HB 1374: Electric vehicles; directing establishment of minimum safety standards for charging stations; requiring reporting; directing rule promulgation; effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from a general public utility definition to a specific safety regulation for electric vehicle charging stations in multi-story buildings. The new version mandates strict fire safety standards, including ground-floor placement, emergency call boxes, and video surveillance, while removing previous provisions about rural water systems and green hydrogen.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a broad definition of 'public utility' and rural water supply exemptions to a narrow focus on electric vehicle charging station safety in multi-story structures.

SCOPE

Removed the definition of 'public utility' and exemptions for rural water supply and green hydrogen entities.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for charging stations to be located on the ground floor and no more than 25 feet from an entry point.

Mandated installation of emergency call boxes, fire extinguishers, lighting, fire alarms, and continuous video surveillance.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a daily penalty of up to $500 for violations and required annual compliance reports.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2025, to November 1, 2025.

HB1374 (5-06-25) (WOODS) FS FA1.PDF → HB1374 (5-06-25) (WOODS) FS WDFA1.PDF · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill's effective date was changed from May 6, 2025, to April 23, 2026, meaning the law will not take effect until the following year. This delay likely provides additional time for agencies to prepare or for the legislature to address further concerns before the rules go into force.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the legislation was pushed back by approximately 11 months, moving from mid-2025 to early 2026.

HB1374 (4-23-26) (WOODS) FS FA3.PDF → HB1374 (5-06-25) (WOODS) FS FA1.PDF · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift focus from regulating electric utilities and wildland fire prevention to regulating electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in multistory buildings. The new version establishes specific safety standards for EV chargers, requiring them to be on the ground floor, within 25 feet of an exit, and equipped with fire extinguishers, alarms, and emergency contacts. It also creates a new administrative penalty system for non-compliance.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from applying to all electric utilities and their infrastructure to specifically applying only to charging station operators providing access to EV equipment housed in multistory buildings.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to electric utilities, wildland fire mitigation plans, and liability for spreading wildfires.

REQUIREMENT

Added new safety requirements for EV charging stations, including placement on the ground floor, distance from exits, and installation of fire extinguishers and alarms.

DEFINITION

Replaced definitions of 'electric utility' and 'wildland fire' with new definitions related to EV charging stations and multilevel structures.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new administrative penalty of up to $500 per day per violation for charging station operators who fail to meet safety standards.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act to November 1, 2025.

FISCAL

Changed the destination of collected fees from a utility-specific fund to the Corporation Commission Revolving Fund.

Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill → HB1374 (4-23-26) (WOODS) FS FA3.PDF · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift focus from regulating electric vehicle charging stations to establishing liability rules and mitigation plans for electric utilities regarding wildland fires. The new version removes all requirements for charging station operators and instead creates a legal framework that limits electric utility liability for fire damages while requiring them to submit vegetation management plans.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from regulating private charging station operators to regulating electric utilities and defining liability for wildland fires caused by utility infrastructure.

REQUIREMENT

All requirements for charging station operators, including fire safety standards, inspection rules, and registration fees, were completely removed.

Electric utilities are now required to prepare and maintain an electrical wildland fire mitigation plan that includes vegetation management and infrastructure inspection procedures.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'electric cooperative', 'electric utility', 'electrical wildland fire mitigation plan', 'injuries arising from the ownership of property', 'person', and 'wildland fire'.

ADDED

A new liability rule states that electric utilities may recover reasonable costs for implementing fire mitigation plans through rates, and punitive or treble damages are barred in lawsuits against them for fire damages.

ENFORCEMENT

The bill clarifies that the existence or content of a mitigation plan cannot be used as evidence in civil lawsuits seeking damages for property damage from wildland fires.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from November 1, 2025, to a date in the 2026 legislative session.

SCOPE

The bill's citation changed from Title 68 (Corporation Commission) to Title 17 (Wildland Fire Mitigation Act) and Title 27A (Wildland Fire Mitigation Program Act).

House Committee Substitute → Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reclassified from a 'Committee Substitute' to an 'Engrossed' version, indicating it has passed committee review and is ready for final passage. The substantive content remains largely the same, though the effective date was delayed from July 1, 2025, to November 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding electric vehicle charging station safety standards and natural gas usage requirements remains unchanged; only the procedural status and effective date were modified.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from July 1, 2025, to November 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated to reflect that the bill is now 'Engrossed' rather than a 'Committee Substitute', and the sponsoring legislators were listed as Boles, Hefner, and Adams.

The page numbering and reference numbers at the bottom of the pages were updated to reflect the new version of the document.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → House Committee Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove the 'Proposed Oversight' label and add the Senate sponsor's name. The substantive content of the bill remains unchanged, defining 'public utility' and allowing entities to refuse electricity service under specific conditions. The amendment also adds a new requirement that any project under this act must include a natural gas component in its power generation.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding utility definitions and refusal to serve remains the same, but a new operational requirement was added mandating natural gas usage in power generation projects.

TECHNICAL

Removed the 'Proposed Oversight' header and updated the title to include the Senate sponsor, Green.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate requiring all projects under the act to utilize a natural gas component in their power generation capacity.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from scratch by the committee. The original version defined 'public utility' broadly to include almost any business providing services to the public, with specific exceptions for private manufacturing and rural water systems. The new version keeps the broad definition but adds a specific exemption for entities producing 'green hydrogen electricity' that only serve themselves, affiliates, or tenants, provided they don't resell the power as retail electricity.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding who counts as a 'public utility' was narrowed for green hydrogen producers, creating a new category of entities that can operate without being regulated as public utilities under this specific act.

DEFINITION

Added a specific exemption for entities producing green hydrogen electricity that serve only themselves, affiliates, or tenants, provided the power is not resold as retail service.

Removed the original text that broadly defined 'public utility' and its exceptions, replacing the entire definition section with the new language.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that exempt green hydrogen entities must still comply with state and federal grid interconnection and registration requirements.

SCOPE

Changed the document from an 'Engrossed' version ready for signature to a 'Proposed Committee Substitute' version, indicating it has been amended by the full committee.

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MINOR

The bill was amended to add a new requirement that any project under this act must include a natural gas component for power generation. Additionally, the effective date was moved from November 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025, and an emergency clause was added to allow the law to take effect immediately upon passage.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to mandate the inclusion of natural gas in power generation projects, altering the specific type of energy infrastructure the bill supports.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement that projects under the act must utilize a natural gas component in their power generation capacity.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from November 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025.

Added an emergency clause declaring the act in full force immediately upon passage and approval.

Electric vehicles; directing establishment of minimum safety standards for charging stations; requiring reporting; directing rule promulgation; effective date.

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