Veterans

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 21, 2025

SB 162: State Capitol Building; creating the State Capitol Arch Memorial Statue Revolving Fund.

SB 162 creates the "State Capitol Arch Memorial Statue Revolving Fund" within the Oklahoma State Treasury to support veteran memorial statues. The fund, managed by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), uses private donations, gifts, or grants specifically for installing and maintaining these statues around the State Capitol Arch. It became law on May 21, 2025, without the Governor's signature, and operates as a continuing fund not limited by fiscal years.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates revolving fund specifically for veteran memorial statues, directly recognizing veterans' service per topic description.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

failed · Oklahoma · House May 15, 2025

HB 2136: Militia; creating the Oklahoma National Guard Supplemental Retirement Pay Revolving Fund; applicability; eligibility; payment amounts; effective date.

HB 2136 creates a special revolving fund in the Oklahoma State Treasury to provide supplemental retirement pay to qualifying Oklahoma National Guard members. It directly affects members with 25+ years of service who retired from the National Guard but were ineligible for full federal retirement benefits due to age before the bill's effective date. The fund calculates payments based on what members would have received at full retirement age plus annual cost-of-living adjustments, paid monthly until they begin receiving federal benefits. Payments stop once federal benefits start, and the fund becomes operational on November 1, 2027. The bill does not apply to those retiring with active-duty military pensions.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates supplemental retirement fund for National Guard veterans excluded from full federal benefits, directly expanding their retirement compensation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Veterans

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 14, 2025

SB 723: Veterans; removing obsolete language; providing certain exemption; updating statutory reference. Effective date.

SB 723 updates Oklahoma law to clarify which positions at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from standard civil service rules. It adds 11 specific healthcare and administrative roles - including physician assistants, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and Veterans Center administrators - to the list of exempt positions. The bill removes outdated references to previous exemption methods and confirms existing exempt positions remain unaffected. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds healthcare roles (pharmacists, therapists) to exempt positions, facilitating staffing for veterans' healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds exempt healthcare roles (pharmacists, therapists) to VA staffing, facilitating better veteran service delivery without restricting benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2025

HB 1091: Retirement; Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System; term; death benefits; contributions; repayment; amortized payment; rules or procedures; transferred credited services; procedures; limitations; exception; military service credit; credited service; restrictions; volunteer; codification; emergency.

HB 1091 clarifies and updates rules for Oklahoma's Firefighters Pension and Retirement System. It specifically defines key terms like "member" (including fire chiefs meeting eligibility requirements) and "credited service," while allowing volunteer firefighters to purchase military service credit toward their retirement benefits. The bill modifies how military service credit is calculated and adds limitations on its use, and it clarifies contribution rules and death benefits. These changes directly affect active and retired Oklahoma firefighters participating in the system.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllows volunteer firefighters to purchase military service credit toward retirement benefits, directly recognizing veteran service and expanding benefits for veterans in firefighting roles.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

signed · Oklahoma · House May 7, 2025

HB 1465: Schools; teacher pay computations; military service; teacher salaries; effective date; emergency.

HB 1465 updates Oklahoma teacher salary rules to count up to five years of military service (including National Guard) during a national emergency toward salary increments and retirement benefits. This directly affects Oklahoma public school teachers who served in the military, allowing their service to count toward their salary progression and retirement eligibility. The bill caps this credit at five years total, regardless of the service period. It became effective without the Governor's signature on May 7, 2025, and modifies existing salary schedules to reflect this change.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates teacher pay rules to count military service toward salary increments and retirement benefits, directly supporting educators' compensation and benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances teacher compensation and retirement benefits by counting military service toward salary increments, directly advancing employment benefits for educators.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill counts military service toward teacher salary increments/retirement, recognizing veteran service for career advancement in education sector.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 814: Absentee ballots; authorizing uniformed service member to receive certain absentee ballot. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 814 expands access to emergency absentee ballots for military service members deployed during active duty. It allows these voters to request ballots after the standard deadline by submitting a written request with valid ID to their county election office. Ballots must be returned in person or by mail by 7:00 p.m. on election day, following the same processing rules as other emergency absentee ballots. Signed into law on May 5, 2025, this amendment to Oklahoma’s election code (26 O.S. § 14-115.6) specifically adds uniformed-service members to the existing eligibility category that previously covered first responders during emergencies.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands voting access for deployed military personnel, recognizing service and ensuring electoral participation per bill's explicit focus on uniformed service members' ballot rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 2832: Transportation; dedication; procedures; veterans; effective date.

HB 2832 allows Oklahoma state highways, bridges, and facilities to be dedicated in honor of individuals who provided outstanding service to the nation, state, or community - particularly military veterans and active-duty personnel. It requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and maintain a public digital map showing all such dedications, including specific details about the honorees, locations, and reasons for naming, with a dedicated "Veterans Military Trail Segment" for military honors. The map will eventually include interactive features to share historical context, and ODOT must link it to the Oklahoma Department of Tourism for public promotion. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly dedicates state infrastructure to honor veterans, requiring public recognition of their service via digital map and 'Veterans Military Trail Segment'.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1243: Career and technology education; creating the National Guard CareerTech Assistance Act; tuition assistance; repayment amount; hardship waiver; creating fund; effective date; emergency.

HB 1243 creates the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma National Guard members enrolled in state technology center programs that lead to certification or licensure. The program covers tuition costs (up to a three-year limit) for members who agree to remain in service for 24 months after completing their training and maintain academic requirements like a 2.0 GPA. Members who fail to meet service or academic obligations must repay assistance calculated as a monthly amount based on the total assistance received, though hardship waivers are available. The program is funded through a new revolving fund in the state treasury, supported by annual state appropriations, and administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated state fund for tuition assistance, directly allocating budget resources to fund National Guard education programs without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition assistance fund for National Guard members in career tech programs, expanding educational access and funding for vocational training.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members in technology certification programs, funding workforce development in technology fields.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition assistance for National Guard members' career training, directly supporting veterans' education and employment benefits through state-funded program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 23, 2025

SB 530: Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; authorizing establishment of the ODVA Foundation; allowing Foundation to receive contributions; directing incorporation of Foundation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 530 authorizes the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to create the ODVA Foundation, a private nonprofit organization designed to raise private funds for veterans' programs. The foundation will collect donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations to support educational, training, and empowerment initiatives for Oklahoma veterans, reservists, and their families - supplementing, not replacing, state funding for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Key provisions include requiring the foundation to operate charitably, secure tax-exempt status, maintain auditable financial records (excluding donor names), and prohibit ODVA employees from voting on its board. This bill establishes a structured mechanism for private fundraising to enhance veteran services without altering existing state budget allocations.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates ODVA Foundation to raise private funds for veterans' educational/training programs, supplementing state funding without replacement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

passed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 41: Memorial bridges; designating the PFC Lewis Othel Branscum Memorial Bridge. Effective date.

SB 41 designates a specific bridge over the Kiamichi River on U.S. Highway 259 (approximately 0.5 miles south of State Highway 63 in Le Flore County) as the "PFC Lewis Othel Branscum Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers bearing this name on the bridge. This memorial honors PFC Lewis Othel Branscum, a military service member, and applies directly to the public using this location. The designation becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDesignates bridge in honor of PFC Lewis Othel Branscum, a veteran, aligning with recognition indicator for veteran support stance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Veterans

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