HB 3493 modifies Oklahoma's higher education tuition and financial aid rules for students not lawfully present in the U.S. It requires students seeking resident tuition or state-funded financial aid (including scholarships and grants) to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status, such as a filed application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or an affidavit committing to file one within one year of enrollment. The bill specifically affects undocumented students who graduated from Oklahoma high schools but lack legal status, while exempting those already enrolled in degree programs before the 2006-2007 academic year. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to all state-funded aid programs at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions.
SB 1633 removes provisions allowing undocumented students to qualify for Oklahoma resident tuition by submitting immigration status applications or affidavits. It eliminates language ensuring these students would not be disqualified from state scholarships or financial aid based on immigration status. The bill aligns Oklahoma’s higher education residency rules with Section 3242.2, which generally prohibits non-residents from receiving resident tuition benefits or state financial aid. This change directly affects students who previously relied on the removed documentation pathways to access in-state tuition rates.
SB 1850 requires most Oklahoma employers to verify new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify system within three business days of hiring. Employers must provisionally hire workers until verification is confirmed and maintain records for at least three years. The law exempts employers already compliant with federal verification rules and those who hired staff before the law's effective date. It does not replace federal immigration law requirements, and violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per incident.
SB 2076 prohibits Oklahoma state contracts and tax incentives for companies using H-1B visas or optional practical training for jobs physically performed within Oklahoma. It applies only to Oklahoma-based work, not companies' out-of-state operations. Companies must certify compliance under penalty of perjury, and exceptions require a legislative waiver approved by both chambers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not affect existing contracts or out-of-state activities.
HB 1932 creates a state-funded revolving account in Oklahoma's Treasury called the "Donald J. Trump Mass Deportation Revolving Fund" to finance deportation-related expenses for undocumented immigrants. The bill designates the Oklahoma State Treasurer as the fund manager, allowing unrestricted use of all monies received (from unspecified legal sources) for "deporting illegal immigrants," with expenditures requiring approval by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025, though the bill has been withdrawn from committee and shows no further legislative progress. The fund's structure and naming appear politically motivated, but the bill itself proposes no new policy mechanisms beyond creating this financial account.
SB 399 expands driver license eligibility in Oklahoma to non-citizens with specific immigration statuses, including refugees, temporary protected status holders, and those with deferred action or pending residency applications. The bill removes previous restrictions requiring legal permanent residency for license applicants and updates documentation requirements to accept certain immigration status proofs. It also prohibits driver's license offices from offering voter registration services to applicants or licensees who do not qualify as electors under the law. These changes apply directly to immigrants in the specified categories who previously faced barriers to obtaining driver licenses in Oklahoma.
HB 1312 makes it a felony for individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. to be arrested for a criminal offense in Oklahoma, punishable by up to life in prison. However, courts may suspend prosecution and order deportation instead, requiring the Department of Corrections to arrange transportation to return the person to their country of origin. If someone returns to Oklahoma after deportation and is arrested again, the court can revoke the suspended sentence and impose the full original prison term. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting undocumented immigrants arrested for state crimes.
SB 1248 prohibits individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. from enrolling in Oklahoma's public colleges and universities, directly affecting undocumented immigrants seeking higher education in the state. The bill requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to create implementing rules within the state's higher education system. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency to expedite implementation. The law does not address existing students or private institutions outside Oklahoma's public higher education system.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma's school attendance law, changing the requirement from applying to "all children" to applying only to "state resident United States citizens" or children specifically authorized by state law. It would amend Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution to specify that compulsory school attendance (for children aged 8-16, unless alternative education is provided) applies solely to U.S. citizen children or those legally required by state law. The amendment would exclude non-citizen children from the mandatory school attendance requirement, shifting the scope of who must attend school within Oklahoma. This is a procedural resolution directing the Secretary of State to place the proposed constitutional change on the ballot for voter approval.
HB 1362 makes it a crime for non-U.S. citizens (defined as "aliens") to enter or remain in Oklahoma without legal authorization to be in the United States. First offenses are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $500 fine; second offenses or offenses committed during other crimes are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison or a $1,000 fine. The law requires convicted individuals to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours and mandates law enforcement to collect biometric data and check federal databases. It also preempts local governments from enacting conflicting immigration policies and creates an alternative to prison: if conditions are met (no prior violent crime, not charged with another felony), courts can order deportation instead of incarceration.
