This bill establishes the Creating Oklahoma's Modern Plan for Economic Transformation and Effectiveness (COMPETE) Act to modernize the state's economic development strategy. It creates a new Division on Economic Development, Growth, and Expansion within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to serve as the primary agency for driving economic growth and coordinating investment activities. The legislation also forms a nine-member advisory board appointed by the Senate, House, and Governor, requiring members to have significant private sector experience and expertise in areas like finance, marketing, and international commerce. These new entities will work together to manage public funds and incentives aimed at attracting and retaining businesses across the state.
This bill allows property owners or their authorized agents in Oklahoma to request sheriff assistance for the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants from real estate. To qualify for this service, the occupant must not be a current or former tenant, immediate family member, or have any pending legal dispute with the owner, and they must fail to produce valid proof of residency or ownership. The owner must submit a sworn complaint form to the local sheriff, who can then arrest the individual and charge fees for the service, while the law explicitly protects both the owner and the sheriff from liability for damages. Additionally, the legislation imposes criminal penalties on those who cause intentional property damage after removal or who knowingly submit false documents to claim property rights.
This Oklahoma bill establishes two new judicial offices, one in District No. 7 and another in District No. 14, to serve as business court judges. It also creates a Task Force for the Study of Business Courts, comprised of eleven members appointed by state officials, to analyze the feasibility and structure of a statewide business court system. The task force is required to study existing court structures, examine models from other states, and submit detailed reports by January 2025 and 2026 regarding judge qualifications, case jurisdiction, and procedural rules. The bill includes provisions for staff assistance, travel reimbursement for non-legislator members, and sets a termination date for the task force in January 2026.
This bill amends Oklahoma's Choosing Childbirth Act to update how state funds are distributed and defined for childbirth support services. It clarifies that "abortion" is defined as intentionally killing or terminating a pregnancy, while an "unborn child" is defined as an organism from fertilization until birth. The legislation expands the list of reimbursable services to include mental health support, housing assistance, transportation, and healthcare for mothers and infants up to three years postpartum. Additionally, it establishes strict eligibility rules requiring organizations to be non-profit, located in Oklahoma, and prohibited from encouraging abortions or accepting funds from entities that perform them.
This bill amends the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act to clarify how poultry integrators must respond when they receive notices about non-compliance from growers. Specifically, it requires integrators to confirm receipt of such notices and work with growers to fix issues within thirty days. If a grower fails to meet compliance standards by that deadline, the integrator must either stop sending birds to the farm or formally end the business relationship within another thirty-day window. These changes directly affect the legal obligations of poultry companies and the farmers who work with them under the state's registration program.
This bill updates Oklahoma laws regarding land ownership by non-citizens, foreign governments, and related entities. It clarifies definitions for terms like "foreign government adversary" and requires that deeds transferring land to these groups include a notarized affidavit confirming compliance with state restrictions. The legislation also lists specific situations where this affidavit is not needed, such as when a deed corrects a previous error or involves a court order. Additionally, the bill changes how property owned by aliens is handled if it goes unpaid, shifting the process from escheatment to foreclosure.
This bill modifies Oklahoma's laws regarding the process for citizens to propose new laws or constitutional amendments through initiative petitions or to challenge existing laws via referendum petitions. It requires proponents to file a $1,000 fee with the Secretary of State, which can be reimbursed if the petition qualifies for the ballot, and mandates that individuals gathering signatures undergo a criminal history investigation. The legislation also extends the time limit for filing legal objections to the constitutionality of a petition from ten to ninety days and sets specific deadlines for signature gathering, ranging from fifteen to thirty days for initiatives and ninety days for referendums. Additionally, it outlines procedures for petition withdrawal and requires the Secretary of State to report signature counts to the Supreme Court for final determination.
This bill requires Oklahoma school districts to create policies allowing students to be excused from regular classes to attend religious or moral instruction courses taught by outside groups off school property. The policy limits participation to a maximum of three class periods per week and mandates that parents provide written consent while ensuring no school funds, personnel, or resources are used for the instruction. Additionally, the bill grants immunity from liability to school districts for incidents occurring during these off-site courses and exempts the instructors from standard teacher licensure requirements. Students attending these courses will still be counted as present for attendance purposes and can earn elective credit based on a neutral evaluation of the course materials and instructor qualifications.
This bill, known as the Women's Bill of Rights, aims to clarify how Oklahoma laws treat individuals based on their biological sex. It defines specific terms like "male," "female," "man," and "woman" based on biological reproductive systems and establishes that legal distinctions between sexes are permitted for important government objectives such as safety, privacy, and athletics. The legislation also mandates that state agencies collecting data must identify individuals as either male or female and clarifies that equal treatment does not require identical treatment for both sexes. By amending existing statutes, the bill ensures that laws regarding employment, education, and civil rights are interpreted through the lens of biological sex differences.
This bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to grant specific exemptions for machinery, equipment, and materials used in manufacturing operations and hazardous waste treatment facilities. It clarifies that purchases made for manufacturers, including those with construction contracts, are eligible for tax exemption if properly documented with invoices and permits. The legislation also expands exemptions to include tangible personal property used in new or expanded manufacturing facilities that meet specific cost and employment thresholds. Additionally, the bill maintains existing exemptions for items like ethyl alcohol used in fuel blending and certain single-use packaging materials while reinforcing penalties for incorrect tax certifications.
This bill requires the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to mandate criminal background checks for both owners and employees of licensed medical marijuana businesses in the state. The process involves submitting fingerprints to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for state and federal criminal record searches, with the authority granted access to any resulting criminal history information. These background checks will be conducted during the initial application, renewal, or licensing process for individuals involved in operating or working at these facilities.
This bill, known as the Sergeant CJ Nelson Legacy Act, provides fee waivers for children of Oklahoma peace officers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical technicians who died while performing their duties. It removes room and board charges at state universities and tuition fees at career technology districts for these children, limiting the benefit to a five-year period. The law defines eligible individuals broadly to include both volunteer and salaried personnel and designates the waiver as a service benefit for the families of fallen first responders.
