OKLAHOMA CITY Natural gas will be the preferred fuel source for new electricity generating facilities in the state on July 1 upon approval of Senate Bill 460 last week by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
The measure was authored by Sen. Grant Green (R-Wellston) and co-sponsored by Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow). The intent of the bill, which had an emergency tag attached, is to take advantage of Oklahoma’s abundant natural gas resources and its compatibility with wind energy.
Generating entities can still choose alternative fuel sources by providing evidence to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission or other regulatory bodies that their chosen fuel source is in the best interest of electric consumers.
Boles, along with Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan), co-sponsored SB 469, which was also approved by the governor last week. The bill, authored by Sen. Tom Woods (R-Westville), will modify the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program.
Several key provisions for businesses seeking rebates for emission reduction projects have been updated. In part, the measure changes the timing for submitting documentation, which will allow applicants to submit rebate payment applications up to six months prior to the program’s end and requires documentation to be filed within six months after project completion.
A new preliminary review process will be established for rebate applications and makes clear that final approval from the Department of Environmental Quality is required. The bill had an emergency tag attached and will become effective on July 1.
In addition, Boles authored three bills that were sent to the governor’s desk last week. They are: HB 1369, which pertains to oil and gas and seeks to modify the requirements for operators to show financial ability to plug wells, close surface impoundments and remove equipment in the state.
The Category A surety (a financial statement proving net worth) would be phased out by Nov. 1 and introduces a tiered Category B surety system based on the number of wells an operator manages. Current operators in good standing will be able to retain the Category A surety.
Ensuring that oil and gas operators have sufficient financial resources to fulfill their operational and environmental responsibilities is the goal of the bill. In addition, the measure seeks to protect the state from potential cleanup costs if operators fail to manage their sites and wells.
HB 1372 seeks to modify the state’s gross production tax law and stipulates a 50% tax reduction for oil and gas recovery projects be provided, if wells are used from the Corporation Commission’s orphaned well list. The intent is to encourage the recovery and productive use of orphaned wells.
HB 1373 would establish critical statutory protections for landowners hosting industrial solar facilities. It would ensure that solar companies are held accountable for decommissioning activities. Currently, the state lacks regulations governing the removal of solar infrastructure if a company goes out of business or doesn’t decommission in a timely manner once production ends.
The measure also introduces new requirements for solar companies, such as requiring financial assurance to the landowner that must be at least equal to the estimated amount by which the cost or removing the solar power facilities from the property. It also specifies that the property be restored to as near as reasonably possible to the condition prior to the solar facility installation.
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) authored five bills that were placed on General Order last week and can now be heard by the full Senate. They are: HB 2749, which would create an Intergenerational Education Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to help improve nursing facilities and expand intergenerational education programs. The fund intends to support a new continuing competitive grant program and would not be limited by fiscal year revenue.
The goal is to facilitate cooperation between nursing facilities participating in Oklahoma’s Medicaid Program and public school districts. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority would be responsible for outlining grant eligibility criteria, designing the application process and setting minimum standards for facility participation. An emergency tag is attached to the bill and upon the governor’s approval would go into effect July 1.
HB 2754, also known as the Oklahoma Rural Hospitals Funding Assistance Grant Program Act of 2025, is co-sponsored by Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton). The intent of the proposal is to support healthcare access in rural areas, specifically targeting medical facilities in towns with populations under 5,000 people. The State Department of Health would be tasked to administer the program.
The bill contains an emergency tag and upon approval by the governor will go into effect on July 1.
HB 2756, which pertains to electric transmission facilities and would establish a comprehensive framework for regulating electric transmission facilities in the state. This would be accomplished by creating a new Certificate of Authority process through the Corporation Commission.
HB 2758, which would create the Preserving and Advancing County Transportation Fund (PACT Fund). Upon approval, this will be a new revolving fund in the State Treasury designed to support county transportation infrastructure. An emergency tag is attached and would go into effect on July 1.
HB 2759, which is an act relating to volunteer firefighters and, if signed into law, will create the Oklahoma Volunteer Firefighter Support Program. It will create a grant program to support training for volunteer firefighters in the state and is co-sponsored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus).
Two bills authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) were sent to the governor’s desk last week. They are: HB 1360, which seeks to amend state statutes and expand protections for personal information confidentiality related to domestic abuse. It would allow the program manager of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) to request that personal information be kept secure and not publicly available online.
The measure would also allow ACP participants to obtain a court order requiring county assessors to also keep personal information confidential.
HB 1364, which would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop revenge pornography. Revenge pornography is defined as when a person shares private sexual images without the consent of the depicted person and intends to humiliate that person.
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) authored one bill, HB 2731, which was sent to the governor’s desk last week. The measure, if approved, will amend the Administrative Procedures Act by changing the rule submission date from April 1 to February 1. This will impact how the governor can approve or disapprove administrative rules.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) authored one bill, HB 1089, which was sent to the governor’s desk last week. The measure pertains to amusements and sports; specifically horse racing. The measure seeks to amend the existing state horse racing legislation and modify the negotiation requirements and representation for horsemen’s organizations.
If passed, rules will be updated pertaining to organizations, such as racetracks, negotiating with official representatives of different horse breeds participating in live race meets.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) is co-sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 1012, which was filed last week to recognize the month of May as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The intent is to recognize the contributions of the AAPI community and culture in Oklahoma.
“I’m incredibly proud to see our state formally recognize the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities,” Pae said. “This resolution honors the generations of AAPI individuals who have helped shape Oklahoma’s identity, and I’m thankful to my colleagues who have joined us in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month.”
Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) is the author of one bill sent to the governor’s desk for approval last week.
HB 1819 seeks to amend state laws regarding optometry licensing and fees. It will increase the maximum annual license fee that the Board of Examiners in Optometry can charge from $300 to $500. The measure will maintain the existing requirement that examination fees must be set by board rules and remain between $100 and $200.