Service animals; making certain acts unlawful; penalties; effective date.
Oklahoma's HB 1178 clarifies rules for service animals in public places, directly affecting businesses and individuals with disabilities. The bill defines "service animal" strictly as one trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities (excluding emotional support or therapy animals), requires businesses to post clear signage about animal policies, and creates misdemeanor penalties for falsely claiming a service animal to gain access or benefits. It aligns with federal standards but explicitly prohibits misrepresenting emotional support or therapy animals as service animals. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
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)
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify definitions of service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals, and to add enforcement provisions for misuse of service animal status. The Senate version also includes a committee report attribution change.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'emotional support animal' as an animal that provides comfort but does not perform tasks or accompany the individual at all times.
Added a new definition for 'therapy animal' as a certified personal pet that makes therapeutic visits to facilities like nursing homes and hospitals.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a misdemeanor penalty for anyone who misrepresents a pet as a service animal to gain rights or privileges reserved for individuals with disabilities.
TECHNICAL
Changed committee report attribution from 'Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight' to 'Committee on Public Safety'.
Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025 · House Mar 18, 2025
How they voted
38–9
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
May 6, 2025
D
Democratic9
88% Nay
R
Republican40
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
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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