HB 1221 creates "SAFE Accounts" in Oklahoma’s State Treasury to manage specific federal funds received by state agencies. It requires agencies to seek legislative approval (via concurrent resolution) before accessing funds from competitive grants, federal relief payments, or block grants, and mandates detailed reporting to the Legislature about grant applications and funding purposes. Existing federal programs already managed by agencies as of January 1, 2025, are excluded from these requirements unless they involve competitive grants needing reapplication after November 2025. The bill also establishes deadlines for submitting notices and holding hearings on new federal funding sources, effective July 1, 2025, for block grants and November 1, 2025, for competitive grants.
HB 1564 creates the "Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act" to streamline small civil cases seeking monetary relief totaling $250,000 or less (excluding interest, penalties, and fees). It limits discovery to 180 days, mandates trials within 90 days after discovery ends, and caps trial time at 8 hours per side (extendable to 12 hours). The bill restricts written discovery requests to 15 per category and requires cases exceeding the $250,000 cap or seeking non-monetary relief to exit the expedited process. This applies directly to plaintiffs and defendants in qualifying civil suits, accelerating proceedings while maintaining defined procedural boundaries.
HB 1968 authorizes Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board to appoint five alternate members with specific qualifications, including former prosecutors, public defenders, judges, mental health professionals, and corrections officers. The bill requires all board members and alternates to complete annual training on topics like offender rehabilitation and effective intervention methods. It establishes salaries of $85,000 per year for regular members and $42,500 for alternates, with pay tied to meeting attendance requirements. Additionally, the bill prohibits board members from representing inmates in legal matters to prevent conflicts of interest and mandates disclosure of potential conflicts.
HB 1662 requires the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to prepare an annual report detailing all interactions with the Southwest Power Pool (a regional electricity grid operator). The report must include specific records of trips taken, meetings held, and votes cast by Commission representatives related to the Southwest Power Pool during the previous calendar year. This report must be submitted by January 31 each year to the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore. The law applies directly to the Corporation Commission and aims to increase transparency around its energy-related activities. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.
This bill (HB 1837) protects Oklahoma residents using Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts by exempting these funds from being seized for debts or used to calculate eligibility for public assistance. Specifically, it ensures ABLE account balances cannot be claimed by creditors, garnished, or used to determine benefits under programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It also prevents Medicaid from seeking repayment from these accounts after a beneficiary's death. The law applies to both Oklahoma-established ABLE accounts and those from other states, effective November 1, 2025.
SB 279 requires companies building new high-voltage power lines over 300 kilovolts (kV) to obtain a certificate of authority from Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission *before* starting construction. The application must include detailed route maps, notifications to affected landowners and counties, proof of public meetings, insurance coverage, and safety plans. It does not apply to existing utility upgrades of current infrastructure. The bill establishes a formal process for reviewing new transmission projects to ensure public notice and safety compliance.
SB 112 updates plumbing licensing requirements in the state. It sets new standards for certain applicants taking the plumbing examination and allows the Construction Industries Board to create rules governing the licensing process. The bill also extends the time between required license renewals for plumbing professionals. These changes directly affect individuals seeking or holding plumbing licenses and the state board overseeing the profession. The bill focuses on streamlining licensing procedures and reducing renewal frequency.
HB 1390 modifies Oklahoma's child care licensing oversight by strengthening complaint investigations and transparency. It requires the Department of Human Services to investigate all complaints about licensing violations, document findings, and notify facilities of required corrections for health/safety issues. If abuse is confirmed, facilities must notify parents within 72 hours via certified mail. The bill mandates public access to investigation reports (stating "substantiated" or "unsubstantiated" findings) while protecting confidential information, except for anonymized summaries parents can use to evaluate facilities. This directly affects licensed child care facilities, the Department of Human Services, and parents of children in care.
HB 2702 requires Oklahoma school districts to hire special education administrators (directors and assistant directors) who hold a standard teaching certificate and obtain an "acknowledgment of competency" by July 1, 2025. This acknowledgment requires completing 150 hours of training covering Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) rules and scoring at least 70% on a competency exam. Administrators with existing Special Education Teaching Certificates under Oklahoma law (Sections 6-122.7-9) are exempt from the competency requirement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.
HB 2126, the "Shelby Johnson and Logan Deardorff Act of 2025," requires physicians and patients to report medical conditions causing momentary lapses of consciousness (like seizures or mental conditions) that could impair driving ability to Oklahoma's Service Oklahoma. This directly affects drivers diagnosed with such conditions and their healthcare providers, who must submit written reports. The bill ensures these reports are not public records and can only be used in driver's license revocation or denial cases, while granting immunity to reporters acting in good faith. It modifies existing law to clarify reporting requirements and legal protections for those involved.
HB 2026 expands Oklahoma's existing Aircraft Engine Testing Development Grant Program to fund additional aeronautics technology projects. The bill directly affects Oklahoma-based companies and research entities developing aircraft engine testing capabilities by providing state grant funding. Key provisions include broadening the program's eligible activities beyond current scope to support new engine testing development initiatives. The bill takes effect immediately upon approval with an emergency designation, as approved by the Oklahoma House on March 5, 2025.
HB 1665 increases the maximum annual salary for most county officers in Oklahoma from $49,500 to $74,500, while maintaining a minimum salary of $19,000. It specifically sets the sheriff's minimum salary at $44,000 (unchanged) but raises the sheriff's maximum salary to $74,500. County boards of commissioners will set salaries within these new limits for all elected county officials. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
