HB 1946 prohibits Oklahoma school districts from offering teaching contracts shorter than one school year to certified teachers, except when a teacher is hired after the school year has begun. This applies to all standard teaching positions requiring state certification, ensuring minimum annual employment terms. The law prevents districts from using short-term contracts to avoid long-term obligations, requiring contracts to cover the full school year unless hired mid-year. Exceptions only apply if a teacher is hired after the school year starts, in which case the contract extends to the end of that school year.
HB 1568 restricts access to grand jury transcripts to prevent misuse. It requires court approval for releasing transcripts to defense attorneys, prosecutors, or witnesses, and prohibits using them in unrelated civil cases. The bill mandates sealed court filings for transcript requests and closed hearings unless public interest outweighs secrecy needs. Violating these rules is a misdemeanor, and the law explicitly bans attorneys from using transcripts to benefit or harm parties in civil cases related to the original investigation. This directly affects legal teams, witnesses, and courts handling criminal and related civil proceedings.
HB 1780 removes the prohibition on carrying firearms in school parking areas (both public and private schools) that previously existed under Oklahoma law. It modifies rules for private schools by allowing concealed carry in school parking lots if firearms are stored locked in vehicles when unattended. The bill also updates policies for private school buses, permitting licensed individuals to carry firearms on school transportation with adopted school policies. These changes specifically affect school parking lots, school buses, and private school transportation policies, while maintaining existing restrictions on carrying firearms inside school buildings or on college campuses.
HB 2091 creates a refundable state income tax credit for Oklahoma residents who pay rent for their primary residence. Starting in 2026, eligible taxpayers can claim up to $110 annually, with future credit amounts adjusted yearly based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. To claim the credit, individuals must provide their landlord's name, rental address, and annual rent paid on a form required by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The credit applies to all qualifying renters, not just low-income households, and becomes effective November 1, 2025.
HB 1175 requires charitable organizations soliciting donations within Oklahoma to register annually with the Secretary of State before collecting funds, unless exempt. Charities expecting annual donations under $10,000 pay a $15 fee (split between the Attorney General and Secretary of State), while others pay $65 (with specific allocations to state funds). Organizations must disclose detailed public information, including leadership, expense breakdowns, fundraising methods, and donation use, with registration tied to annual tax filing deadlines. This bill directly affects all nonprofits soliciting in Oklahoma, adding registration and reporting requirements to protect donors and ensure transparency.
HB 1025 creates a dedicated revolving fund called the "Oklahoma Department of Corrections Prison Rodeo Revolving Fund" in the state treasury. This fund, which will not expire annually, is solely for restoring, rehabilitating, and expanding the prison rodeo arena operated by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The bill specifies that expenditures from the fund must be approved by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and paid via warrants. The legislation affects only the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' prison rodeo facility, not inmates or public policy.
HB 1260 prohibits sellers from charging extra fees (surcharges) for using credit or debit cards in consumer transactions, while allowing them to offer discounts for paying by cash or check. It requires any fee passed on for card use to appear as a separate line item on receipts. Certain entities - like private schools, municipalities, and public trusts - may charge limited service fees covering actual processing costs (e.g., bank fees, secure transaction costs), but only for card payments and not for cash/check. The bill applies to all Oklahoma consumer credit sales transactions and takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1109 prohibits detaining students for school absences and bans suspensions for truancy. It requires school districts to create progressive intervention plans (with three tiers) and send written notices to families for absences, replacing punitive measures. The bill also limits court involvement by allowing reports of absences only under specific circumstances and prevents placing students in institutional facilities solely for truancy. These changes directly affect students, schools, and juvenile courts in Oklahoma, shifting focus from punishment to support systems for attendance issues.
HB 1301 creates a nine-member Task Force on Young Voter Engagement, composed entirely of Oklahomans aged 18-24 (three appointed by the Governor, three by the House Speaker, and three by the Senate President). The task force will study low voter turnout among Oklahomans under 30 and submit recommendations for potential legislation by December 1, 2027. Meetings will follow Oklahoma's Open Meetings Act, and the task force must publish its findings and proposed actions before its December 31, 2027, expiration. This is a procedural bill focused on gathering data, not implementing direct policy changes.
HB 1140 allows Oklahoma residents with a valid lifetime hunting or fishing license from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to add a "Lifetime Hunting," "Lifetime Fishing," or "Lifetime Hunting and Fishing" designation to their state driver license or ID card. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of their lifetime license (original or digital certificate), and the designation can be added during license issuance/renewal at no cost or later for a $25 fee. The designation will appear as a symbol or text chosen by Service Oklahoma, and it will be removed if the underlying hunting/fishing license is revoked. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1573 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services (DHS) to build, maintain, and oversee a secure facility for handling confidential information. The bill defines this facility as a physically and procedurally restricted area where sensitive data - like personal records - can be stored, processed, or discussed only by authorized DHS personnel. It directly affects DHS operations by mandating this facility’s creation, with implementation required by November 1, 2025. The bill focuses solely on administrative infrastructure, not on changing service eligibility or funding for residents.
HB 1478 changes how Oklahoma verifies signatures for citizen-initiated bills and referendums. It requires the Secretary of State to exclude specific invalid signatures from counts, including those from nonresidents, unverified sheets, duplicate signatures, signatures without a printed line, and signatures not matching voter records. The bill also allows the Secretary to verify signatures while collections are still ongoing and permits purchasing necessary software without standard procurement rules. This law takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting petitioners seeking to place measures on the ballot.
