tax exemption programs.
SB 375 amends Oklahoma statutes governing construction management for transportation projects, affecting the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. It requires these agencies to compile and maintain a list of qualified construction managers and design consultants, mandating specific disclosures about project scope, costs, funding, and construction inspector arrangements. The bill establishes standardized evaluation criteria for selecting consultants based on qualifications, capacity, past performance, and Oklahoma resident workforce participation. It also creates a committee to rank candidates and allows for "demand services contracts" for on-demand consultant needs. This bill became law on May 14, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
SB 998, now law in Oklahoma, changes how electric utilities regulated by the Corporation Commission recover costs for specific projects. It presumes certain transmission upgrade costs (including those for wind development approved by the Southwest Power Pool) and environmental compliance costs (like Clean Air Act upgrades) are recoverable through rate adjustments, unless rebutted by evidence. The bill also streamlines approval for new power generation facilities or purchased power contracts, requiring the Commission to act within 240 days (180 days for natural gas plants) after applications, with costs deemed recoverable upon approval. These changes directly affect Oklahoma utilities seeking to recover infrastructure and compliance expenses from ratepayers.
SB 36 amends Oklahoma's property management rules by exempting five specific state entities from the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission's requirements. The bill removes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Grand River Dam Authority, Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, and the Commissioners of the Land Office from needing Commission approval for property transactions. This means these entities can now manage their real property without seeking Commission review for leasing, purchasing, or transferring land, while other state agencies must still follow the Commission's rules for property management. The exemption became effective without the Governor's signature on May 14, 2025.
HB 2105 reclassifies specific serious crimes into higher felony categories (Class A3 and Class B1) in Oklahoma, directly affecting individuals convicted of these offenses by increasing potential penalties. It adds 21 crimes to Class A3 (including domestic assault with a deadly weapon, child sexual abuse, terrorism, and arson causing injury) and 20 crimes to Class B1 (such as caregiver abuse, certain sodomy offenses, and child pornography-related acts). The bill modifies Oklahoma's criminal code to ensure these offenses carry stricter sentencing under the new classifications. This law became effective without the Governor's signature on May 14, 2025, making the reclassifications enforceable.
SB 393 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's State Board of Licensed Social Workers from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. This procedural bill directly affects the board, which oversees social work licensing regulations in the state. The extension provides an additional year for the board to continue operating under the Oklahoma Sunset Law before its next review. The bill became law on May 14, 2025, without requiring the Governor's signature.
HB 2047, the Emerson Kate Cole Act, updates Oklahoma school medication policies to improve safety for students with allergies and asthma. It requires school districts to adopt policies allowing students to self-administer prescribed asthma inhalers, epinephrine for allergic reactions, and cystic fibrosis medications, with written parental permission and physician documentation. Key provisions include mandating annual staff training on recognizing allergic reactions and administering epinephrine, requiring schools to notify parents after medication use, and specifying protocols for stocking and using epinephrine injectors (including 911 contact procedures). The bill also creates model policies for districts to follow and clarifies that schools and staff incur no liability for medication administration under these guidelines. This law, effective May 14, 2025, directly affects public school districts, students with chronic conditions, and their families.
SB 751 amends Oklahoma's architectural licensing law to update exemptions for certain building projects. It exempts small structures from requiring a licensed architect, including two-story buildings with: 50 or fewer occupants in assembly spaces (A-2/A-3), 64 or fewer hotel/motel units (R-1), 100,000 sq ft or less for business (B), 200,000 sq ft or less for retail (M), and most industrial/utility buildings (F, S, U). The bill also allows licensed interior designers to handle nonstructural interior work in projects requiring architects and clarifies that renovations remain exempt if the building's use doesn't change. These changes take effect November 1, 2025.
SB 644 amends Oklahoma's Massage Therapy Practice Act to clarify that state law supersedes local city or county regulations for massage therapists, effective November 1, 2025. It directly affects massage therapists, local governments, and businesses offering massage services by establishing state authority over practice rules. The bill includes key exceptions: it does not override local zoning requirements or occupational license fees for healthcare professions, nor does it affect business location licensing rules. This update streamlines regulations while preserving local control over specific non-practice-related requirements.
HB 2287 clarifies and expands how Oklahoma defines "per-pupil expenditure" for reporting purposes. It requires school districts and the state to calculate this metric by dividing total daily school operation costs (including instruction, student support, administration, transportation, and nutrition) by the student count as of October 1. The bill specifically adds categories like career and technology education and concurrent graduation courses to the definition while excluding non-operational costs (e.g., building construction, debt). This change ensures the State Department of Education must publish detailed breakdowns of all spending categories alongside the overall per-pupil figure, starting July 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 657 amends Oklahoma law regarding when a peace officer's use of deadly force is considered justifiable. The bill allows peace officers or individuals assisting them to appeal a pretrial ruling that finds their use of deadly force unjustified. These appeals must be made to the Court of Criminal Appeals within ten days of the ruling and are given priority, with other legal proceedings paused during the appeal. This creates a specific legal avenue for officers to challenge certain pretrial decisions related to their use of force.
SB 480 extends the expiration date of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028, ensuring its continued operation. The OERB is a state board focused on promoting Oklahoma's oil and gas industry, encouraging efficient energy use, supporting environmental remediation of historical oilfield sites, and funding research and education related to energy. This extension directly affects the OERB and its ability to carry out these programs for the state. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and was enacted as an emergency measure.
