HB 3940 amends Oklahoma's military code to update authority and compensation structures for the National Guard. It removes the Adjutant General from compensation sections, clarifies the Adjutant General's command authority and organizational chart requirements, and modifies retirement fund provisions. The bill also establishes a permanent gift shop at the Oklahoma National Guard Museum to fund a revolving support fund, with proceeds directed to National Guard programs. These changes directly affect Oklahoma National Guard members, leadership, and museum operations by adjusting administrative processes and funding mechanisms.
HB 4191 modifies Oklahoma's Small Employer Quality Jobs Act to adjust tax incentives for qualifying businesses. It establishes a "net benefit rate" (capped at 5%) calculated by subtracting state costs (like education and public services) from projected tax revenue generated by new jobs, then pays eligible small employers (under 500 employees) quarterly over seven years based on this rate. To qualify, businesses must commit to creating new jobs - ranging from 5 to 15 jobs or a percentage of current staff - within 12-36 months, depending on their city's population size. The bill requires applications through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and ties incentives directly to verified new-hire wages.
HB 4431 requires Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma, or their employers, to carry malpractice insurance covering $1 million per incident and $3 million annually. This applies to APRNs practicing outside federal or state employment where coverage is already provided under federal insurance or Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. The law exempts APRNs working for federal agencies (covered by federal insurance) or state agencies (covered under Tort Claims Act) during their official duties. It takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting APRNs who provide care outside these exempted employment settings.
SB 1734, the Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act, restricts AI tool use in public schools to educator-supervised settings, requiring all classroom AI applications to operate under teacher oversight ("human-in-the-loop") with educators reviewing outputs before use in instruction or assessment. It prohibits AI from determining high-stakes outcomes like grading, discipline, or student placement, and mandates school districts to adopt policies by the 2027-2028 school year covering data privacy, appropriate use, and transparency for families. The State Department of Education must develop guidance to help districts comply, while ensuring AI tools meet federal privacy laws (like FERPA) and minimize student data sharing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not compel schools to adopt AI but sets guardrails for its responsible use.
SB 1597 removes a requirement for Oklahoma's Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs to adhere to specific national standards. It affects local CASA programs and the Oklahoma Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association by eliminating this compliance obligation. The bill maintains existing requirements for CASA volunteer training, annual documentation, criminal background checks, and child welfare records searches. Key provisions remain unchanged, including the need for volunteers to complete training and pass background checks before being assigned cases. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 2049 requires Oklahoma's Department of Transportation to notify the Attorney General before making a claim against a surety company (insurance guaranteeing contractor performance) for a contractor's failure to complete work. The Attorney General must then review and approve the claim before the Department can proceed. This procedural change, effective November 1, 2026, adds an approval step to the claims process without altering the Department's ability to make claims.
SB 1944 amends Oklahoma's workers' compensation law by updating key definitions in the Administrative Workers' Compensation Act. It clarifies who qualifies as an "actually dependent" for benefits, specifies requirements for certified "case managers" (including nursing licenses and specific certifications), and refines the definition of "compensable injury" to exclude injuries caused by alcohol/drug use, natural aging, or preexisting conditions without proven aggravation from work. These changes directly affect injured workers seeking benefits, employers, insurance carriers, and healthcare providers involved in workers' compensation claims. The bill aims to standardize eligibility and claim processing without creating new benefits or altering benefit amounts.
SB 1794 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health to create a real-time statewide registry tracking mental health facility availability, directly affecting hospitals and clinics that serve patients. The registry will display current capacity, populations served, diagnostic details (without patient identifiers), admission criteria, and emergency placement contacts to improve urgent care access. Facilities must electronically update their capacity hourly (or per department rules for low-volume settings) and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, aiming to streamline emergency placements without sharing identifiable patient data.
SB 1502 removes the requirement for an Alzheimer-Dementia Disclosure Act Advisory Council that previously advised Oklahoma's State Department of Health on dementia care disclosure forms. The bill eliminates the Council's role in developing standardized disclosure forms and making recommendations, while keeping existing requirements for long-term care facilities to disclose detailed dementia care services (such as staff ratios, activities, fees, and facility philosophy) to patients, families, and the Department. Facilities offering dementia-specific care must still submit these disclosures to the Department before admitting residents. The change directly affects dementia care facilities, the State Department of Health, and the disclosure process, without altering the disclosure content or requirements themselves. The bill updates statutory language and sets an effective date but does not create new obligations.
SB 1557 transfers the licensing authority for behavior analysts from Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. The bill requires all applicants to undergo a national criminal history background check and updates definitions to clarify that only professionals certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (and licensed by the State Board) may practice applied behavior analysis. It also specifies that supervisees must work under a licensed behavior analyst and maintains requirements for renewal and professional conduct standards. This changes who oversees licensure, adds background checks, and standardizes practice rules for behavior analysts.
SB 2110 allows Oklahoma egg producers to sell ungraded eggs directly to consumers at their farm, farmers' markets, or through other direct sales channels, provided the eggs come from hens raised on the same farm. It limits eligible producers to selling no more than 150 ungraded eggs per month. The bill does not change rules for graded egg sales and applies only to small-scale producers selling directly to consumers. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1630 allows Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to count up to two days (12 hours) of virtual instruction toward their annual requirement of 1,086 classroom hours, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This applies only if the school district submits a virtual instruction plan approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill prohibits counting virtual instruction days toward the requirement except under this limited exception, directly affecting all Oklahoma public schools and charter schools. It modifies existing school year requirements but does not change the core 1,086-hour or 181-day instructional standards.
