HB 1103 updates Oklahoma's Department of Transportation's rules for selling surplus property, such as land acquired for highways or unused equipment. It requires the DOT to notify original property owners (or their successors) of surplus land for sale, offering to sell at the original purchase price for five years before moving to public auction. For small parcels (under 3 acres) with only one adjacent owner, that owner must also be notified. The bill additionally mandates the DOT to seek federal approval before selling land held as surplus for ten years or more at below market value. These changes aim to ensure fair treatment of affected property owners during disposal processes.
SB 448 requires nonresident hunters to obtain written permission from the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission before using Wildlife Management Areas. This affects out-of-state hunters who previously could access these areas without prior authorization. The bill mandates the Commission to create a lottery system for distributing permits and sets penalties: fines of $100-$1,000 or up to 30 days in jail for violations, with repeat offenses suspending hunting privileges. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 7-304.
HB 1270 modifies Oklahoma's process for issuing alcoholic beverage licenses by removing a provision that would have automatically approved licenses if the Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement (ABLE) Commission failed to act within a set timeframe. The bill deletes language requiring a "presumptive issuance" of licenses under specific conditions, instead ensuring all license decisions remain subject to the ABLE Commission's review. This directly affects businesses applying for alcohol licenses in Oklahoma, as it prevents automatic approval and requires the Commission to actively evaluate each application. The change clarifies that license denials or approvals must follow the Commission's formal review process, not automatic issuance.
HB 1958 allows large Oklahoma school districts (those with over 15,000 average daily students or 100,000+ population) to submit a sworn affidavit instead of full meeting minutes to the State Department of Education for approved actions. The affidavit must include the district name, meeting date, agenda item, summary of the action, and signatures from the superintendent and board chair. This replaces the requirement to submit formal minutes for specific decisions, though districts must still maintain actual meeting minutes per existing law. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects administrative processes for larger school boards.
SB 808 clarifies Oklahoma's physical therapy referral rules, allowing licensed physical therapists (and assistants under supervision) to evaluate and treat patients without a doctor's referral for up to 30 days, except for workers' compensation cases. It specifically exempts children receiving physical therapy under federal special education laws (IDEA/504), screening/education services, and non-injury-related fitness/wellness programs. The bill explicitly states physical therapists cannot practice "healing arts" beyond their scope and maintains existing restrictions on non-therapeutic services. Signed into law on April 23, 2025, it takes effect November 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 672 amends Oklahoma's emergency management laws, specifically limiting the Governor's authority to close businesses during a state of emergency related to a pandemic. The bill prohibits the Governor from ordering business closures without documented scientific evidence showing the business directly contributes to the spread of disease. Furthermore, it requires the Governor to provide businesses with notice and an opportunity for a hearing before issuing any executive order to close them.
SB 448 requires nonresident hunters to obtain written permission from Oklahoma's Wildlife Conservation Commission before using Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). It mandates the state agency to create a permit system, including a lottery for distributing hunting access, and establish rules for implementation. The bill directly affects out-of-state hunters seeking to hunt on state-managed WMAs, adding a formal authorization step previously not required. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 or jail time for first offenses, with repeat violations leading to hunting privilege suspension. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 808 amends Oklahoma's Physical Therapy Practice Act to clarify direct access to physical therapy services. The bill specifies that licensed physical therapists, including those working under direct-to-employer contracts, can evaluate and treat patients for up to 30 days without a referral from another healthcare practitioner. For treatment extending beyond 30 days, a referral is required from an updated list of providers, which now includes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. This legislation impacts licensed physical therapists and patients seeking direct physical therapy care.
Senate Bill 530 authorizes the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to establish the ODVA Foundation, a private, charitable, not-for-profit entity. This Foundation is intended to encourage financial contributions for the educational, training, and empowerment initiatives of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, directly benefiting Oklahoma's veterans, reservists, and their dependents. It can receive gifts and grants from various public and private sources to supplement state funding. The bill specifies that the Foundation must secure tax-exempt status and its financial records, excluding donor names, will be available for audit.
HB 1958 allows school district boards of education to submit an "Affidavit of Board Action" to the State Department of Education as proof of an action taken at a board meeting, in lieu of approved meeting minutes. This directly affects school boards and the State Department of Education. The affidavit must be signed by the district superintendent or assistant superintendent and a board officer, and include specific details like the meeting date and a summary of the action. The State Department of Education is required to accept these affidavits. However, this change does not exempt boards from keeping official meeting minutes as required by other state laws.
HB 1103 modifies the procedures for how the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) disposes of land and property it no longer needs. It requires the DOT to first offer surplus land that was a partial taking back to the original owner (or successor) at its original acquisition price for five years, or at fair market value afterward, extending the response time from 30 to 90 days. For total takings under three acres with only one abutting owner, that owner must also receive a similar offer. Additionally, the bill mandates the DOT to annually request federal waivers to sell long-held surplus land for less than fair market value if federal rules prevent it.
HB 1270 addresses the procedures and timeframes for the Alcoholic Law Enforcement (ABLE) Commission when handling the denial of alcoholic beverage licenses, affecting businesses applying for these permits. A key amendment to the bill removed a provision that would have resulted in the presumptive issuance of a license if the ABLE Commission failed to act within a specified time period. Therefore, the bill, as enacted, regulates ABLE's license denial process and sets timeframes without including automatic license approval as a consequence for agency inaction.
