HB 2272 allocates $25 million for county bridge reconstruction and $25 million for county road reconstruction on major collector routes (as defined by Oklahoma law) using unappropriated state funds for the 2026 fiscal year. Counties must submit projects to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which evaluates them based on safety, structural condition, public use importance, traffic patterns, and detour impacts. County financial contributions also factor into project selection alongside objective funding distribution. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies specifically to county highway infrastructure on designated routes.
SB 168 requires Oklahoma state agencies to purchase iron, steel, and aluminum made entirely in the U.S. for public construction projects exceeding $100,000, including buildings, roads, and infrastructure. It defines "made in the U.S." as requiring all manufacturing processes and components to originate domestically. Agencies may seek exemptions if materials aren't available domestically, would increase costs by over 25%, or conflict with public interest, with a 7-day public comment period for appeals. This applies to all state procurement contracts for public works but excludes projects covered by reciprocal trade agreements.
HB 2266 updates Oklahoma's aerospace regulations by clarifying key terms (like "vertiport" for drone air taxi hubs and "VTOL aircraft") and revising permit requirements for structures near airports. It modifies the radius zones requiring permits based on airport type (public, military, heliport) and runway length, while adding new safety considerations for permit decisions. The bill also designates the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics as the state's official clearinghouse for drone (UAS) and advanced air mobility (eVTOL) operations. These changes directly affect developers, property owners, and airport authorities in areas near aviation facilities. The bill is currently pending in the Aeronautics and Transportation committee.
HB 1411 designates a specific 150-mile route across eastern Oklahoma as the "True Grit Trail," connecting towns like Spiro, McAlester, and Krebs, plus Robbers Cave State Park and the Talimena Scenic Byway. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation must install highway signage along this route and collaborate with the Tourism Department to create online resources, including maps and historical context. Funding for signage comes exclusively from private sources, not state funds, with implementation required by November 1, 2025. This bill directly affects local communities along the trail by promoting tourism access and historical awareness.
SB 86 requires all freight railroad trains operating in Oklahoma to have at least two certified crew members (such as engineers or conductors) aboard while moving. It exempts passenger trains, tourism rides, slow-moving trains under 30 mph with cabs, helper/hostler services, and loading/unloading at 10 mph. Violations carry fines starting at $250 for a first offense, increasing to $10,000 for repeat violations within three years. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and is declared an emergency to address safety concerns. It directly affects freight railroad operators in Oklahoma, not passenger rail services or specific maintenance operations.
HB 1135 updates Oklahoma's weigh station operations to require the Corporation Commission to operate all ports of entry and weigh stations 18-20 hours daily, seven days a week (when funding and staff are available). It limits roadside enforcement to specific zones around fixed facilities - 7 miles for standard weigh stations and 25 miles for ports of entry - and mandates that inspections be conducted only by certified personnel. The law directly affects commercial motor vehicle drivers, trucking companies, and enforcement agencies like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Corporation Commission. It takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 2792 creates the "Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund" (PREP Fund) as a continuing fund in Oklahoma, meaning it won't expire with fiscal years. The bill ensures specific existing appropriations - totaling $118.85 million from previous legislative sessions - continue funding rural economic projects without being subject to lapse. These funds support projects previously authorized under bills like HB 1016 and HB 1017 (2023), including infrastructure, business development, and community initiatives in rural Oklahoma. The law also allows the Legislature to reallocate funds as needed while preserving the original project allocations.
HB 1146 authorizes Oklahoma counties to levy a severance tax on surface-mined materials (excluding coal) at a maximum rate of $0.10 per ton, requiring voter approval through a special election or initiative petition. The tax revenue must be split equally: 50% for county road and bridge improvements, and 50% for municipal infrastructure projects based on population. Exemptions include limestone used for agriculture, materials sold for hydraulic fracturing, and personal extraction not for profit. Counties must notify taxpayers 60 days before rate changes and cannot impose additional fees on mining operations. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 2245 requires most non-short-line railroad operators in Oklahoma to maintain at least two crew members in the front train car's cab when they adopt a one-person crew policy, effective November 1, 2025. The law excludes short-line railroads and allows exceptions during switching, brake testing, safety inspections, or setouts. It directly affects railroad companies operating within Oklahoma that implement single-crew policies for mainline trains. The bill mandates this change without specifying safety outcomes, focusing solely on operational crew requirements.
This Oklahoma bill requires drivers to use appropriate child passenger restraints for children under eight years old or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches when traveling in vehicles on state roads. Specifically, children under four must ride in rear-facing seats until age two or until they reach the seat’s weight/height limit, while children aged four to eight who are under 4'9" must use a car seat or booster. Violations carry fines of $50 for improper child restraint use or $20 for seat belt noncompliance, with first-time offenders potentially avoiding fines by purchasing a restraint. Revenue from fines funds state highway safety programs promoting proper child passenger safety.
