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.
SB 634 expands Oklahoma's Impaired Driving Prevention Advisory Committee by adding seven new members, including the State Commissioner of Health, Director of the Department of Transportation, and leaders from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and State Board of Pharmacy. The committee must analyze impaired driving crash data, coordinate with stakeholders, and create an annual statewide strategic plan to reduce impaired driving incidents. These plans are submitted to the Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, and House Speaker each December. The bill directly affects state agencies involved in public safety, health, and substance use policy by requiring their input into impaired driving prevention strategies.
SB 730 requires Oklahoma's Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to develop a five-year Airport Construction Program and a statewide airport system plan, which will guide funding for airport infrastructure. The system plan must include all airports eligible for state funding and prioritize safety, economic growth, and FAA standards. It also updates the AeroSPACE Program, a partnership between schools and the aviation industry to create aerospace career pathways for students. These changes directly affect public airports seeking state funding and educational institutions participating in the workforce development initiative.
HB 2285 creates the Evacuation Vehicle Access Corridor Revolving Fund (EVAC Fund) to support construction of emergency evacuation routes in Oklahoma counties. It establishes a grant program allowing counties with landlocked areas (defined as regions with 2,000+ residents and only one or two road access points) to apply for funds to build new or improve existing access corridors. Eligible counties must demonstrate a material need for corridor construction, and grants cannot exceed the total funds in the EVAC Fund. The bill aims to improve public safety by ensuring reliable evacuation routes for residents in geographically isolated areas.
HB 1125 requires Oklahoma's Department of Transportation (DOT) to cover the cost of replacing curbs, inlets, inlet grates, and related drainage components on municipal streets that continue state or federal highways. It applies specifically to cities with populations under 100,000 (per the latest federal census) and excludes mill-and-inlay road projects. The bill mandates the DOT to update its administrative rules to include these repairs in project scopes. This policy change directly affects local municipalities by shifting maintenance costs from cities to the state DOT for qualifying street infrastructure.
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.
