SB 135 modifies Oklahoma's Aircraft Engine Testing Development Grant Program to include rocket engine testing and expands its purpose to develop broader aerospace infrastructure. The bill creates a dedicated revolving fund (the "Oklahoma Aircraft and Rocket Engine Testing Development Grant Program Revolving Fund") and appropriates $20 million from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund one-time grants. Eligible applicants - private, public, or nonprofit entities within Oklahoma - must provide 40% matching funds, industry support documentation, and detailed project proposals. Grants require repayment if terms aren't met and mandate quarterly progress reports. The law became effective July 1, 2025, without gubernatorial signature.
SB 139 requires Oklahoma public school district boards of education to adopt cell phone policies by the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, boards may choose to implement policies prohibiting students from using cell phones or personal electronic devices on school campuses "from bell to bell" during school hours. The bill directly affects school districts by setting a timeline for policy adoption and defining the scope of device restrictions during instructional time. This legislation, approved by the governor on May 3, 2025, provides a framework for district-level decisions without mandating specific enforcement.
SB 53 updates Oklahoma's legal definitions related to child sexual abuse material by clarifying terms like "child sexual abuse material," "distribute," and "reasonable age verification methods" across multiple statutes. It specifies that "reasonable age verification" includes using digitized ID cards, third-party services, or other commercially reasonable methods to confirm users are 18+ before accessing certain online content. The bill modifies existing definitions in statutes covering possession, distribution, and child abuse offenses but does not create new criminal penalties or change sentencing. It directly affects online platforms, service providers, and law enforcement by standardizing how these terms are applied in Oklahoma law. The bill was signed into law by the governor on May 3, 2025.
Oklahoma's SB 552 bans state agencies that receive federal or state funds from using biotechnology equipment or services from companies designated by the federal government as "biotechnology companies of concern" (entities controlled by foreign adversaries posing national security risks through multiomics data collection). The bill specifically targets the use of multiomics technology - which combines data from genomics, proteomics, and other biological research areas - to prevent potential security threats. State agencies cannot contract with entities using such biotechnology, and the law only takes effect after a comparable federal law is enacted. This directly affects all Oklahoma state agencies managing federal or state funds, requiring them to avoid specific biotech vendors.
HB 1243 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma National Guard members enrolled in state technology center programs that lead to certification or licensure. The program covers tuition costs (up to a three-year limit) for members who agree to remain in service for 24 months after completing their training and maintain academic requirements like a 2.0 GPA. Members who fail to meet service or academic obligations must repay assistance calculated as a monthly amount based on the total assistance received, though hardship waivers are available. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, supported by annual state appropriations, and administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.
SB 572 ends Oklahoma's technology business financing program, which previously provided funding to help local businesses commercialize innovations. The bill requires all remaining program funds and annual royalty payments (from businesses that received funding) to be transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund by November 1, 2025. This affects OCAST (the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology), businesses that had received program funding, and state finances. The program officially ceases upon the bill's effective date, redirecting all unused funds to general state revenue.
