Immigration

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 1243: Driver licenses; requiring persons operating motor vehicles to be United States citizens or lawfully present in the United States. Effective date.

SB 1243 requires all individuals operating motor vehicles in Oklahoma to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the United States. The bill mandates that Service Oklahoma verify citizenship or lawful presence status before issuing or renewing driver's licenses, prohibiting licenses for those who do not meet this requirement. Exceptions include certain commercial drivers (e.g., Class A/B/C licenses) and nonresidents under specific circumstances, while noncitizens must provide proof of lawful presence. The bill also updates license documentation procedures and designations without changing existing restrictions for minors or motorcycle operators.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts driver's license access to non-lawfully-present immigrants by mandating citizenship/immigration status verification and prohibiting licenses for those without it, directly limiting immigrant access to a state service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 982: Real property; prohibiting leasing or owning of real property by certain persons; requiring certain affidavit as an attachment to lease or deed; requiring reversion of leased land under certain circumstances. Effective date.

SB 982 prohibits non-U.S. citizens (aliens) from owning or leasing real property in Oklahoma, with an exception for businesses engaged in regulated interstate commerce. It requires all new leases or deeds to include a sworn affidavit confirming compliance with the law, and the Attorney General must create a standard form for this. Existing non-citizen property owners must sell their land within six months of the law's effective date (November 1, 2025), or the Attorney General may sue to enforce divestment. The bill directly affects non-citizen individuals and entities holding Oklahoma real estate, mandating specific legal compliance for property transactions.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRestricts property ownership to U.S. citizens, limiting housing access for non-citizens and requiring forced sales of existing non-citizen properties.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits non-citizens from owning/leasing property, restricting immigrant access to housing and fundamental rights, a clear restriction on immigration.95% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1247: Higher education; removing exception allowing certain students to be eligible for resident tuition and certain other benefits. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1247 removes an exception that previously allowed certain non-lawfully present students to qualify for resident tuition and financial aid at Oklahoma public colleges and universities. It amends Oklahoma law to prohibit these students from receiving resident tuition rates or postsecondary education benefits, aligning with the broader rule that non-lawfully present individuals are ineligible for such benefits. The bill repeals the outdated Section 3242 of the Oklahoma Statutes and takes effect on July 1, 2026. This change directly affects undocumented students seeking in-state tuition rates at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves eligibility for resident tuition benefits for non-lawfully present students, restricting access to higher education funding and rates.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRemoves resident tuition benefits for non-lawfully present students, restricting access to higher education services based on immigration status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1308: Higher education; providing eligibility for resident tuition. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1308 allows students who graduated from an Oklahoma high school and lived in Oklahoma with a parent or guardian for at least two years prior to graduation to qualify for resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, regardless of their current immigration status. To qualify, students must meet admission standards and either provide proof of an immigration status application or file an affidavit promising to apply within one year of enrollment. The bill also ensures these students cannot be denied state scholarships or financial aid due to their immigration status. This applies to new students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by removing immigration status barriers for qualifying students to pay resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill removes immigration status barrier for resident tuition eligibility, supporting immigrant access to higher education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1043: Motor vehicles; creating the Respect for Citizens Act of 2025; declaring certain driver licenses invalid in this state; effective date.

HB 1043, the "Respect for Citizens Act of 2025," declares certain out-of-state driver licenses issued to undocumented immigrants without proof of lawful presence as invalid in Oklahoma. It requires law enforcement to issue citations for driving with such invalid licenses and mandates police departments to post online lists of these invalid license types. The law, effective November 1, 2025, specifically targets licenses marked as issued to undocumented immigrants or those substantially identical to standard licenses but lacking proof of lawful presence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes driving with licenses of undocumented immigrants, expanding enforcement against this group and increasing criminalization via traffic citations.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts undocumented immigrants' access to driver's licenses and mandates enforcement actions against holders of such licenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 671: Public benefits; modifying definitions related to lawful presence of applicants. Effective date.

This Oklahoma bill modifies how state agencies verify applicants' lawful presence for public benefits. It requires most applicants aged 14+ to submit an affidavit affirming U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, with verification through the federal SAVE program. Key exemptions include emergency medical care, disaster relief, public health services (like immunizations), and community-based aid like soup kitchens. The bill mandates free notary services for applicants and annual compliance reports from agencies, while criminal penalties apply for knowingly false affidavits. It does not affect benefits for emergency health services, disaster relief, or certain community programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts public health services (e.g., immunizations) and emergency medical care from affidavit requirements, ensuring continued access to healthcare without barriers.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires immigration status verification for most public benefits, restricting access except for narrow exemptions like emergency care and public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1962: Labor; status verification system; hiring; penalties; effective date.

HB 1962 requires all Oklahoma employers registered to do business in the state to verify the work eligibility of new hires using a federal immigration verification system (such as E-Verify) starting November 1, 2025. It directly affects every business hiring new employees in Oklahoma, including small businesses and large employers. Employers must use a system meeting federal standards, and violations incur three warnings before fines of $100-$500 per offense. The law codifies this requirement in Oklahoma Statutes and aligns with federal programs like E-Verify.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for all employers, requiring federal immigration checks on new hires, increasing enforcement against undocumented workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1165: Schools; requiring certain school districts to obtain, record, and report citizenship status of enrolling students; effective date; emergency.

HB 1165 requires public school districts in Oklahoma to collect proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status from parents/guardians at student enrollment. Acceptable documents include birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, or immigration documents like green cards. School districts must record this status for all students, submit an annual report to the state education department showing categorized enrollment (citizenship, legal status, or no proof provided), and exclude all personal identifying information. The law, effective July 2025, explicitly states it does not prevent any child from receiving education under state or federal law.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates collection of immigration status for school enrollment, restricting access for undocumented students by requiring proof of legal status.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1400: Driver licenses; removing certain description of persons not to be licensed; effective date.

HB 1400 removes a provision requiring non-citizens to provide proof of legal U.S. status to obtain an Oklahoma driver's license. It amends Section 6-103 of Oklahoma's driver license law by deleting paragraph 9, which previously barred "any alien" from licensing unless presenting documentation of legal presence. This change eliminates a specific eligibility barrier for non-citizens, allowing them to apply for licenses without proving legal residency status. The bill directly affects non-citizens in Oklahoma who previously faced this documentation requirement under the law.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves barrier requiring non-citizens to prove legal status for driver's licenses, easing access to state services and aligning with immigrant rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SB 865: Public safety; creating the Oklahoma Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement Act. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 865 creates a state-run data-sharing platform called the Secure Interagency Collaboration Platform to connect Oklahoma law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, and federal immigration authorities (like ICE). It requires police to report arrests of suspected unauthorized immigrants through this system and mandates corrections facilities to screen inmates for immigration status. The platform would automatically alert authorities when an unauthorized immigrant is identified within the criminal justice system, prioritizing their deportation proceedings. Agencies failing to comply with reporting or data-sharing requirements may face administrative penalties.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates law enforcement to report suspected unauthorized immigrants to ICE via state data platform, increasing state-federal immigration enforcement cooperation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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