HB 3957 is a procedural bill that names itself the "Oklahoma Teacher Pay Reform Act of 2026" and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026. The bill contains no substantive policy provisions or mechanisms for teacher pay reform, as it is not codified in the Oklahoma Statutes. It only establishes the act's title and effective date without describing any specific changes to teacher compensation, funding, or eligibility. This appears to be a naming resolution rather than a policy bill with concrete provisions.
HB 4284 creates the Oklahoma Animal Abuse Offender Registry, requiring the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to maintain a public database of individuals convicted of specific animal cruelty crimes. It directly affects people convicted of offenses listed in Title 21 (e.g., torture, maiming, or depriving animals of food/shelter), including those with deferred sentences. The registry will include personal details like name, address, and offense date, with names removed after 2 years for first offenses or 5 years for subsequent offenses (unless reconvicted). District courts must submit case information electronically within 30 days of conviction, and a public website must be operational by November 1, 2027. The bill does not change punishment levels but adds this transparency measure for animal cruelty convictions.
HB 2935 adds diapers to Oklahoma's list of sales tax-exempt items under the state's tax code. This change directly affects consumers purchasing diapers for personal use, exempting those sales from the state's 4.5% sales tax. The bill amends Section 1357.6 of Oklahoma's Sales Tax Code to include diapers as a qualifying exemption, aligning with existing exemptions for items like food, medicine, and baby supplies. The exemption applies to all diaper sales made after the bill's effective date.
HB 3241, the THRIVE Act, requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop a mandatory character education curriculum for all public schools and charter schools (pre-K through 12th grade) by the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must teach 15 specific character traits and values, including honesty, respect for family, religious faith, lifelong marriage, sexual abstinence outside marriage, and patriotism, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide parents an opt-out option for their children and use only materials approved by the Department, with districts reporting compliance to the State Board of Education annually. The bill also mandates an "honor roll" for schools successfully implementing the program and requires the Department to publish approved resources and program impacts online.
HB 3300 requires Oklahoma motor carriers to verify that trailers they tow have active liability insurance before use, using methods like certificates, electronic systems, or written confirmations. Carriers must retain verification documentation for two years and provide it to state agencies upon request. If an accident occurs involving an uninsured trailer they failed to verify, the law creates a rebuttable presumption of negligence against the carrier, unless they prove they conducted reasonable verification. This directly affects commercial trucking companies operating in Oklahoma, mandating new insurance checks to reduce liability risks for uninsured trailers.
HB 3389 limits how landlords in Oklahoma can charge for pets. Landlords may charge either a refundable deposit covering actual pet damage (which must be returned if no damage occurs) or a nonrefundable one-time fee for having a pet, but cannot charge both or impose recurring "pet rent" fees. The law directly affects renters with pets and landlords, prohibiting ongoing monthly charges for pet ownership. It takes effect November 1, 2026, and aims to prevent excessive or recurring pet-related fees.
HB 3394 creates a public directory of large data centers in Oklahoma, requiring electric utilities and water providers to report annual electricity and water usage data to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The directory, updated yearly on the Commission's website, will include facility location, electricity use (in megawatt-hours), peak electrical demand, water usage (in gallons), and water source. This affects hyperscale data centers (defined as facilities over 50,000 sq ft with at least 10,000 MWh annual electricity use) and the utilities/water providers serving them. The law protects sensitive infrastructure details while making aggregated data publicly accessible, with penalties for non-compliance.
HB 3387 would amend Oklahoma's sales tax code to add prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses to the list of items exempt from sales tax. This change specifically affects consumers purchasing these items with a valid prescription, expanding an existing exemption for prescription drugs (covered under Section 1357, paragraph 9). The bill modifies the tax code to explicitly include these vision care products under the same exemption as prescription medications. It does not alter tax rates or create new administrative requirements, simply extending the current exemption to cover these items.
HB 3516, the Oklahoma Courts Reform Act of 2026, allows the Council on Judicial Complaints to fund judges' attendance at professional development programs. It directly affects state, municipal, and administrative judges by automatically counting these Council-funded programs toward their required continuing legal education. The bill amends Oklahoma law to let the Council partner with organizations to develop and run these programs without needing separate approval for each event. This change streamlines judicial training compliance while improving access to professional development. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3785 prohibits roofing contractors from advertising or promising to pay insurance deductibles or compensate homeowners for services as an inducement. It directly affects roofing contractors, insurers, and homeowners by requiring written disclosures about this rule in initial estimates. The bill shifts enforcement: the registrar can only receive and forward complaints to the Oklahoma Insurance Department and Attorney General for investigation, not investigate violations itself. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 4474 names a future law as the "Oklahoma Professions and Occupations Act of 2026" and sets its effective date for November 1, 2026. This is a procedural bill that does not change existing regulations or create new requirements for professions or occupations. It establishes the official title for a future statute but contains no substantive policy changes. The bill is purely administrative, preparing for potential future legislation under this named act.
This bill increases Oklahoma's standard homestead property tax exemption from $1,000 to $2,315, with automatic inflation adjustments every five years starting January 1, 2032. It also creates a new $2,315 exemption for heads of households earning under $30,000 annually in total household income (excluding certain benefits like Social Security or stimulus payments). Homeowners must apply annually for the income-based exemption unless aged 65+, with income verification required through the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
