SB 893, the Military Installation and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2025, prohibits foreign entities from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (designated as "foreign adversaries") from purchasing, holding, renting, or acquiring agricultural land or critical infrastructure in Oklahoma. It defines "critical infrastructure" to include energy systems, water supplies, telecommunications, transportation networks (like airports and highways), and cybersecurity systems. The bill requires foreign principals to register ownership, mandates the sale or divestiture of existing holdings within specific timeframes, and grants the Attorney General authority to enforce these rules and pursue legal action. This directly affects foreign-owned businesses or governments seeking to invest in Oklahoma's agricultural or infrastructure sectors.
SB 2026 amends Oklahoma law to allow veterans' grandchildren to access military discharge records (DD 214 forms) held by county clerks. The bill expands existing access rights, which previously permitted only veterans, spouses, children, or legal representatives, to explicitly include grandchildren. County clerks must still keep these records confidential and separate from public files, requiring proper identification or court orders for viewing. The change takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting veterans' grandchildren seeking access to these military service records.
SB 1533 amends Oklahoma's veteran burial assistance laws to require that veterans receiving burial aid must have been residents of Oklahoma at the time of death. This change applies to both the Indigent Veteran Burial Program (Section 34) and the Dignity in Burial Act (Section 36), adding a new eligibility criterion that was not previously required. The bill does not alter the $1,000 reimbursement limit or other existing requirements, such as honorable discharge, death in Oklahoma, or documentation of burial details. It directly affects veterans who died in Oklahoma but did not meet the residency requirement, excluding them from state burial assistance programs. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.
HB 3428 requires Oklahoma employers with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees to display a veterans benefits poster in the workplace. The poster, created by the Oklahoma Department of Labor in collaboration with the Division of Veterans Services, must list specific resources including mental health services, education programs, tax benefits, veteran driver licenses, unemployment insurance eligibility, legal aid, and the VA Crisis Line contact. Employers must display the poster in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and directly affects large employers statewide by mandating clear access to veteran support services.
SB 32, the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act, would have revised educational assistance benefits for Oklahoma National Guard members. It aimed to review certain enrollment or program fees, establish a maximum fee cap, and adjust retention eligibility requirements for the program. The bill sought to make educational support more predictable and affordable for service members. However, it died in conference on May 30, 2025, meaning it did not become law.
