Immigration

HB 2050 creates a new temporary licensure pathway for international medical graduates in Oklahoma who cannot immediately qualify for full licensure. It allows these applicants to obtain a limited license if they meet ECFMG standards, provide evidence of three years of post-graduate training or clinical practice abroad, secure employment at an accredited health care provider, and pass an English competency exam. During the limited license period (up to three years), they must practice only under supervision at an approved training program. After three years with no disciplinary issues and passing all USMLE exams, they may qualify for full licensure without the prior practice restrictions. This directly affects foreign-trained physicians seeking to practice in Oklahoma.

HB 1546 prohibits non-U.S. citizens from specific countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or other U.S.-designated "foreign government adversaries") from owning agricultural land, forestry property, or real property within 200 miles of military installations or critical infrastructure facilities (like power plants, refineries, or water treatment plants). It requires sellers to submit a notarized affidavit verifying compliance with these restrictions when recording property deeds, with limited exceptions for deeds correcting title defects or securing debts. The bill applies to direct ownership and indirect ownership through business entities or trusts, effective November 1, 2025. This law directly affects foreign entities from the listed countries seeking to purchase or hold certain types of land in Oklahoma.

HB 1362 makes it a crime for non-U.S. citizens (defined as "aliens") to enter or remain in Oklahoma without legal authorization to be in the United States. First offenses are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $500 fine; second offenses or offenses committed during other crimes are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison or a $1,000 fine. The law requires convicted individuals to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours and mandates law enforcement to collect biometric data and check federal databases. It also preempts local governments from enacting conflicting immigration policies and creates an alternative to prison: if conditions are met (no prior violent crime, not charged with another felony), courts can order deportation instead of incarceration.