HB 1256 creates a Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund using fines from license violations in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing trades. The fund finances contracts between the Construction Industries Board and career tech schools to develop trade-specific curriculum and promote skilled trade careers through public campaigns. It directs fines from four licensing revolving funds into this new account, requiring grantees to report on fund usage and program success. The bill directly affects trade workers, vocational schools receiving contracts, and the Construction Industries Board, which manages the fund and oversees program implementation.
SB 940 requires the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to create a statewide plan for controlling harmful woody species (like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar) on state-owned, leased, or operated land. State agencies - including Agriculture, Wildlife Conservation, Corrections, and Transportation - must compile a report by January 1, 2026, detailing affected properties and control plans, with annual updates submitted to the Legislature starting November 1, 2026. The bill defines "harmful woody species" as trees or shrubs rapidly encroaching and threatening the environment or economy. It becomes law without a governor's signature, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 1089 requires horse racing tracks (organization licensees) to negotiate with official breed representatives on key issues like race conditions, purse distributions, simulcast operations, and participant welfare. It establishes a joint committee with equal horsemen representation from each breed to discuss track management, and allows individual horsemen to opt out of representation by notifying the track. If over 50% of horsemen for a breed opt out, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission may hold an election for a new representative organization. The bill also mandates annual financial reporting for representative organizations and requires them to administer a benevolence program for participants, with commission approval of program guidelines.
HB 1369 changes Oklahoma's requirements for oil and gas operators to prove financial responsibility for plugging wells and closing sites. Starting November 1, 2025, new operators must provide Category B financial guarantees (like cash or bonds) instead of Category A (net worth proof), with amounts tiered based on the number of wells operated (e.g., $25,000 for 1-10 wells, $150,000 for over 100 wells). Existing operators with clean compliance records and no fines may keep Category A guarantees, while those with fines or new operators must use Category B. The bill also allows operators to request lower Category B amounts based on verified plugging cost estimates.
SB 139 requires Oklahoma public school district boards of education to adopt cell phone policies by the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, boards may choose to implement policies prohibiting students from using cell phones or personal electronic devices on school campuses "from bell to bell" during school hours. The bill directly affects school districts by setting a timeline for policy adoption and defining the scope of device restrictions during instructional time. This legislation, approved by the governor on May 3, 2025, provides a framework for district-level decisions without mandating specific enforcement.
SB 758 limits when Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools can count virtual instruction toward required annual instructional hours (1,080 hours or 180 days). Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools generally cannot count days when school is closed with virtual instruction toward these requirements. The bill allows counting up to two days (or 12 hours) per year only if the Superintendent of Public Instruction approves the school's virtual instruction plan. This change directly affects how districts report instructional time and must comply with state guidelines for virtual learning.
HB 2171, the "Oklahoma Uniform Unlawful Restrictions in Land Records Act," allows property owners and homeowners' associations to remove discriminatory restrictions from land records. It creates a specific process for owners to file an amendment with the county clerk to eliminate restrictions based on race, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics, which violate anti-discrimination laws. Homeowners' associations can also remove such restrictions without member votes by amending their governing documents. The law requires amendments to clearly identify the affected property and state that only unlawful restrictions are removed, leaving valid restrictions intact. This directly affects property owners and HOAs holding discriminatory covenants in recorded documents.
SB 490, Oklahoma's Student Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Rights Act, allows student athletes at public colleges to earn compensation for using their name, image, or likeness (NIL) without penalty to their athletic eligibility or grant-in-aid. It requires written NIL agreements to include clear terms and fees, mandates disclosure of such contracts within 72 hours or before the next athletic event, and prohibits public colleges from using state funds to pay athletes for NIL activities. The bill also bans requiring athletes to sign NIL releases for broadcasts of games and prevents colleges from revoking athletic benefits if athletes secure unauthorized NIL deals. These changes aim to clarify rights and obligations while keeping state resources separate from NIL compensation.
SB 814 expands access to emergency absentee ballots for military service members deployed during active duty. It allows these voters to request ballots after the standard deadline by submitting a written request with valid ID to their county election office. Ballots must be returned in person or by mail by 7:00 p.m. on election day, following the same processing rules as other emergency absentee ballots. Signed into law on May 5, 2025, this amendment to Oklahoma’s election code (26 O.S. § 14-115.6) specifically adds uniformed-service members to the existing eligibility category that previously covered first responders during emergencies.
SB 500 requires Oklahoma state and local government entities to include written verification in contracts with companies worth over $100,000 that the company does not refuse to do business with firearm manufacturers, retailers, or trade associations based solely on their industry. It applies to contracts with companies employing at least 10 full-time workers and exempts sole-source contracts or cases where no qualified bidder provides the required verification. The bill defines "discrimination" as refusing business solely due to a company's firearm-related activities, excluding actions taken to comply with existing laws or for traditional business reasons. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will oversee compliance with these contract requirements.
SB 794 requires Oklahoma teacher preparation programs accredited by the state's Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to provide either a minimum number of weeks of classroom practice or a job-embedded teacher apprenticeship program for teacher candidates. It directly affects all individuals training to become teachers in state-accredited programs. The law mandates the Commission to establish specific requirements through rules, with the policy taking effect July 1, 2025. The bill creates two concrete pathways for teacher candidates to gain practical experience before certification.
HB 1373, now law in Oklahoma, requires solar farm operators (called "grantees") to fully remove all equipment and restore land to its original condition when a commercial solar facility stops operating. It directly affects landowners leasing property for solar farms and the operators who build and run them. Key provisions mandate operators to provide financial assurance (like bonds or letters of credit) covering cleanup costs and to remove solar panels, foundations, buried cables, and roads, then refill excavations and restore soil and vegetation to pre-construction conditions within 180 days of decommissioning. The law also voids any agreement clauses that exempt operators from these cleanup responsibilities.
