HB 4285 creates a dedicated revolving fund called the "Perinatal Quality Improvement Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Treasury. The fund will receive state and federal appropriations, donations, and grants to support the Oklahoma Department of Health in reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths and health complications. It allows the Department to collaborate with research groups across Oklahoma to improve maternal safety and health outcomes using these pooled resources. The fund is designed as a continuous funding source, not limited to annual budgets, to sustain long-term quality improvement efforts in perinatal care. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 3135 increases Oklahoma's homestead property tax exemption for homeowners. It raises the base exemption from $1,000 to $2,000 per homestead and adds a conditional $3,000 exemption if two conditions are met: (1) a county's ad valorem tax revenue grows by at least 5% compared to the prior year, and (2) the county commissioners approve the additional exemption. This bill directly affects homeowners in counties meeting the revenue growth threshold, effective January 1, 2027. The key mechanism requires both verified revenue growth and local government approval to trigger the higher exemption amount.
HB 4485 requires county assessors to value real property financed with federal low-income housing tax credits (under IRS Section 42) using the income-approach method for property tax assessments. It explicitly prohibits including the value of federal or state low-income housing tax credits when determining a property’s fair cash value. Property owners must provide written notice to the county assessor by January 1 each year if the property uses such credits. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies specifically to properties using federal tax credits for low-income housing development.
This bill helps Oklahoma homeowners displaced by turnpike construction by matching their new property tax burden to what they paid on their previous home. For the first three tax years after moving, eligible homeowners get an extra tax exemption equal to the difference between their old home's tax bill and their new home's tax bill. It applies specifically to those who owned a home purchased by the state's Department of Transportation for a turnpike project and now claim a new homestead exemption. The exemption begins for tax year 2027 and lasts three years.
SB 1482 creates the Oklahoma City National Memorial Education Revolving Fund, funded by fees from the sale of "Heart of the Heartland" special license plates. The fund will support curriculum materials and instruction about the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building for students across Oklahoma, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The bill amends existing law to redirect these license plate fees into the fund, ensuring dedicated, ongoing funding without annual budget limitations for this educational purpose.
HB 4146 expands paid maternity leave eligibility to full-time school employees in Oklahoma who have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past year. This includes employees in public school districts, technology center districts, rehabilitation services, correctional facilities, and juvenile affairs. Eligible employees receive six weeks of paid leave immediately after childbirth, which supplements but does not replace existing sick leave for pregnancy-related needs. The bill requires state funding through a revolving fund or allocated education budget to cover the leave costs, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 3981 creates a program to provide financial incentives to full-time prosecutors working in Oklahoma's designated high-need localities. Eligible prosecutors can receive up to $50,000 over five years, with potential additional $10,000 for each two-year service extension beyond that period, subject to available funding. To qualify, prosecutors must agree to a service obligation; leaving early requires repaying funds proportionally. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, managed by the District Attorneys Council, which determines high-need areas based on factors like population size, remoteness, and recruitment challenges.
SB 1705 prohibits Oklahoma cities and towns from using public funds to pay nonprofit organizations that collect public donations to cover defendants' bail bonds. It directly affects local governments and nonprofits that handle bail payments through public funding. The bill allows taxpayers or residents to sue to stop such spending and recover attorney fees if they win the case. The law takes effect November 1, 2026, and would be codified under Oklahoma Statutes Title 11, Section 27-117.2.
HB 3694 requires Oklahoma counties to use a new form for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses when purchasing a new home. The form verifies their prior exemption from property taxes on a previous homestead under Oklahoma Constitution Sections 8E and 8F. County assessors must then update property records to maintain the exemption on the new home. This policy directly affects disabled veterans and surviving spouses who buy property, ensuring their tax exemption continues seamlessly after moving. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1780 restricts how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority can use revenue from toll projects. It requires that funds from specific turnpike projects be kept in separate accounts and cannot be diverted to other projects or bonds. The bill also limits future bond issuances to be secured only by revenue from the exact project they fund, preventing cross-subsidization between turnpike projects. These changes apply to bonds issued after a specified date and do not authorize new turnpike construction.
