SB 1192 increases the fee for alcohol and drug assessments from $160 to $200 per person. It also raises certification application fees for assessment personnel ($100-$200 initially, $25-$150 for renewal). The bill directs $15 of each assessment fee to the Department of Public Safety, with 90% (about $13.50) going to the Community-based Substance Abuse Revolving Fund and 10% ($1.50) covering administrative costs. This affects individuals required to undergo assessments (e.g., for driver license issues) and certified assessment professionals. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1391 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to adjust household income limits for families using the program. It increases the income threshold for the highest credit tier from $150,000 to $225,000 annually (with a $6,000 credit), adds a new $250,000+ bracket (capping credits at $5,000), and maintains lower tiers for lower-income households. The bill affects families paying private school tuition who qualify for the tax credit, capping the credit at actual tuition costs regardless of income. It also requires participating private schools to administer certain assessments to students, updating prior requirements. These changes apply to tax years 2024 onward and fiscal years 2026 onward.
HB 3237 amends Oklahoma's motor vehicle excise tax law to create a new exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who were awarded Gold Star status (indicating the veteran died in military service). This exemption directly affects eligible surviving spouses who own vehicles, removing the requirement to pay the standard excise tax on those vehicles. The bill adds this exemption as a new provision (section 11) to the existing list of tax exemptions in the statute. The key mechanism is eliminating the tax obligation for qualifying vehicles owned by these surviving spouses, with the exemption applying to vehicles registered in Oklahoma. The bill does not change other existing exemptions or tax rates.
HB 3409 names the legislation as the "Child Care Reform Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. The bill contains no substantive policy provisions or changes to child care programs, funding, or regulations. It is a procedural act that formally designates the bill's title and implementation timeline. This summary reflects only the administrative details provided in the bill text.
HB 3743 updates Oklahoma's criminal procedure for determining defendant competency. It defines "competent" as understanding charges and assisting defense, and "incompetent" as lacking that ability. The bill requires courts to hold competency hearings within a "reasonable period" (max 2 years or the maximum sentence for the charge), mandates outpatient evaluations before inpatient care when possible, and requires periodic progress reports for competency restoration. It specifically adds protocols for cases involving intellectual disability, involving the Office of Public Guardian and Developmental Disabilities Services. This directly affects defendants in criminal cases, courts, mental health providers, and public guardianship offices.
HB 3793 establishes new training hour requirements for nursing education programs in Oklahoma. It mandates that diploma programs for registered nurses must total 1,300-1,500 hours (including clinical training), while LPN-to-RN ladder programs must provide 600-700 additional nursing hours beyond LPN education. Non-nursing coursework in both program types is capped at 330 hours. The bill affects nursing programs seeking state approval and takes effect November 1, 2026.
This bill clarifies the definition of "municipal judge" in Oklahoma law for Section 129 of Title 20. It specifies that a municipal judge must be a full-time judge presiding over a court of record who is not actively practicing law as a licensed attorney. The definition applies to existing legal provisions governing municipal courts. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2026, and is currently in committee referral.
HB 4158 increases the income threshold for Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grants from $50,000 to $80,000 annually for students' parents (or $80,000 for independent students). This change directly affects Oklahoma residents whose family income previously exceeded $50,000 but now qualifies them for the $2,000 annual grant. The bill amends existing eligibility rules under Section 2632 of Oklahoma law, maintaining other requirements like full-time enrollment and institutional accreditation. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with emergency status.
HB 4473 is a procedural bill that names the "Poor Persons Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. It does not describe any substantive policy changes, services, or mechanisms affecting poor persons. The bill text only establishes the act's name and effective date without outlining specific provisions or impacts. Since it lacks concrete legislative content beyond naming and timing, no further policy summary can be provided.
HB 4149, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading proficiency three times yearly using state-approved tools. It prohibits the "three-cueing system" (meaning/structure/visual cues) in reading instruction and mandates evidence-based teaching methods focused on phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students who do not meet grade-level reading standards may be retained in third grade, with schools required to provide intensive reading instruction, notify parents, and establish acceleration classes for retained students. The law aims to ensure students achieve grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade through standardized assessments and targeted support.
SB 1438 requires private passenger auto insurers in Oklahoma to annually report financial data (like earned premiums, losses, and expenses) to the Insurance Commissioner. If an insurer’s combined underwriting profit over three years exceeds 5% above projected profit, it must refund the excess to policyholders. Refunds must be issued as cash or future premium credits within 60 days, distributed pro rata based on the final year’s earned premiums. This directly affects insurers writing personal auto policies, excluding commercial coverage, and aims to ensure profits align with policyholder benefits.
SB 1444 updates Oklahoma’s insurance rate review rules. It clarifies that rates in competitive markets cannot be deemed "excessive," while non-competitive market rates must meet stricter standards to avoid being labeled excessive (e.g., unreasonably high profits or service costs). Insurers must file rates 30 days before effective date in competitive markets (up from 60 days), with the Insurance Commissioner allowed to request additional time or disapprove rates. The bill also extends deadlines for advisory organizations to submit data and updates statutory references. It directly affects all insurers filing rates in Oklahoma, aiming to streamline reviews while maintaining rate fairness standards.
