Service animals; making certain acts unlawful; penalties; effective date.
HB 1178 clarifies Oklahoma's service animal laws by defining "service animal" narrowly to exclude emotional support and therapy animals, which must be trained to assist individuals with disabilities. It requires businesses to post clear signage about animal policies and prohibits businesses from questioning a service animal's legitimacy beyond federal guidelines. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to falsely claim an animal is a service animal to access public spaces or benefits, targeting misuse of service animal privileges. This directly affects businesses (public accommodations) and individuals making false claims, aligning Oklahoma law with federal definitions while strengthening enforcement against deceptive practices.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Vetoed
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Vetoed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Floor (House)
→
Floor (Senate)
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended from the House version to the Senate version, primarily adding new definitions for 'therapy animal' and clarifying the distinction between service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals. The Senate version also updated the committee report attribution and formatting.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'therapy animal' as a personal pet certified to make therapeutic visits to facilities like nursing homes, schools, and hospitals, distinguishing it from service animals.
Reformatted the definition of 'emotional support animal' to clarify that it does not work or accompany an individual with a disability at all times.
TECHNICAL
Changed the committee report attribution from 'Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight' to 'Committee on Public Safety' and updated page headers to reflect Senate floor version.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary of State
lower
May 29, 2025
Vetoed
Veto overridden: Ayes: 35 Nays: 9
upper
May 29, 2025
Vetoed
Veto overridden: Ayes: 71 Nays: 17
lower
May 13, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed 05/13/2025
lower
May 6, 2025
Committee
Referred for enrollment
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Engrossed measure signed, returned to House
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Measure passed: Ayes: 36 Nays: 9
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass Public Safety committee; CR filed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Engrossed, signed, to Senate
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
Referred for engrossment
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 52 Nays: 28
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Criminal Judiciary
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Judiciary
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
First Reading
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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