HB 2115: Public assistance programs; directing the Department of Human Services to administer certain programs; federal funds; requirements; transferring certain powers, duties, records, assets and monies to the Department; effective date. - Oklahoma

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

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift administrative responsibility for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. This change centralizes program management under Human Services, which also handles eligibility certification and contractor oversight. Additionally, the bill clarifies that grants are limited to $3,000 and must be based on a required energy audit, while loan terms and weatherization fund definitions remain largely consistent with the original version.

Scope change

The scope of administration changed from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services, altering which agency manages grants, audits, and contractor compliance.

SCOPE

Administrative authority for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund was transferred from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

REQUIREMENT

Grant recipients must now undergo a mandatory energy audit of their principal residence before receiving assistance.

FISCAL

A specific grant cap of $3,000 per applicant was established, with income eligibility tied to 125% of federal poverty guidelines.

ENFORCEMENT

The Department of Human Services is now responsible for monitoring contractors, auditing financial records, and ensuring proper use of materials and workmanship.

House Committee Substitute → HB2115 (5-05-25) (THOMPSON) FS FA1.PDF · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes the administration of Oklahoma's energy conservation and weatherization programs by transferring responsibility from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. It also updates the statutory title to reflect these changes and clarifies the transfer of funds, records, and personnel between the two agencies.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, which now administers the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund, Weatherization Assistance Program, and Emergency Solutions Grants Program.

SCOPE

Administrative authority for energy conservation and weatherization programs was transferred from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

DEFINITION

The bill's title was updated to reflect the transfer of programs and the codification of new law under Title 56, Section 261.

TIMELINE

A transition team was established to coordinate the transfer of programs, funds, records, and employees between the two departments.

REQUIREMENT

Administrative rules governing the programs were transferred to the Department of Human Services and will be published in the Oklahoma Administrative Code under that department's title.

House Conference Committee Substitute → House Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to transition from a Conference Committee version to a House Committee Substitute, updating the legislative session details and removing references to the Senate. The substantive policy content regarding the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund and Weatherization Revolving Fund remains consistent, with the primary changes being the removal of the Senate sponsor and the reorganization of the text to reflect the House committee's review.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the revisions are procedural, shifting the document from a final conference agreement to a version pending further House committee action.

TECHNICAL

Removed the Senate sponsor (Thompson) and the 'Conference Committee' designation, indicating the bill is now in the House Committee stage.

Updated the legislative session header from the '2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)' to the '1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)'.

Condensed and reorganized the summary of the bill's purpose to remove redundant language and align with the House Committee Substitute format.

Reformatted the statutory text for Sections 2902 and 2903 to remove page footers and renumbering artifacts from the previous version.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 → House Conference Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from a 'Proposed Committee Substitute' to a 'Conference Committee Substitute,' indicating it has been finalized after resolving differences between legislative chambers. The session date was updated from the 1st Session of 2025 to the 2nd Session of 2026, reflecting a change in the legislative calendar. The bill's scope was significantly expanded to include the transfer of powers, duties, records, and assets from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services, while also adding new federal programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and Emergency Solutions Grants Program to the Department's portfolio.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from focusing solely on the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund to a broader mandate that includes administering multiple federal assistance programs and transferring administrative authority from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

TIMELINE

The legislative session date was changed from the 1st Session of 2025 to the 2nd Session of 2026.

SCOPE

The bill title and description were updated to reflect a wider range of responsibilities, including new federal programs and inter-agency transfers.

The Department of Human Services was designated to administer the Weatherization Assistance Program and Emergency Solutions Grants Program in addition to existing funds.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added to transfer specific powers, duties, records, assets, and monies from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

A transition team was created to coordinate the transfer of programs between the two departments, consisting of representatives from both agencies and community action agencies.

ENFORCEMENT

Administrative rules previously held by the Department of Commerce regarding these programs were transferred to the Department of Human Services.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from a full committee substitute version 1 to version 2, primarily involving administrative renumbering and a minor text cleanup. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new clause stating that loans under the program may remain unpaid for up to ten years before repayment is required, provided the property is sold or ownership is transferred. This extends the potential deferral period for loan recipients, offering greater financial flexibility for homeowners.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce's assistance loan and weatherization funds, but the new clause expands the conditions under which loan repayment can be deferred.

TIMELINE

Added a provision allowing loan repayment to be deferred indefinitely if the property is sold or ownership transferred, with a specific exception that loans must be repaid if not paid off within ten years.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header from 'FULLPCS1' to 'FULLPCS2' and changed the request number from 13062 to 13072.

Removed a redundant phrase 'No grant shall be awarded to any applicant with an annual income in excess of the amount specified in this subsection' which was likely a formatting error in the previous version.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was completely rewritten to replace the original text with a new version that clarifies the roles of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Human Services. The new text reorganizes the structure of the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund, the Energy Conservation Assistance Loan Fund, and the Weatherization Revolving Fund, while updating references to ensure consistency across the statutes.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on state energy conservation programs, but the specific statutory language governing these programs has been entirely replaced to improve clarity and alignment between different sections of the law.

REQUIREMENT

The entire text of the bill was deleted and replaced with a new version to correct formatting, align statutory references, and clarify the administrative responsibilities of the Department of Commerce and Human Services.

DEFINITION

The definitions and operational rules for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund, Loan Fund, and Weatherization Revolving Fund were rewritten to ensure consistent terminology and procedural requirements.

TECHNICAL

References to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Human Services were updated throughout the text to reflect current organizational structures and eliminate inconsistencies.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 8, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify its title and authors, then completely rewritten to shift the administration of the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. The new version establishes specific eligibility criteria based on income and property use, sets a $3,000 grant cap, and introduces a loan repayment mechanism with a lien on the home for borrowers who do not qualify for grants.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a general transfer of Commerce programs to a specific, detailed framework for administering weatherization grants and loans, with a clear division of labor between the Department of Human Services (eligibility/grants) and the Department of Commerce (loan fund).

SCOPE

Administrative authority was transferred from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services for the Energy Conservation Assistance Fund.

ELIGIBILITY

New requirements mandate that grants are only for the applicant's principal residence, which must not be income-producing, and the applicant must meet specific income limits (125% of poverty guidelines).

FISCAL

A maximum grant amount of $3,000 was established, and a lien on the property was created to secure loan repayments.

REQUIREMENT

The bill now requires an energy audit before any grant or loan is issued and defines specific types of weatherization work eligible for funding.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title and authorship lines were updated to reflect the Senate's addition of a co-sponsor.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 4 edits · May 8, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to transfer authority over federal weatherization and housing assistance programs from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. This shift moves the administration of specific federal funds, including the Weatherization Assistance Program and Emergency Solutions Grants, to the Department of Human Services, which will now handle eligibility requirements and fund disbursement.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from establishing a new Commerce Board and general economic development duties to focusing on the transfer of specific federal program responsibilities to the Department of Human Services.

SCOPE

Removed provisions creating a new Oklahoma Department of Commerce Board, defining its membership, quorum, and meeting procedures.

Added provisions transferring powers, duties, records, assets, and monies related to federal weatherization and housing programs from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the statutory language to designate the Department of Human Services as the entity responsible for determining eligibility requirements for homeowners seeking federal grants.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the Department of Human Services to receive and administer specific federal funds, including the Weatherization Assistance Program and Emergency Solutions Grants.

Public assistance programs; directing the Department of Human Services to administer certain programs; federal funds; requirements; transferring certain powers, duties, records, assets and monies to the Department; effective date.

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