HB 1939 authorizes the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to construct, maintain, and operate toll turnpikes at 25 specific locations and segments across the state, such as the Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa and extensions of the Muskogee Turnpike. The bill directly affects the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (a state agency) and drivers using these designated routes. Key provisions include explicitly listing authorized locations (e.g., the Tulsa south bypass and Oklahoma City Outer Loop) and modifying prior restrictions on where turnpikes may be built. The bill does not create new tolls but formalizes existing or planned infrastructure projects under the Authority’s jurisdiction.
HB 1427 creates tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who invest in qualifying clean-burning motor vehicle fuel equipment. It directly affects vehicle owners and businesses that install or purchase equipment allowing vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas. The bill provides tiered credits: up to $5,500 for light vehicles (under 6,000 lbs), up to $100,000 for heavy trucks (over 26,500 lbs), and 45% of costs for commercial refueling stations. Credits are limited to new, certified equipment meeting safety standards and must be claimed against state income tax. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years.
HB 3891 sets minimum and maximum annual salary ranges for elected county officers in Oklahoma, requiring all such officials to earn at least $60,000 per year (with sheriffs specifically mandated to earn no less than $44,000, and up to $74,500). It directs county excise boards to set salaries within these limits and mandates that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation reimburse counties using County Improvements for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) funds if county budgets cannot cover the $60,000 minimum. The bill prohibits reducing salaries for officials who assumed office before its passage and repeals an existing salary provision (19 O.S. 2021, Section 180.63). It becomes effective November 1, 2026.
HB 1822 requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a program for identifying, removing, and managing invasive woody species (like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar) within transportation rights-of-way. The program mandates surveys, prioritized removal plans, eco-friendly removal methods to protect native plants and soil, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with other agencies. This directly affects ODOT’s operations and land adjacent to state roads. The bill would have taken effect November 1, 2025, but died in conference on May 30, 2025. (Note: The bill’s title references transportation but focuses on environmental management within road corridors.)
HB 2263 prohibits using cellular telephones or electronic devices while driving on specific road segments, directly affecting drivers who use phones in those areas. The bill removes the previous exception for zones where workers are present and changes the effective date to November 1, 2025 (from July 1, 2026). It establishes penalties for violations and allows municipalities to enforce stricter local ordinances. The law applies to all road segments designated under the bill, not limited to construction zones.
This bill allocates $10.8 million from Oklahoma's Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund to three specific projects. It provides $5 million for a municipal park in a county exceeding 750,000 residents (per 2020 Census) north of I-344 and west of I-35, $4 million to relocate a naval submarine east of Highway 165 and north of Highway 62, and $1.8 million for infrastructure improvements at an industrial park south of Highway 62 and east of Highway 283. The funding is directed to these precise locations as defined in the bill. The bill became law without the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025.
HB 2792 creates the "Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund" (PREP Fund) as a continuing fund in Oklahoma, meaning it won't expire with fiscal years. The bill ensures specific existing appropriations - totaling $118.85 million from previous legislative sessions - continue funding rural economic projects without being subject to lapse. These funds support projects previously authorized under bills like HB 1016 and HB 1017 (2023), including infrastructure, business development, and community initiatives in rural Oklahoma. The law also allows the Legislature to reallocate funds as needed while preserving the original project allocations.
SB 562 strengthens Oklahoma's Bus Passenger Safety Act by expanding criminal penalties for violence targeting buses and passengers. It defines "bus" broadly to include vans, railcars, and other public transit vehicles, and makes it a felony to seize control of any bus (up to 20 years in prison), intimidate drivers/passengers (up to 10 years), or use deadly weapons during such acts (up to 20 years). The bill also prohibits discharging firearms in buses or terminals without valid self-defense justification (up to 5 years). These provisions directly affect bus passengers, drivers, and transit staff by increasing legal consequences for threats and violence against them.
HB 1419 defines "street-legal utility vehicles" in Oklahoma law as motor vehicles meeting specific safety and performance standards (e.g., 400cc+ engine, safety belts, 50 mph capability). It requires these vehicles to be registered as motor vehicles but exempts operators from needing an "M" license endorsement. The bill allows registered street-legal utility vehicles to operate on U.S. Highways in counties with populations under 75,000 (per 2020 census), excluding interstate highways. This law, effective November 1, 2025, modifies existing restrictions on utility vehicles and minibikes.
SB 375 amends Oklahoma statutes governing construction management for transportation projects, affecting the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. It requires these agencies to compile and maintain a list of qualified construction managers and design consultants, mandating specific disclosures about project scope, costs, funding, and construction inspector arrangements. The bill establishes standardized evaluation criteria for selecting consultants based on qualifications, capacity, past performance, and Oklahoma resident workforce participation. It also creates a committee to rank candidates and allows for "demand services contracts" for on-demand consultant needs. This bill became law on May 14, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
