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.
HB 2997 increases the maximum administrative fine for used motor vehicle license applicants who knowingly make false statements from $1,000 to $10,000. It directly affects individuals and businesses applying for or holding motor vehicle sales licenses in Oklahoma. The bill amends Section 585D of Oklahoma Statutes to raise this fine limit, while maintaining existing $100 maximum fines for dealer violations like failing to deliver title documents. The change takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3405 designates poison hemlock and kudzu as noxious weeds in Oklahoma, requiring all landowners (public and private) to treat or remove these plants annually to prevent seeding. It mandates county entities and the Department of Transportation to manage infestations in rights-of-way, with landowners facing fines up to $1,000 per day for noncompliance. The bill requires the State Department of Agriculture to conduct annual surveys of infestations, report results to Oklahoma State University, and publish public notices in newspapers about landowner responsibilities. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and includes provisions for landowners to request assistance with weed removal.
HB 4280 increases annual funding for Oklahoma's Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund (ROADS Fund) to support road and bridge construction and maintenance. It sets specific annual funding levels: $575 million for fiscal year 2021, $590 million for 2022, $610 million for 2025, and $670 million starting in 2026. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to use these funds first for debt payments on highway obligations, then for road/bridge construction, maintenance, and matching federal funds. The legislation directly affects Oklahoma's highway infrastructure and the DOT's budget allocation process, with funding adjustments triggered by revenue shortfalls.
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 2772 creates the "Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund" to provide dedicated state funding for transportation infrastructure. It mandates annual apportionments totaling $575 million for fiscal year 2021, increasing to $610 million annually starting in 2025, with $80 million allocated each year specifically for debt payments on transportation bonds before other uses. The fund must be used exclusively for constructing/maintaining state roads, bridges, highways, and related infrastructure - prohibited from replacing existing transportation funding - and requires annual oversight by the State Board of Equalization to prevent fund "supplanting." Additional smaller allocations ($2 million for the Heartland Flyer rail project and $3 million for public transit) are also specified within the funding structure. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
SB 1150 appropriates $100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2026 to cover existing legal duties of the department. The bill directly affects the Department of Transportation by providing funding for its ongoing operations. It declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon enactment, bypassing the normal legislative timeline. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, without the Governor's signature.
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.
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.
