HB 2115 transfers administration of Oklahoma's Energy Conservation Assistance Fund from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Human Services. It provides grants of up to $3,000 for weatherization work (like insulation, storm windows, and structural repairs) to low-income elderly and handicapped homeowners who meet income guidelines (125% of federal poverty level). The bill requires an energy audit before grants are issued, prioritizes applicants with greatest need, and establishes a revolving fund for ongoing program funding. This directly affects qualifying homeowners seeking energy efficiency improvements to their primary residences.
SB 119 creates an investment rebate program for Oklahoma businesses making significant capital investments in specific energy sectors. It directly affects companies refining/manufacturing hydrogen (blue/green), generating emission-free power, or producing cleaner fuels, requiring them to commit to at least $750 million in qualified capital expenditures with $150 million already spent. Eligible businesses receive rebates equal to 6.67% of qualifying investments, paid from the newly created Commerce Energy Manufacturing Activity Development Fund, which is initially funded with $50 million. The program expires on July 1, 2031, with unspent funds transferring to the General Revenue Fund.
HB 2157 creates the Oklahoma Agrivoltaics Advisory Committee to coordinate renewable energy development with agriculture. The 17-member committee includes representatives from farming, ranching, tribal governments, renewable energy, and state agencies, tasked with advising on policies that support both industries. It requires the Corporation Commission to submit a 2026 report identifying existing tools, policy options, and research needs for siting renewable projects without harming farming, ranching, or forestry. A new revolving fund will support these efforts, with monies from public or private sources.
SB 291 creates a refundable income tax credit for Oklahoma residents based on revenue growth from oil, natural gas, and corporate income taxes. If the State Board of Equalization certifies that revenue growth exceeds 10% in a year, the Oklahoma Tax Commission calculates a credit amount using a formula based on the number of individual and married-filing-jointly tax returns from the prior year. The credit is doubled for married couples filing jointly, and the Commission must publish the calculated amount within 45 days of certification. The credit applies to tax years starting in 2026, with a November 1, 2025 effective date.
SB 614 requires the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to publish and annually update on its website information about energy efficiency incentive programs. This directly affects households, businesses, local governments, tribal entities, and retail energy providers by making program details publicly accessible. Key provisions include listing ongoing programs for residential and multi-family housing, as well as providing retail energy provider territorial boundaries and designated contacts for program implementation. The bill transfers oversight of energy conservation programs from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to the Department of Commerce, effective November 1, 2025.
SB 619 requires large industrial energy users in Oklahoma (those exceeding 75 kWh/sq ft/year or 70,000 BTU/sq ft/year of electricity or energy usage) to submit biennial efficiency plans to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. These plans must detail strategies to improve energy efficiency and methods to offset up to 50% of annual energy use through renewable production. All submitted plans will be published on a public website. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
SB 1285 requires all new construction by Oklahoma state-funded entities (like agencies, universities, and career centers) to meet strict energy efficiency standards for heating, cooling, and building systems. It mandates minimum performance levels for heating systems (e.g., 90% efficiency for gas, banning electric resistance as primary heat), prioritizes geothermal systems, and requires life-cycle cost analysis over 25 years to select the most efficient options. The bill also requires integrated building control systems to monitor energy use and gives preference to licensed Oklahoma vendors and locally made HVAC equipment. These changes aim to reduce energy costs, promote renewable energy integration, and ensure state buildings meet verified efficiency benchmarks.
SB 475 requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to verify whether taxpayers have claimed a specific income tax credit for clean-burning motor fuel property investments when requested. This bill amends existing tax law (68 O.S. § 2357.22) to update verification procedures for the one-time credit against income tax for qualified clean-burning motor fuel vehicle investments. The change affects taxpayers claiming this credit and streamlines the Tax Commission’s process to prevent duplicate claims. It modifies confidentiality rules (68 O.S. § 205) to allow this verification without compromising other protected tax records. The bill focuses on administrative accuracy for an existing credit, not new tax benefits.
SB 998, now law in Oklahoma, changes how electric utilities regulated by the Corporation Commission recover costs for specific projects. It presumes certain transmission upgrade costs (including those for wind development approved by the Southwest Power Pool) and environmental compliance costs (like Clean Air Act upgrades) are recoverable through rate adjustments, unless rebutted by evidence. The bill also streamlines approval for new power generation facilities or purchased power contracts, requiring the Commission to act within 240 days (180 days for natural gas plants) after applications, with costs deemed recoverable upon approval. These changes directly affect Oklahoma utilities seeking to recover infrastructure and compliance expenses from ratepayers.
HB 2156 changes setback requirements for utility-scale solar energy facilities and industrial battery storage projects in Oklahoma. The bill reduces the minimum required distance between these facilities and adjacent properties from 500 feet to 300 feet. This directly affects property owners near proposed solar farms or battery storage sites, as well as developers planning such projects. The key provision is the specific reduction in the setback distance, which is the core policy change. The bill is currently in the legislative process, having advanced through committee and received a second reading.
