Emergency weather response; creating the Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response and Tracking Regulatory Act of 2025; defining terms; effective date.

Renamed the act from 'Severe Weather Media Tracking and Research Regulatory Act' to 'Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response and Tracking Regulatory Act' to reflect broader emergency response purposes.

Changed 'Field research team' definition to 'Professional Severe Weather Tracker' and removed the requirement for National Science Foundation or National Institute of Science and Technology sanctioning.

Expanded 'Qualified institution for higher education' to include federal and state research programs in severe weather, not just colleges and universities.

Broadened 'Significant weather event' definition to include severe thunderstorm warnings in addition to tornadoes, tornado emergencies, red flag fire warnings, and flash flood warnings.

Reorganized section numbering and structure, moving vehicle identification and equipment requirements to Section 3 and licensing provisions to Section 4.

Added requirement for Professional Severe Weather Trackers to submit to electronic national criminal history record checks.

Added provisions allowing storm chasing without a license and restricting license use to certain purposes.

Changed the bill title and shortened the long descriptive title to a more concise name that emphasizes tracking and research.

Narrowed the definition of 'significant weather event' to focus on confirmed tornadoes, tornado emergencies, and specific severe weather warnings rather than including risk level days.

Created two distinct eligibility tracks: media outlet affiliation requires at least 5 years of experience, while higher education affiliation requires at least 1 year of experience.

Simplified vehicle equipment requirements to allow green and yellow flashing lights visible from 500 feet, with clearer marking requirements.

Added mandatory criminal background checks for all license applicants.

Changed the required supporting letter from a chief meteorologist to a dean or director for higher education affiliates.

Added requirement for electronic national criminal history record check for higher education affiliates.

Maintained the authority of the Oklahoma Insurance Department to license, suspend, or revoke licenses for violations.

Updated the committee substitute designation from 'Proposed Oversight' to standard 'Committee Substitute' and changed the request number from 13209 to 13278

Added mandatory criminal background check requirement pursuant to Oklahoma Statutes Section 150.9 of Title 74

Added requirement for hiring entity to provide letter confirming the tracker's knowledge, experience, and training

Added mandatory emergency driving course requirement from higher education or private driving school, required at initial licensing and every renewal

Increased minimum vehicle insurance requirement to $1,000,000 combined single liability coverage

Added new requirement for distinctive markings on primary vehicles of professional severe weather trackers