Oklahoma Bills

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1617: Teachers; allowing the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used to support compensation of teachers certified in special education. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1617 amends Oklahoma law to direct the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to cover the state’s share of additional pay for special education teachers. It requires school districts to pay 5% of base wages for special education teachers, with the state covering the remaining 5% using funds from the existing revolving fund (previously used for other teacher stipends). This policy change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects all Oklahoma public school teachers certified in special education. The bill ensures the state’s funding obligation is met through the revolving fund rather than new appropriations, aligning with Section 13-110 of state law.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1718: Schools; directing the State Department of Education to establish the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1718 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to create the Oklahoma Principal Leadership Development Program, directly affecting new school principals (first or second year) and all certified principals. The program implements three phased requirements: starting in 2026-2027, principals must complete a professional development plan including goals for student achievement and school climate; by 2027-2028, new principals must work with certified mentors for two years; and by 2028-2029, a year-long leadership academy will be developed. Principals who complete these requirements receive $5,000 stipends beginning in 2029-2030, subject to funding availability. The bill aims to improve principal effectiveness through structured training, mentorship, and ongoing leadership development.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1510: Energy; Oklahoma Wind Energy Development Act; modifying property restoration requirements; modifying allowable financial assurance instruments. Effective date.

SB 1510 requires wind and solar energy facility owners/operators to post a $100,000 surety bond before construction begins on private land in Oklahoma. The bond, filed with the Secretary of State along with a $10 fee, ensures compensation for landowners if damages occur from facility operations. It applies to both wind energy facilities (under the Oklahoma Wind Energy Development Act) and solar facilities (under the Commission Solar Decommissioning Act). The bond must remain active during operations, and developers must cover damages exceeding the bond amount. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1923: Prisons and reformatories; prohibiting access to social media by inmates. Effective date.

SB 1923 prohibits inmates in Oklahoma prisons and reformatories from accessing social media platforms on any electronic devices provided by the Department of Corrections (like phones, tablets, or computers). The bill defines "social media platform" as websites enabling user-generated content and interaction, such as Facebook or Instagram. The Department of Corrections must create specific rules to implement this ban, which takes effect November 1, 2026. This policy directly affects all inmates in state correctional facilities by restricting their use of social media during incarceration.

Topics ✗ Technology

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1809: Ad valorem tax; increasing homestead exemption. Effective date.

SB 1809 increases Oklahoma's homestead property tax exemption from $1,000 to $5,000 annually for homeowners. It directly affects residents who own their primary residence as a homestead by reducing their taxable property value. The bill amends tax law to raise the exemption amount starting with the 2027 tax year, meaning homeowners will pay property tax only on the value exceeding $5,000. The change takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2041: Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act; creating certain felony offense; assigning certain classifications. Effective date.

SB 2041 modifies Oklahoma's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act by increasing the trauma-care fee for violations from $100 to $200. This fee applies to individuals convicted under Section 2-402, which prohibits unauthorized possession, sale, or marketing of controlled substances like ephedrine with unapproved health claims. The bill updates the statutory fee amount and language but does not change the underlying prohibitions or penalty structure for violations. The change takes effect November 1, 2026, and affects anyone convicted of offenses under this section.

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2014: Practice of pharmacy; authorizing pharmacists to dispense certain medication upon certain federal approval and subject to certain conditions. Effective date.

SB 2014 designates ivermectin (for human use) as an over-the-counter medication in Oklahoma, allowing it to be sold without a prescription or pharmacist consultation. This bill directly affects pharmacies, pharmacists, and consumers who purchase this drug. The key provision removes the current requirement for a prescription or healthcare professional consultation for ivermectin, changing its legal status under state pharmacy law. The law takes effect on November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2179: Criminal procedure; persons in a state of mental illness or defect; modifying conditions and procedures for discharge or conditional release. Effective date.

SB 2179 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health to create a written individualized service plan for people found not guilty by reason of mental illness (NGRI/MI) within 45 days of their court adjudication. The plan must include treatment details, risk assessments, and service schedules, developed with the individual's input and based on a forensic psychological evaluation. Once approved by the court, the plan becomes part of the court's final order and must be reviewed quarterly for the first year, then semiannually, with updates provided to the court and parties. This bill directly affects NGRI/MI individuals, courts, mental health providers, and the Department of Mental Health by mandating structured treatment planning and oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

died · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2157: Scenic rivers; creating the Southeast Scenic Rivers Act; authorizing the Legislature to designate certain rivers as scenic rivers. Effective date.

SB 2157 designates four specific rivers in southeastern Oklahoma as scenic rivers: the Glover River (McCurtain County), Kiamichi River (Choctaw, Pushmataha, Le Flore Counties), Little River (McCurtain, Pushmataha, Le Flore Counties), and Mountain Fork River (Le Flore, McCurtain Counties). It creates the Southeast Scenic Rivers Commission, composed of 11 members including local residents, tribal representatives, and state appointees, to manage these areas. The Commission must establish minimum standards protecting the rivers' natural beauty, wildlife, and recreational value while allowing compatible uses. These standards will guide counties and municipalities in planning and development within designated river corridors. The bill requires the Commission to operate under Oklahoma's Open Meeting and Open Records Acts.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Oklahoma · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2989: Electric utilities; creating the Wildland Fire Mitigation Act; defining terms; authorizing development of electrical wildland fire mitigation plan; effective date.

HB 2989, the Wildland Fire Mitigation Act, requires Oklahoma electric utilities to develop and maintain public "electrical wildland fire mitigation plans" addressing risks like vegetation management and infrastructure upgrades. These plans must cover geographic risk areas, inspection procedures, facility modifications, and fire response protocols, with utilities able to recover related costs through rate adjustments. The bill limits liability for utilities in fire-related lawsuits by shielding them from negligence claims if they followed safety codes, and caps property damage awards at restoration costs rather than market value. It also establishes a state program to incentivize landowners to adopt fire mitigation practices, directly affecting utilities, property owners, and land managers across Oklahoma.

passed both · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 202: Medicaid; modifying eligibility requirements for self-funded or self-insured health care plan to participate in certain premium assistance program. Emergency.

SB 202 modifies eligibility rules for self-funded health plans to participate in Oklahoma's Medicaid premium assistance program. It allows small businesses and public entities using self-funded health plans to qualify if the plan was already used by an employer in the program as of May 1, 2024, or if it’s owned by a local government public trust. This change specifically affects small employers (under 250 employees) and public-sector health plans seeking to access state premium assistance. The bill aims to expand coverage options for low-income workers by making more health plan types eligible for state-funded premium support.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 481: Public employees; prohibiting certain public employees from engaging in certain actions and using certain resources for certain purposes. Effective date. Emergency,

SB 481 bans public employees (including state, local, and school district workers) from participating in group strikes or work stoppages. It automatically terminates employment, revokes pensions and civil service rights, and revokes teaching certificates for educators who violate the ban. The law explicitly allows individual employees to stop working without group action. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and applies broadly across Oklahoma's public workforce.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill results