HB 3297: Wreckers and towing; creating the Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund; creating the Oklahoma Wrecker Services Division within the Department of Labor; effective date. - Oklahoma

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

MODERATE

The bill completely changed subject matter from regulating highway remediation services (cleanup) to regulating wreckers and towing services. The original version required cleanup companies to carry specific insurance and publish price lists, while the new version creates a new revolving fund within the Department of Labor, establishes a new Board to oversee towing rates, and transfers administrative authority from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Labor.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from environmental cleanup services to motor vehicle towing and wrecking services.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to highway remediation and cleanup services, including insurance requirements and price list publishing for cleanup companies.

FISCAL

Added the creation of the 'Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund' within the State Treasury to support the Department of Labor.

REQUIREMENT

Added the creation of the 'Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Board' to establish membership, terms, and rulemaking authority for the towing industry.

ENFORCEMENT

Transferred enforcement and administrative rulemaking authority from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Labor.

DEFINITION

Modified statutory definitions to align with the new towing and wrecker service framework rather than environmental cleanup.

Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill → Floor (House) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to change its focus from regulating wreckers and towing services to regulating highway remediation and cleanup services. The new version establishes insurance requirements, mandates a public price list for cleanup services, and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026, while removing all previous provisions related to the Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from the towing industry to the highway remediation and cleanup industry, changing the regulated entities and the specific services covered.

SCOPE

All provisions related to the Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund, the Oklahoma Wrecker Services Division, and the Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Board were removed.

Changed the subject matter from 'wreckers and towing' to 'highway remediation services' throughout the entire text.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for highway remediation and cleanup services to maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $3 million, including pollution liability.

Added a requirement for services to publish and maintain a searchable price list of their top 50 most frequently billed nonconsent services on a public website, updated annually.

TIMELINE

Established a specific effective date of November 1, 2026.

House Committee Substitute → Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill completely changed from regulating highway remediation services to regulating wreckers and towing services. The new version creates a new revolving fund, establishes a new division within the Department of Labor, and sets up a new Board to oversee towing rates and fees. It also transfers existing rules and powers to the Department of Labor.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from environmental cleanup services to vehicle towing and recovery services.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to highway remediation and cleanup services, including insurance requirements and price list rules for cleanup.

Changed the subject matter from environmental cleanup to vehicle towing, storage, and recovery.

FISCAL

Added the creation of the 'Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund' to manage funds for the new division.

REQUIREMENT

Added the creation of the 'Oklahoma Wrecker Services Division' within the Department of Labor to investigate consumer complaints.

Added the establishment of the 'Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Board' to set rates and rules for towing services.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions transferring enforcement duties and rulemaking authority from other agencies to the Department of Labor.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to replace the original 'Proposed Policy Committee Substitute' version with a 'House Committee Substitute.' The new version removes the standard committee header and replaces the detailed statutory text with a single, simplified effective date provision. This indicates the bill has been significantly altered, likely to align with other amendments or to simplify the text before final passage.

Scope change

The scope of the bill has been drastically reduced. The original version contained comprehensive new laws regarding insurance requirements, price list transparency, and lien enforcement for highway remediation services. The new version removes all these substantive operational rules, leaving only the effective date.

REQUIREMENT

Removed all requirements for highway remediation services to maintain specific liability insurance coverage.

Removed the mandate for companies to publish and maintain a searchable price list of their top 50 services.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the entire section establishing statutory liens for unpaid services, including rules for notice, filing, and enforcement.

DEFINITION

Removed the detailed definitions and operational rules for highway remediation services.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill structure from a multi-section act to a single section establishing an effective date of November 1, 2026.

Engrossed → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten by the Policy Committee to add a new lien system for highway cleanup services, replacing the previous version which only covered insurance and price list requirements. This change allows companies to place a legal claim on vehicles or property after performing cleanup work, but it strictly prohibits them from seizing or selling the property without a court order or owner consent.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded significantly from regulating insurance and pricing to creating a new property lien mechanism that attaches to vehicles and cargo involved in incidents.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new statutory lien allowing cleanup companies to claim the value of services on vehicles, cargo, or property interests involved in an incident.

Mandated that companies must send written notice of the lien to the vehicle owner, insurers, and lienholders within 10 business days of completing work.

Required filing a verified lien statement with the county clerk within 30 days to make the lien legally enforceable.

Prohibited companies from seizing, retaining, selling, or disposing of property unless they have the owner's written consent or a specific court order.

Allowed temporary retention of property only to prevent immediate environmental hazards or public safety threats.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the original text entirely, removing standalone sections on insurance and price lists and integrating them into a comprehensive new framework.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 9, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its progression from introduction to final passage, adding co-sponsors and changing the status from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed'. The substantive policy content regarding insurance requirements, price list rules, and lien rights remained consistent, though minor text adjustments were made to clarify the insurance type (changing 'workers' compensation' to 'commercial general liability') and the number of services listed on the price list (changing '100 most frequently billed' to 'top 50 most frequently billed nonconsent highway remediation services').

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability to highway remediation services remains unchanged; the modifications are primarily procedural updates reflecting the bill's legislative journey and minor clarifications to the insurance and pricing requirements.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to show the bill is 'Engrossed' and added co-sponsors (Woods of the Senate), indicating it has passed both chambers.

Minor text formatting and line breaks were adjusted throughout the document to align with standard legislative formatting for engrossed bills.

REQUIREMENT

The required insurance type for highway remediation services was changed from 'workers' compensation' to 'commercial general liability' that includes pollution liability coverage.

The requirement for a public price list was narrowed from listing the '100 most frequently billed services' to the 'top 50 most frequently billed nonconsent highway remediation services'.

Wreckers and towing; creating the Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Revolving Fund; creating the Oklahoma Wrecker Services Division within the Department of Labor; effective date.

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