HB 4301 requires escrow and title companies to return earnest money to qualified U.S. veterans or active duty military members if a property appraises for less than the contract price. Companies that fail to comply face a $500 civil penalty per violation, with the funds added to the Attorney General's Law Enforcement Revolving Fund. The bill enforces a federal rule (38 C.F.R. § 36.4303(k)) and takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects veterans, active duty military members purchasing property, and the entities handling their escrow payments.
HB 4279 creates a special revolving fund called the "Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Revolving Nonappropriated Veteran Care Enterprise Fund" to support care at state veterans' homes in Ardmore, Claremore, Clinton, Lawton/Ft. Sill, Norman, Sulphur, and Sallisaw. The fund is financed by patient fees, gifts, donations, and other non-federal revenue (excluding state/federal grants), and can cover care costs, facility maintenance, staff salaries, and medical improvements for veterans. It requires the Department to maintain separate accounting, submit quarterly financial reports to the Governor and legislature, and comply with federal audit standards. The bill exempts the fund from standard state treasury procedures but does not change existing funding sources like state appropriations.
HB 3064 requires Oklahoma counties to use a new standardized form for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses when they purchase a new home, ensuring they maintain their property tax exemption. The form must confirm they previously qualified for the exemption on their old homestead, and county assessors must use it to update property records to reflect the new exempt status. This applies specifically to veterans who qualify under Oklahoma Constitution Sections 8E and 8F for their primary residence (homestead). The bill creates a clear process to avoid losing tax benefits during home purchases and ensures county officials send updated tax bills accordingly. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3042 creates a permanent revolving fund called the "Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Supplemental Revolving Fund" within the State Treasury. The fund will be financed exclusively by donations and eligible federal funds received by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA), not by state appropriations. ODVA may use these funds to increase transparency, reduce reliance on annual state budget cycles, and reinvest in veterans' programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and is declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation. This directly affects ODVA's budgeting flexibility and how it manages non-state revenue sources for veterans' services.
SB 303 expands Oklahoma's property tax relief program to include disabled veterans and certain first responders. It allows honorably discharged veterans with a 75% service-connected disability, plus police, firefighters, or law enforcement officers receiving disability retirement for line-of-duty injuries, to claim tax relief on their primary residence. The bill modifies income limits and caps annual relief at $1,000 (up from $200), applying to households meeting income thresholds set by HUD. This change takes effect January 1, 2026, and directly affects eligible disabled service members and their surviving spouses.
SB 530 authorizes the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to create the ODVA Foundation, a private nonprofit organization designed to raise private funds for veterans' programs. The foundation will collect donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations to support educational, training, and empowerment initiatives for Oklahoma veterans, reservists, and their families - supplementing, not replacing, state funding for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Key provisions include requiring the foundation to operate charitably, secure tax-exempt status, maintain auditable financial records (excluding donor names), and prohibit ODVA employees from voting on its board. This bill establishes a structured mechanism for private fundraising to enhance veteran services without altering existing state budget allocations.
