Oklahoma Bills

HB 2150 makes it a crime to establish unauthorized camps, directly affecting individuals or groups setting up such camps without authorization. The bill changes the penalty for this offense from up to one year in jail to a maximum of thirty days. This amendment, adopted by the committee, clarifies the specific criminal punishment for violating this provision. The bill focuses on defining and penalizing unauthorized camp setups under criminal law.

HB 2196 establishes a flexible benefit allowance for Oklahoma school district employees to cover health insurance and other benefits for themselves and their dependents. The state must appropriate annual funds to cover the allowance, calculated based on the number of eligible employees (including certified personnel and support staff like bus drivers or janitors) and their dependents. School districts must offer a flexible benefits plan including health coverage, allowing employees to use the allowance for health insurance or receive unused portions as taxable pay. The bill also updates definitions of "dependent" and requires the State Board of Education to report on self-insured health plans used by school districts.

HB 2715 increases penalties for misusing laser pointers by targeting two specific behaviors: pointing lasers at law enforcement officers during official duties and aiming lasers at aircraft or flight paths. For first offenses, fines rise to $500 for officers and $1,000 for aircraft, with prison terms up to one year or two years, respectively; repeat offenses carry higher fines ($1,000-$5,000) and longer prison terms (up to five years). The law explicitly exempts authorized personnel, including aircraft manufacturers, military personnel, and emergency signaling devices. It directly affects individuals who misuse laser pointers near officers or aircraft, not the general public using lasers responsibly. The bill amends Oklahoma’s Laser Safety Act without creating new prohibitions.

HB 2615, the Oklahoma Community Health Worker Act, establishes a voluntary certification program for community health workers through the State Department of Health. It defines key terms, requires the Department to set standards for certification, and outlines specific duties for certified workers, such as connecting communities with health services and identifying resource gaps. The bill also mandates the Department to set fees for exams, initial certification, and renewals, with rules to be established by the State Commissioner of Health. The Act takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects community health workers seeking formal recognition and the State Department of Health managing the certification process.

HB 2034 creates a Regional Rural Transportation Task Force to address transportation challenges in western Oklahoma's NORTPO and SORTPO regions. The Task Force, composed of 11 members including legislators, transportation directors, health authorities, and rural development representatives, must analyze data gaps, coordinate stakeholder efforts, and develop pilot programs by December 2026. Key provisions require launching three pilot programs focused on volunteer drivers, mileage reimbursement, and real-time transit software, while expanding mobility coordination staff in rural areas and identifying funding for broadband improvements to support transit technology. The Task Force must submit a final report to state leaders by October 1, 2026, detailing progress and recommendations.

HB 2127 prohibits imprisoning defendants for inability to pay court fines, fees, or costs in criminal cases. It requires courts to offer payment plans through a new "court cost compliance program," managed by court cost compliance liaisons who help defendants arrange installment payments and suspend enforcement during plan compliance. The program allows payments via phone, mail, or online, specifies handling of returned payments or fraud, and mandates that courts release warrants once payments are made or a plan is established. This directly affects individuals with outstanding criminal court costs in Oklahoma.

HB 2124 establishes a formal system to evaluate Oklahoma judges' performance. It creates an Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation and a Judicial Performance Evaluation Council (JPEC) to administer surveys from the public and peers, require judges to complete self-evaluations, and set performance standards. Judges who fail two consecutive evaluations or skip required programs lose confidentiality, making their failure publicly available on the Supreme Court website. The Supreme Court must also issue annual reports on the program to state leaders, detailing evaluation results and actions taken. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma district and appellate judges.

HB 2366 creates a $5,000 annual income tax credit for qualified employees working in Oklahoma's biomanufacturing sector. It directly affects employees who hold ABET-accredited degrees or are licensed professional engineers, hired on or after January 1, 2026, by qualified employers (businesses primarily in biomanufacturing). The credit can be claimed for up to five years total, reducing state income tax liability but not below zero, with unused credits carryable to future years. This policy aims to support workforce development in biomanufacturing by providing tax relief to eligible employees.

HB 2196 creates a flexible benefit allowance for Oklahoma school district employees to cover health care costs for themselves and their dependents. It requires school districts to offer cafeteria-style benefit plans including health coverage, with funding calculated based on the number of eligible employees (including support staff like bus drivers and janitors) and their dependents. The allowance can be used for premiums on health, dental, or other qualified insurance plans, and any unused portion is paid as taxable income to the employee. This applies to all school districts participating in the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board plan or self-insured health programs.

SB 1070, "Kenny's Law," requires all gates enclosing livestock areas to remain closed at all times, except during reasonable access for ingress/egress, maintenance, livestock movement, or necessary property access. It directly affects property owners, utility companies, and agencies managing livestock enclosures. Violations - leaving gates open, damaging gates, or allowing livestock escape - carry misdemeanor penalties of up to $2,500 fines or 1 year in jail for repeat offenses. The bill failed committee in February 2025 and would have taken effect November 2025 if passed.

SB 545 would transfer oversight of massage therapy licensing and regulation from Oklahoma's State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. This change affects licensed massage therapists, massage therapy schools, and establishments providing massage services, as they would now fall under the chiropractic board's authority. Key provisions include moving all related powers, records, funds, and administrative rules to the chiropractic board, updating definitions to reference the new regulatory body, and modifying license requirements and disciplinary procedures. The bill also increases massage therapy license fees and establishes new requirements for massage therapy establishments. The bill was introduced in February 2025 but failed in committee on February 17, 2025.

HB 2063 amends Oklahoma's Nursing Practice Act to clarify definitions and restrict the use of specific nursing titles. The bill explicitly states that only licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) may use the title "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse" or its abbreviation "APRN," along with specialty titles like "Certified Nurse Practitioner" (CNP) or "Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist" (CRNA). Unauthorized use of these titles or abbreviations is defined as a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail per offense. This directly affects nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals seeking to use these licensed designations. The bill focuses on standardizing title usage to ensure public safety and professional accountability under Oklahoma law.