Oklahoma Bills

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 2205: Marriage; ceremonies; effective date.

HB 2205 clarifies which religious officials can legally officiate marriage ceremonies in Oklahoma. It modifies the existing law by removing the phrase "of the Gospel" after "preacher" and updating the list of authorized officiants to include "deacon, elder of the Gospel, priest" instead of the previous wording. This is a technical correction to the bill's language, not a substantive policy change affecting new groups or altering marriage requirements. The bill focuses solely on precise wording for religious officiants performing ceremonies.

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 1017: Resolution; National Crime Victims' Rights Week; distribution.

This resolution declares April 6-12, 2025, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Oklahoma, with April 9 specifically designated as Victims’ Rights Day. It recognizes the annual observance and theme "Kinship, Connecting, and Healing" while affirming the state’s commitment to treating crime victims with fairness and respect throughout the justice process. The resolution requires the Oklahoma House of Representatives to distribute copies to the Victims Services Division of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council. As a ceremonial measure, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies but serves to symbolically support victims’ rights advocacy.

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 559: Funeral services licensing; permitting sales of merchandise without license. Effective date.

SB 559 amends Oklahoma's Funeral Services Licensing Act to clarify that businesses selling funeral merchandise (like caskets or burial supplies) without providing other funeral services no longer need a funeral licensing permit. This directly affects retail sellers of these items who do not offer full funeral services, such as embalming or directing funerals. The bill updates Section 396.2 of the law to explicitly exclude such standalone merchandise sales from the licensing requirements. The change takes effect November 1, 2025.

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 1013: Proclamation; April 2025; National Poetry Month.

This resolution (HR 1013) proclaims April 1-30, 2025, as National Poetry Month in Oklahoma. It encourages state officials, educators, librarians, and Oklahomans to observe the month through events and activities celebrating poetry's cultural and educational value. The resolution has no binding effect or new policy requirements; it is a symbolic recognition aligning with the Academy of American Poets' established observance. It directly affects no specific group or program, serving only to promote awareness of poetry.

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SR 13: Resolution; recognizing businessman, banker and accomplished journalist Russell M. Perry; and praising his significant contributions to the state.

SR 13 is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill) passed unanimously by the Oklahoma Senate on April 7, 2025. It recognizes Russell M. Perry, a businessman, banker, journalist, and founder of Perry Publishing & Broadcasting (Oklahoma's largest African American broadcasting company), for his lifetime contributions to the state. The resolution specifically highlights his founding of *The Black Chronicle* newspaper, his role as Oklahoma's first Black Secretary of Commerce (1999), and his civic leadership. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is solely a formal expression of praise for Perry's legacy.

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 572: Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology; requiring the cessation of the technology business financing program; directing transfer of remaining funds. Effective date.

SB 572 ends Oklahoma's technology business financing program, which previously provided funding to help local businesses commercialize innovations. The bill requires all remaining program funds and annual royalty payments (from businesses that received funding) to be transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund by November 1, 2025. This affects OCAST (the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology), businesses that had received program funding, and state finances. The program officially ceases upon the bill's effective date, redirecting all unused funds to general state revenue.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Technology

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1024: Unfair Sales Act; definition; low profit margins; effective date.

HB 1024 amends Oklahoma's Unfair Sales Act by removing the requirement for retailers to include a 6% markup when calculating "cost to the retailer" for pricing purposes. This change directly affects retailers and wholesalers operating in Oklahoma, simplifying how they determine base costs for goods. The bill deletes specific language about adding a 6% markup to cover business costs, streamlining the definition of "cost to the retailer" in the statute. The amendment takes effect on November 1, 2025.

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 2205: Marriage; ceremonies; effective date.

HB 2205 amends Oklahoma law to clarify who can officiate marriage ceremonies. The bill adds "deacon, elder of the Gospel, priest" to the list of authorized religious leaders allowed to perform weddings, replacing prior language that included "deacon, elder" and "priest" in a different phrasing. This change directly affects religious leaders in Oklahoma who wish to legally conduct marriage ceremonies. The amendment specifies the exact titles recognized under state law for officiating weddings, without altering marriage eligibility or rights.

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 2402: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Advanced Manufacturing Incentive Act of 2025; time period; eligibility requirements; collaboration.

HB 2402 creates a tax incentive program to attract manufacturers of low-grade waste heat electrification technology (which recovers heat below 200°C for energy use) to Oklahoma. Eligible manufacturers investing $10 million+ with 50+ jobs receive up to 30% corporate tax abatement for 5 years (Tier 1), or $20 million+ with 100+ jobs for up to 50% (Tier 2), both renewable for another 5 years. The program also provides up to $20 million in direct grants over 5 years, prioritizing projects in federal New Markets Tax Credit areas or existing manufacturing hubs, with annual spending capped at $8 million. Manufacturers must submit business plans, job commitments, and report annually on investments and job creation, while the state must collaborate with educational institutions to develop workforce training. The program expires on July 1, 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1020: Office of the State Treasurer; exempting Office from property purchasing and leasing requirements for certain purpose. Effective date. Emergency.

Senate Bill 1020 exempts the Office of the State Treasurer from standard state agency property transaction rules. It allows the Treasurer's Office to purchase or lease real property without following the usual requirements for other state agencies, such as obtaining appraisals over $25, publishing sale notices, or securing prior approval from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. This change directly affects the Treasurer's Office by streamlining its property acquisition process. The bill amends existing statutes to specifically remove these procedural barriers for the Treasurer's Office only.

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 572: Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology; requiring the cessation of the technology business financing program; directing transfer of remaining funds. Effective date.

SB 572 ends Oklahoma's technology business financing program operated by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) effective November 1, 2025. It requires all remaining program funds and annual payments (like royalties or fees) to be transferred to the State Treasurer for the General Revenue Fund. This directly affects OCAST, which must cease program operations, and businesses that previously received financing or were required to pay royalties under the program. The bill makes no changes to program eligibility or new funding, only terminating the existing program and redirecting its remaining resources.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Technology

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 237: Commissioners of Land Office; requiring payment to certain counties in lieu of ad valorem tax. Effective date.

SB 237 requires Oklahoma's Commissioners of the Land Office to pay counties a yearly property tax equivalent when they own more than 10% of a county's land (by acreage) and are starting or renewing a lease on that land. The payment equals the county's current agricultural property tax rate per acre, as determined by the county assessor. County assessors must share this rate with the Land Office by September 1 each year, and the Land Office must pay the county by December 31. This payment is included in the minimum bid requirement for new or renewed leases. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Bill results