Senate Bill 672 amends Oklahoma's emergency management laws, specifically limiting the Governor's authority to close businesses during a state of emergency related to a pandemic. The bill prohibits the Governor from ordering business closures without documented scientific evidence showing the business directly contributes to the spread of disease. Furthermore, it requires the Governor to provide businesses with notice and an opportunity for a hearing before issuing any executive order to close them.
SB 448 requires nonresident hunters to obtain written permission from Oklahoma's Wildlife Conservation Commission before using Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). It mandates the state agency to create a permit system, including a lottery for distributing hunting access, and establish rules for implementation. The bill directly affects out-of-state hunters seeking to hunt on state-managed WMAs, adding a formal authorization step previously not required. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 or jail time for first offenses, with repeat violations leading to hunting privilege suspension. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 808 amends Oklahoma's Physical Therapy Practice Act to clarify direct access to physical therapy services. The bill specifies that licensed physical therapists, including those working under direct-to-employer contracts, can evaluate and treat patients for up to 30 days without a referral from another healthcare practitioner. For treatment extending beyond 30 days, a referral is required from an updated list of providers, which now includes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. This legislation impacts licensed physical therapists and patients seeking direct physical therapy care.
Senate Bill 530 authorizes the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to establish the ODVA Foundation, a private, charitable, not-for-profit entity. This Foundation is intended to encourage financial contributions for the educational, training, and empowerment initiatives of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, directly benefiting Oklahoma's veterans, reservists, and their dependents. It can receive gifts and grants from various public and private sources to supplement state funding. The bill specifies that the Foundation must secure tax-exempt status and its financial records, excluding donor names, will be available for audit.
HB 1958 allows school district boards of education to submit an "Affidavit of Board Action" to the State Department of Education as proof of an action taken at a board meeting, in lieu of approved meeting minutes. This directly affects school boards and the State Department of Education. The affidavit must be signed by the district superintendent or assistant superintendent and a board officer, and include specific details like the meeting date and a summary of the action. The State Department of Education is required to accept these affidavits. However, this change does not exempt boards from keeping official meeting minutes as required by other state laws.
HB 1103 modifies the procedures for how the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) disposes of land and property it no longer needs. It requires the DOT to first offer surplus land that was a partial taking back to the original owner (or successor) at its original acquisition price for five years, or at fair market value afterward, extending the response time from 30 to 90 days. For total takings under three acres with only one abutting owner, that owner must also receive a similar offer. Additionally, the bill mandates the DOT to annually request federal waivers to sell long-held surplus land for less than fair market value if federal rules prevent it.
HB 1270 addresses the procedures and timeframes for the Alcoholic Law Enforcement (ABLE) Commission when handling the denial of alcoholic beverage licenses, affecting businesses applying for these permits. A key amendment to the bill removed a provision that would have resulted in the presumptive issuance of a license if the ABLE Commission failed to act within a specified time period. Therefore, the bill, as enacted, regulates ABLE's license denial process and sets timeframes without including automatic license approval as a consequence for agency inaction.
SB 1062 (2025) amends Oklahoma law to clarify broker compensation rules for real estate transactions. It allows brokers or property owners to offer payment to licensed Oklahoma real estate professionals for services like buying, selling, or leasing property, without violating duties to other parties. The bill explicitly states brokers aren’t required to charge separate fees or offer compensation, while confirming that fee-based compensation (e.g., based on sale price) doesn’t breach obligations. This law takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects brokers, property owners, and licensed real estate professionals in Oklahoma.
SB 1062 clarifies regulations regarding real estate broker compensation for licensed professionals in Oklahoma. The bill authorizes a broker or real estate owner of record to offer compensation to other licensed real estate professionals for services related to the purchase, lease, sale, transfer, or exchange of real estate in the state. It clarifies that receiving compensation based on a selling price or lease cost is not a breach of duty. The bill also states that brokers are not required to charge separate fees for each service or to offer compensation to other professionals. This act is set to become effective on November 1, 2025.
This Oklahoma law clarifies and expands the authority of city and town governments to develop and manage recreational areas on lakes and adjacent land. It allows municipal leaders to build and operate marinas, docks, and boathouses, as well as lease private lots for these recreational purposes, provided the fees charged reflect fair market value. The bill also permits cities to contract with outside groups to manage these properties and ensures that leasing such land does not legally count as abandoning or declaring the property surplus. These changes aim to streamline how municipalities can provide public amusement and recreation services without altering the primary public purpose of the land.
This bill officially renames Oklahoma's Reading Sufficiency Act to the Strong Readers Act and establishes a new Statewide Literacy Revolving Fund to finance reading-related initiatives. The legislation requires teacher preparation programs and certified teachers to complete specific training in the science of reading, which will be recognized as a micro-credential on their teaching certificates. It also mandates that schools screen students in grades K through 3 for reading difficulties and provides for the development of individualized intervention plans for those who need support. Additionally, the bill updates reporting requirements and removes certain provisions regarding student retention and exemptions from reading assessments.
This bill requires the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to review employee applications for credentials needed to work in licensed medical marijuana businesses. The law mandates that these credentials be issued only after a third-party vendor completes a national fingerprint-based background check and verifies the applicant's eligibility. If an application is rejected or denied, the Authority must provide a written explanation, and applicants have 30 days to resubmit missing information. The bill also grants the Authority the power to set costs for these services and protects third-party vendors from civil liability when acting in good faith.
