House Bill 2012 permanently authorizes various entities, including government agencies, religious institutions, and non-profits, to provide harm-reduction services in Oklahoma. The bill achieves this by removing the July 1, 2026, sunset date from the existing law governing these services. Authorized activities include offering referrals for substance use disorder treatment, providing infectious disease education and testing, collecting used hypodermic needles, and distributing clean needles and opioid antagonists. Providers must register with the State Department of Health and submit quarterly reports on their services.
HB 1220 prohibits cities and towns from imposing specific local taxes and franchise fees on certain revenue streams. These revenue streams are generated from bonds issued by the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority or private financing used by utilities. This financing was established under the 2021 Utility Consumer Protection Acts to cover "extraordinary costs" and "extreme purchase costs" without immediately burdening customers. The bill aims to protect these financing mechanisms from municipal taxation, directly affecting municipalities' ability to collect these specific local revenues and impacting the financial structure of utility bond repayments.
House Resolution 1021 declares April 22, 2025, as Oklahoma Agriculture Day at the Capitol. This resolution by the Oklahoma House of Representatives recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture on the state's heritage and economy.
Senate Resolution 10 declares April 22, 2025, as Oklahoma Agriculture Day at the Capitol. This resolution recognizes and celebrates the significant impact of agriculture on Oklahoma's heritage and economy, aiming to raise awareness among all Oklahomans.
HCR 1014 is a concurrent resolution that supports reducing bird mortality in Oklahoma. It encourages Oklahoma businesses, state agencies, organizations, and residents to turn off exterior lighting during the high bird migration months of April, May, September, and October to help birds navigate safely.
House Bill 1168 creates a new felony offense for "trafficking" in abortion-inducing drugs in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025. The bill defines "trafficking" as knowingly delivering or possessing with intent to deliver an abortion-inducing drug to someone intending to use it for an unlawful abortion. Individuals convicted of this felony could face fines up to $100,000, up to ten years in prison, or both. The bill specifies that it does not apply to pharmacists, manufacturers, or distributors operating lawfully, nor does it prohibit the use of preventive contraception.
HB 2895 amends the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act, impacting child care centers, their directors, and master teachers. The bill clarifies that a bachelor's or postgraduate degree meets educational requirements for a director and allows a one-year probationary period for new master teachers to fulfill qualifications. Directors are granted 60 days to appoint a probationary master teacher. It also specifies square footage requirements for infants in child care rooms, differentiating between facilities opened before and after November 1, 2016. Finally, after-school care children will not be counted when determining the number of required master teachers based on license capacity.
SB 860 would add 97 specific synthetic drugs and hallucinogens (including new fentanyl analogs, synthetic cannabinoids, and substances like psilocybin and PCP derivatives) to Oklahoma's Schedule I list under the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. This would directly restrict possession, distribution, and use of these substances for all Oklahomans, making them illegal without specific authorization. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include these chemicals in Schedule I, the highest level of restriction for dangerous substances. The bill is currently pending in the Oklahoma Legislature after passing committee review but has not yet become law.
HB 1415 amends Oklahoma's antitrust law to strengthen enforcement against violations affecting consumers and businesses. It allows injured parties to recover triple damages plus attorney fees (Section 205), while permitting the state Attorney General to pursue civil penalties of up to $1 million per violation (Section 206), considering factors like the violation's severity and impact on consumers. The bill also establishes a 4-year statute of limitations for claims and classifies certain antitrust violations as a felony punishable by fines up to $10,000 per violation after November 1, 2025. It directly affects businesses violating antitrust rules, consumers harmed by such violations, and the state in enforcing these provisions.
HCR 1007 is a concurrent resolution requesting Oklahoma be exempt from the federal Stark Law (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn), which restricts physician self-referrals to facilities where they have financial interests. The resolution states this federal rule impedes rural healthcare access in Oklahoma and seeks exemption for rural health care providers and facilities from Stark Law requirements. It specifically asks for exemption from both the law itself and any related federal administrative rules affecting rural medical care delivery. This is a symbolic legislative request to the federal government, not a change to Oklahoma law, and does not alter current Stark Law enforcement.
SB 628 modifies Oklahoma's laws on firearm carry by creating new exceptions to prohibited locations. It allows concealed carry on municipal parking areas, school parking lots (with firearms stored locked in vehicles), and certain parks or recreational areas. The bill also permits private schools to adopt policies allowing weapon carry by licensed individuals and lets school districts authorize designated staff (with security licenses) to carry handguns on school property. Additionally, it defines "minimum-security" for event properties requiring specific fencing, staffing, and metal detectors to allow concealed carry. The law maintains prohibitions in courthouses, prisons, and most school buildings while clarifying penalties for violations.
HB 2802 amends Oklahoma's licensing laws for professions and occupations to limit when criminal history can block a license. It prohibits denial based on sealed/expunged records, arrests without conviction, or convictions over five years old (unless involving specific violent offenses like domestic abuse or sex offenses). Licensing agencies must now consider factors like the offense's relevance to the job, time passed, rehabilitation efforts, and provide written notice with appeal rights if denying a license. This directly affects applicants with criminal records seeking licenses for jobs like nursing, contracting, or childcare, ensuring decisions are based on specific, relevant criteria rather than vague standards.
