Transportation

HB 1957 requires street-legal low-speed electric vehicles and golf carts to be registered as motor vehicles in Oklahoma. It removes the need for an "M" license endorsement for operators (who must be at least 16 with a standard driver’s license) and mandates compliance with federal safety standards for vehicles operated on roads with speed limits ≤35 mph. Service Oklahoma can register converted golf carts meeting federal safety rules without requiring a full 17-digit vehicle identification number. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not override local city restrictions on low-speed vehicle use.

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.

SB 20, the Oklahoma Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025, creates a restricted commercial driver license for workers in specific farm-related industries, including farm retail, custom harvesting, livestock feeding, and agri-chemical businesses. To qualify, drivers must have held a regular license for at least one year, maintain a clean driving record (no suspensions or serious violations), and operate within 150 miles of their farm business, limited to Class B or C vehicles. The license also restricts transport of hazardous materials to specific quantities, such as diesel fuel (1,000 gallons or less) or liquid fertilizer (3,000 gallons or less), while prohibiting other placarded hazardous materials. This law directly affects commercial drivers in Oklahoma’s agricultural sector by establishing clear operational boundaries for these restricted licenses.

HB 2603 transfers enforcement authority for Oklahoma's motor carrier safety regulations - from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to the Department of Public Safety - effective July 2026. This change affects commercial trucking companies and drivers by shifting oversight of safety rules, weigh station inspections, and permit enforcement to the Department of Public Safety. The bill creates a 12-month transition period (July 2026-June 2027) with a task force to coordinate the transfer of personnel, property, and responsibilities. Key provisions include requiring the Department of Public Safety to assume full enforcement authority over specific statutes related to motor carrier operations, permits, and safety compliance. The goal is to create a more unified enforcement approach for public safety in the commercial transportation sector.