House Bill 1689 amends Oklahoma's crimes and punishments statutes, primarily by making certain acts related to shopping carts unlawful. The bill creates new misdemeanor offenses for individuals who remove a shopping cart from a retail establishment's parking area or possess such a cart with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner of its use. Those found in violation could face up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Additionally, it updates existing statutory language concerning the larceny of lost property. The bill is set to become effective on November 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 860 proposes to amend Oklahoma's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. The bill's primary action is to add an unspecified substance to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. This change would classify the added substance as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Consequently, the unauthorized possession, manufacture, or distribution of this substance would become illegal, directly affecting individuals and entities involved with it.
Senate Bill 978 modifies the requirements for documents, such as deeds and mortgages, submitted to county clerks for recording in Oklahoma. The bill specifies that stray markings or parts of signatures within a document's margin will not prevent its acceptance for filing, as long as sufficient space remains for official stamps and recording information. It also prohibits county clerks from charging additional fees or fines for these stray markings. Existing requirements for document legibility, size, and minimum margin dimensions (two inches at the top of the first page, one inch for others) remain. This act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 1853 requires health benefit plans in Oklahoma to cover specific childhood immunizations for individuals up to 18 years old without applying deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance. Additionally, the bill allows enrollees to pay for a covered health care service out-of-pocket if they negotiate a lower cost than their insurer's average allowed amount. Upon submitting documentation, their health plan must count the full out-of-pocket payment towards their deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing obligations. This policy applies to health benefit plans delivered, issued, or renewed in the state.
House Bill 1275 proposes to regulate social media access for minors in Oklahoma. It would prohibit individuals under 16 years old from creating social media accounts and require parental or guardian consent for minors aged 16 and 17 to use these platforms. Social media companies would be mandated to implement age verification processes, potentially utilizing third-party vendors. Non-compliant companies could face liability and civil action, aiming to safeguard minors from platforms identified as having adverse effects on mental well-being.
HB 2166, titled "Definitions and general provisions; newspapers; notices; publications; effective date," appears to modify regulations concerning how notices and publications are handled. A proposed amendment specifically alters a definition on line 6 of the bill, adding the phrase "general periodical" into a provision related to "class mail." This change would refine the classification or requirements for certain types of mail used for notices or publications. It likely affects entities involved in sending or receiving such communications, particularly those utilizing periodicals.
House Bill 1409 amends the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, primarily affecting how public bodies provide notice for their regularly scheduled meetings. The bill requires all public bodies, including state, county, and municipal entities, to offer and maintain an email distribution system for meeting notices. These email notices must include the date, time, place, and agenda, and be sent at least 24 hours before the meeting. Any person can request to be included in this email system without charge, enhancing public access to information about government meetings.
Senate Bill 628 modifies Oklahoma law regarding where firearms can be carried. The bill allows private schools to adopt policies permitting licensed individuals to carry weapons on their property and vehicles, providing liability protection for schools that do so. It also permits concealed handgun carry at municipal zoos and parks managed by public trusts or non-profits. Additionally, the bill allows concealed handgun carry at temporary public events without strict security measures,
HB 1676, the "Kay Floyd SANE Act," creates a new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Statewide Coordinator position within Oklahoma's District Attorneys Council. The coordinator will oversee forensic medical exam training, recruit SANE professionals, develop local SANE and Sexual Assault Response Team programs, and manage payments from the Sexual Assault Examination Fund. The role requires a minimum annual salary of $125,000, funded through the District Attorneys Council's appropriations. The position is established until October 1, 2025, with the bill taking effect November 1, 2025. This directly affects county-level sexual assault response systems and SANE program expansion statewide.
HB 1417 creates the "School Access for Emergency Response Act" (SAFER Act), establishing a grant program through the Oklahoma State Department of Education to fund public school districts and brick-and-mortar charter schools. The bill provides grants for interoperable communication hardware, software, maintenance, and training, enabling school safety teams to directly communicate with first responders during emergencies. Key requirements include adopting FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) protocols and training staff using FEMA’s IS-0100.c standards. The program aims to improve emergency response coordination by ensuring schools and emergency services can share real-time communication systems.
HB 2407 creates a $2 million revolving fund in the Oklahoma State Treasury, managed by the Department of Commerce, to provide grants for qualifying Main Street programs. To receive funding, a Main Street must first be designated by Oklahoma's Main Street Program, maintain that designation, and submit annual proof of eligibility. The grant funds, appropriated from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2026, may be used for operational costs but cannot be relied upon for ongoing operations. The bill requires reallocation of unclaimed funds if a recipient loses their Main Street designation, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 1092 creates a $7,500 annual tax credit for Oklahoma residents who complete qualifying trade or vocational programs (such as HVAC, plumbing, or welding training) at approved Oklahoma schools. The credit, available for taxable years starting January 1, 2026, offsets income tax liability up to the actual tuition cost paid (whichever is lower), but cannot reduce tax below zero. Unused portions may carry forward for up to three years, and the credit can only be claimed once per individual after receiving program certification. This policy directly supports Oklahoma residents pursuing in-demand technical careers by reducing the cost of vocational education.
