SB 1355 requires Oklahoma's Department of Veterans Affairs to create a program providing headstones or markers for eligible Oklahoma National Guard veterans who died in-state with an honorable discharge. Veterans meeting specific criteria (6+ years service, in-state residency, honorable separation, and not covered by federal law) can receive either a standard headstone/marker or a $200 reimbursement. The program is funded through a new "National Guard Veteran Burial Revolving Fund" in the state treasury, which can use legislative appropriations and donations to cover costs. This law takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 517 authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to establish a private, tax-exempt foundation called the ODVA Foundation. The foundation will raise supplemental funds from private and public sources to support veterans' education, training, and empowerment programs, alongside existing state funding. It must operate as a separate entity with no state employees as voting members, and all financial records (except donor names) must be auditable. This bill directly affects Oklahoma veterans, reservists, and their dependents by creating a new channel for private funding to address their needs.
HB 2101 designates June 12 of each year as "Oklahoma Women Veterans History Day" in the state of Oklahoma. The bill requests all citizens to observe this day by honoring women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It codifies this designation in Oklahoma Statutes (Title 25, Section 90.30) and declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon approval. The measure is purely symbolic, with no new funding or policy changes, and directly affects all Oklahoma residents through this annual observance.
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.
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.
