SB 294 amends Oklahoma's Oklahoma Quick Action Closing Fund to exclude electric vehicle manufacturing businesses (specifically those using NAICS code 336110) from eligibility for funding. This bill directly affects companies in the electric vehicle manufacturing industry, preventing them from receiving economic development funds intended for high-impact business projects. The change modifies existing eligibility rules under the fund's statutes without altering other provisions for qualifying industries or the fund's administration. The exclusion applies to all applications for the fund, including those seeking rebates under the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program. The bill does not change the fund's purpose, which remains supporting job creation, capital investment, and economic development through targeted business incentives.
SB 1719 requires Oklahoma public school districts to adopt policies banning student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices (like smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches) campus-wide from "bell to bell" during instructional time for the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in 2026-2027, school boards may choose whether to implement such a ban. The policy must include disciplinary procedures and allow limited exceptions for emergencies or students monitoring health conditions. This directly affects all public school students and school boards across Oklahoma.
HB 3179 bans the sale, distribution, or offer for sale of cultivated meat (meat grown from animal cells in a lab) in Oklahoma. It makes violations a misdemeanor and allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health to suspend or revoke food sellers' licenses for selling cultivated meat. The bill exempts research by government entities, colleges, or their partners with formal agreements. It takes effect November 1, 2026, and does not affect existing food safety rules for conventional meat.
SB 1982 updates Oklahoma's legal definitions of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and obscenity. It expands "child sexual abuse material" to include computer-generated images or altered depictions that appear to show minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and clarifies that each individual image constitutes a separate offense. The bill also modifies definitions of "obscene" material and "unlawful pornography" to align with current standards, while adding a severability clause to ensure unaffected parts of the law remain valid if challenged. This directly affects individuals distributing or possessing CSAM, including digital content that mimics minors, and requires internet service providers to take action to address such material.
SB 1589 updates Oklahoma's gambling laws by broadly defining "online casino games" to include mobile and wearable devices (like smartphones or smartwatches) that simulate traditional gambling. It clarifies that "representative of value" covers virtual currency systems exchangeable for prizes or cash. The bill expands criminal liability to include not just operators but also geolocation providers, gaming suppliers, platform providers, promoters, and media affiliates involved in such games. Violators face a Class C2 felony charge, fines of $500-$2,000, and imprisonment, effective November 1, 2026.
SB 1412 requires the Oklahoma Tax Commission to pay income tax refunds by check instead of digital payment methods. It removes the existing authorization for the Commission to use card-based disbursement systems for issuing refunds. The bill amends tax code sections (2373 and 2385.16) to mandate check payments for all refunds, while updating related statutory language. This change affects all Oklahoma taxpayers who receive income tax refunds, effective November 1, 2026. The bill does not alter refund eligibility, amounts, or interest calculations.
SB 1488 establishes a moratorium on building new data centers (defined as facilities with 100+ megawatts of capacity) in Oklahoma until November 1, 2029. The bill requires the Corporation Commission to study data centers' impacts on water supplies, utility rates, nearby property values, and security, and to recommend regulations for grid health, environmental protection, and data privacy. The Commission must submit an electronic report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the moratorium ends. This directly affects data center developers and operators seeking to expand in Oklahoma, while delaying new construction to allow for regulatory analysis.
HB 4358 limits screen time for prekindergarten through fifth grade public school students to one hour per school day, including all classroom activities using devices like tablets, computers, or smart devices. The law exempts students requiring special education accommodations under IEPs or 504 plans, as well as necessary assistive technology. It applies to all public schools in Oklahoma starting the 2026-2027 school year. The bill defines "screen time" broadly to cover both teacher-directed and student-selected digital activities during school hours.
SB 1727 allows minors under 18 or their parents to sue social media companies if a diagnosed mental health issue (like anxiety or depression) was caused by the minor’s excessive use of algorithmically curated platforms - those using engagement-driving features like autoplay, endless scrolling, or push notifications. To win, plaintiffs must prove the mental health condition resulted from the excessive use, but courts must assume causation unless the company shows it implemented safety measures. Social media companies can avoid liability by limiting minors’ daily use to 3 hours, blocking access between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., requiring parental consent, and disabling engagement features for minors. If liability is found, plaintiffs can recover $10,000 per incident or actual damages, plus attorney fees.
Oklahoma's SB 1967 regulates how health insurance companies use artificial intelligence (AI) in reviewing medical care requests. The bill prohibits AI tools from denying, delaying, or modifying care based on medical necessity - requiring licensed physicians or healthcare professionals to make these final decisions instead. It also mandates that AI tools must base reviews on individual patient records (not group data), be transparent to enrollees, and undergo regular accuracy checks. This directly affects health insurers using AI for coverage decisions and ensures patients receive human-reviewed care determinations.
