SB 380 requires the Oklahoma State Capitol to prominently display a monument of the Ten Commandments, mandating that the Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, and House Speaker determine its design, placement, security, and funding within one year. The bill specifies that only donated funds may be used for the monument's construction and prohibits relocation without approval from three-fourths of both legislative chambers and the Governor. It creates a felony offense for knowingly damaging or destroying the monument and authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to defend the display legally if challenged in court. The bill takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.
SB 228 creates a new "covenant marriage" option in Oklahoma, requiring couples to sign a specific Declaration of Intent (affirming lifelong commitment), complete premarital counseling with a minister or counselor, and file the document with their marriage license application. Existing marriages can be converted to covenant marriages by following similar steps: signing the Declaration of Intent and completing counseling. The bill also provides a tax credit for couples in covenant marriages, which is non-refundable, can be carried forward, and must be claimed via a form filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. This affects couples choosing or converting to covenant marriages, with no changes to standard marriage requirements.
SB 456, titled the "Abolition of Abortion Act," redefines homicide under Oklahoma law to include unborn children as "human beings" while explicitly excluding legal abortions and standard medical procedures from homicide charges. It modifies homicide (21 O.S. §691) and wrongful death (12 O.S. §1053) laws to apply the same legal standards to cases involving unborn children as to born individuals, but exempts life-saving medical procedures for the mother and spontaneous miscarriages. The bill also clarifies that mothers cannot be prosecuted for causing fetal death unless they committed another crime, and updates duress defense provisions (21 O.S. §156) to apply to mothers charged with harm to unborn children. These changes aim to align legal protections for unborn children with those for born persons under existing criminal and civil law.
HB 2206 updates Oklahoma's law enforcement retirement system eligibility rules. It specifically allows school resource officers employed by public schools to join the system if they elect participation by November 30, 2025. The bill also clarifies membership definitions for existing law enforcement roles (like highway patrol officers and state investigators) and retirement eligibility requirements based on service years or age. These changes directly affect current and future Oklahoma law enforcement personnel participating in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System.
HB 1268 creates the Oklahoma Public Employees Deferred Option Plan, allowing eligible emergency medical personnel (including EMTs, paramedics, and deputy sheriffs/jailers) with at least 20 years of service under the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) to delay receiving retirement benefits while continuing to work. Participants may defer benefits for up to five years, during which employer contributions continue (with municipal contributions split between OPERS and the new plan), and they receive cost-of-living adjustments. Upon ending participation, they can choose a lump sum payment, an annuity, or other approved payment method from their accrued benefit balance. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1523 creates a pilot program allowing Oklahoma public schools to offer telehealth mental health services to students through the State Department of Education. It requires the Department to issue requests for proposals to school districts, with districts able to opt in voluntarily. Key provisions include a $25,000 funding cap per participating district, mandatory parental consent before services are provided, and a requirement for the Department to seek external funding. The program is designed to expand student mental health access in schools through telehealth, with reporting requirements to the Legislature.
HB 2116 amends Oklahoma law to clarify membership requirements for the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System. It defines who qualifies as a "member," specifically including commissioned law enforcement officers from agencies like the Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation, and State Fire Marshal, along with certain support staff. The bill specifies eligibility criteria such as meeting physical/medical standards, passing background checks, and adhering to employment classification rules. This is a procedural clarification of existing retirement system definitions, not a change to benefit amounts or funding.
HB 2193 adjusts cost-of-living increases for retirees in seven Oklahoma public pension systems (firefighters, police, judges, law enforcement, teachers, and general public employees). It provides tiered annual increases of 4% (for pre-2018 retirees), 2% (2018-2023 retirees), or 0% (post-2023 retirees) on the first $60,000 of their annual retirement income, effective July 1, 2026. The bill replaces prior COLA rules and offsets any previous increases from repealed sections. It directly affects current retirees in these systems who will see adjusted benefit payments based on their retirement date.
SB 545 transfers the regulation of massage therapy in Oklahoma from the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. This includes moving all related records, funds, responsibilities, and administrative rules to the new board. The bill updates licensing requirements for massage therapists, establishes a mandatory license for massage therapy businesses, and modifies disciplinary procedures. It also revises definitions of key terms like "massage therapy" and "massage therapy establishment" to align with the new regulatory structure.
HB 1936 increases Oklahoma's State Board of Education membership from seven to eleven members and modifies appointment rules. It requires six members appointed by the Governor (one per congressional district and one statewide), two by the House Speaker (a rural resident and a former small-district superintendent), and two by the Senate President (a rural resident and a former large-district superintendent). The bill also adds eligibility requirements: members must have a high school diploma or equivalent, cannot serve on a local school board, and must complete mandatory training without fees. The changes take effect January 25, 2027, terminating current terms and requiring new appointments within 30 days.
HB 2366 creates a $5,000 annual income tax credit for qualified employees working in Oklahoma's biomanufacturing sector, available for up to five years total per employee. It directly affects new employees (not previously working in the sector) who hold relevant engineering degrees from ABET-accredited programs or hold a Professional Engineer license. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and cannot reduce tax liability below zero, with unused credits carryable to subsequent years. Employers must be "qualified" (engaged in biomanufacturing), and employees must meet specific education or licensing criteria to qualify.
HB 1132 creates Oklahoma's Industrial Access Improvement Grant Program, providing state funding for infrastructure projects that enhance industrial site accessibility. It directly affects eligible municipalities with populations over 750,000 (per the 2020 Census), requiring the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to administer grants for roadway expansions, bridge upgrades, freight corridor improvements, and other access-related construction. The bill establishes a revolving fund in the state treasury to support these grants, mandates an application process with project descriptions and local matching requirements, and requires the Department to allocate funds based on project merit. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025.
