HB 1753: Motor vehicles; maximum fees and charges; Corporation Commission duties; fees and charges; rates; storage; data; effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from the House version to the Senate floor version, with the primary substantive change being the addition of specific maximum fee schedules for nonconsensual towing services. The Senate version introduces detailed distance-based rates based on vehicle weight, replacing or supplementing the House version's more general fee authority.

Scope change

The bill's scope now explicitly defines maximum fees for nonconsensual towing based on vehicle weight categories and distance traveled, providing clearer financial limits for towing companies.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific maximum distance rates for nonconsensual tows based on vehicle weight (e.g., $3.00 per mile for vehicles 8,000 lbs or less up to 25 miles).

Modified the fee structure to include detailed weight classifications (single vehicle 8,000 lbs or less, 8,001 to 12,000 lbs) that determine applicable rates.

TECHNICAL

Added provisions for calculating distances using official state highway maps and allowing for alternative routes when shortest routes are impractical due to roadway conditions.

Modified distance calculation rules to specify how fractions of a mile should be handled (rounded up to the next whole mile) and how turnpike/toll road fees should be billed.

House Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a House Committee Substitute to a Floor Version, with minor text adjustments and page numbering changes. The substantive policy content regarding wrecker services, towing regulations, and Corporation Commission duties remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Header formatting changed from 'HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION' to standard House Bill format with page numbers and committee amendment notation.

Page numbering and line formatting adjusted to reflect floor version layout, with no substantive policy changes to the bill text.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the entire text with a revised version that updates the title from 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute' and modifies the section numbering. The substantive content regarding wrecker services and rotation logs remains largely unchanged, with only minor formatting adjustments to page references and line numbers.

TECHNICAL

Title changed from 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute'

Section numbering adjusted from 3-4 to 3-4 with renumbered subsequent sections

Page reference numbers updated from Req. No. 12726 to Req. No. 13269

Additional line breaks and spacing inserted throughout the document

Engrossed → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from scratch by the Policy Committee. The original text contained detailed fee schedules and specific rate calculations for towing services, while the new version removes all specific dollar amounts and rate tables, replacing them with a framework that requires the Corporation Commission to establish maximum fees through rulemaking. This shifts authority from fixed statutory rates to a regulatory process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating nonconsensual towing fees in Oklahoma, but the mechanism for setting rates changed from fixed statutory amounts to a rulemaking process.

REQUIREMENT

All specific dollar amounts and rate tables for towing fees were deleted from the statute.

New requirement that the Corporation Commission must establish maximum fees through rulemaking rather than having them set directly in the statute.

ELIGIBILITY

Requirements for which wrecker services can be placed on rotation logs were simplified, removing detailed distance and weight-based rate calculations.

DEFINITION

The detailed definitions of distance rates, hourly rates, and weight categories were replaced with a reference to Commission-adopted rules.

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly rewrites the Oklahoma statute governing nonconsensual tow fees and charges. It replaces the previous Fraudulent Documents Identification Unit provisions with new Corporation Commission authority to set maximum tow fees, storage rates, and hourly rates. The bill establishes specific distance-based and weight-based fee schedules for wrecker services and authorizes operators to collect fees from vehicle owners, lienholders, or insurers.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from identity verification and fraudulent document investigation to regulating towing service fees and charges. The responsible agency changed from the Department of Public Safety to the Corporation Commission.

SCOPE

Removed provisions establishing a Fraudulent Documents Identification Unit under the Department of Public Safety for investigating fraudulent documents.

REQUIREMENT

Added authority for the Corporation Commission to establish maximum fees and charges for nonconsensual tow and storage services.

Added specific distance-based and weight-based rate schedules for single and combination vehicles.

Added hourly rate provisions for wrecker services that can be applied in lieu of distance rates.

Added provisions allowing tow operators to collect fees from owners, lienholders, agents, or insurers accepting liability.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the responsible agency for towing fee regulations from the Department of Public Safety to the Corporation Commission.

Motor vehicles; maximum fees and charges; Corporation Commission duties; fees and charges; rates; storage; data; effective date.

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