OKLAHOMA CITY - With the support of six southwest Oklahoma legislators and the approval of Gov. Kevin Stitt, the definition of a public utility has now been modified. Reps. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan), Brad Boles (R-Marlow), Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), Dick Lowe (R-Amber), Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) and Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) are co-sponsors of Senate Bill 480, authored by Sen. Grant Green (R-Wellston).
The new law will allow private industry to develop and manage their own power solutions “behind the meter” and could potentially open the door for new economic development worth billions of dollars across Oklahoma.
Entities producing electricity will be allowed to provide electric service directly to themselves, their affiliates, tenants or through contracts with existing utilities, without being classified as a public utility. They must comply with grid interconnection and registration requirements. Any project must include a natural gas component in their power generation capacity.
“I am proud that the Legislature has come together to pass Senate Bill 480, which will be a game changer for Oklahomans,” Boles said. “This is a proactive solution that could help address the bottleneck in grid connections, especially for large industrial consumers. By enabling the private sector to fund and develop energy infrastructure, the bill will alleviate pressure on Oklahoma’s electric grid, allowing businesses to meet growing energy demands more efficiently.”
The bill is particularly relevant as the demand for energy rises due to growing investments in manufacturing and artificial intelligence data centers in the Midwest and Southeast, said a legislative press release.
“As the U.S. faces significant delays in grid connection, often spanning five to seven years, SB 480 provides a solution that positions Oklahoma as a national leader in accommodating these new largescale energy demands without risking grid reliability to our constituents,” the release pointed out.
In addition, two other bills either authored or co-sponsored by Boles became law last week without the governor’s signature. They are:
• House Bill 1376, which pertains to the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence. The new law will modify the composition and governance of the OAME, which is a private nonprofit organization focused on supporting small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. The board of directors will expand from five to nine representatives.
• SB 752, which modifies state law to expand the authority of county purchasing agents in managing procurement processes. Agents will be able to establish an online bidding process with vendors, nullifying the requirement that vendors be authorized by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
In addition, county commissioners will be able to conduct online bidding with more flexibility.
Potential bidders will be required to register before the bid opening and agree to specific terms and conditions. The goal is to modernize county purchasing procedures by embracing electronic commerce and allowing procurement methods to be more flexible.
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) authored two bills that became law last week without the governor’s signature. They are:
• HB 2744, which is an act relating to appropriations and budget and seeks to reappropriate $20 million originally allocated by a previous legislative act to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce from the Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity Fund. Specifically, the new law will redirect funds to implement an improvement project at a centrally located state fairground. The improvements would include projects related to electrical infrastructure and facilities associated with livestock events.
• HB 2762, which pertains to international corporation agents and will create the International Corporation Agent Political Activity Oversight Act of 2025. The new law intends to establish new regulations for individuals representing international corporations in Oklahoma. The agent will be required to file a specific form with the Secretary of State and pay a $25 filing fee before being allowed to advocate or influence state laws or seek state funding for their associated corporation.
Caldwell also co-sponsored one bill that also became law last week without the governor’s signature.
SB 998 will modify the state’s regulations for public utilities and focus on transmission upgrades, cost recovery and electric generation facilities. In part, electric utilities will be able to more easily recover costs for transmission upgrades, particularly for wind generation projects, approved by regional transmission organizations.
Along with the Senate’s interactive budget website, the House also hosts an online transparency portal, known as Budget HQ, detailing their position on how the FY26 budget should be crafted. It was created in 2024 in an effort to bring transparency to the state budgeting process both for the full House membership and the public.
“We have been working closely with the Senate and the Governor to determine where we can find areas of agreement, and potential areas of disagreement,” Caldwell said in a previous press release.
Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) is co-sponsor of three bills that became law last week without the governor’s signature. They are:
• HB 2647, known as the Shai Cooper Act, is a pro-family measure streamlining the adoption process for immediate relatives while protecting children. The new law establishes clear provisions on when a court can waive pre-placement home studies, according to a legislative press release.
Under the act, immediate relatives could apply for a home study waiver if they have been married for at least one year, have no felony convictions and have no protection orders against them. Single immediate relatives may apply for a waiver as well.
• HB 2392 relates to marriage and families and will amend state statutes pertaining to custody or guardianship, providing for presumption that a parent is unfit.
• HB 1738 pertains to public health and safety and will exempt public trust hospitals from the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and Oklahoma Open Records Act under certain circumstances.
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) is co-sponsor of SB 418, which was approved by the governor last week. This measure requires the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to implement strict sex-based segregation in multi-occupancy spaces within correctional facilities.
These spaces include restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters. In addition, each multi-occupancy space must be designated exclusively for either males or females and individuals are prohibited from entering spaces designated for the opposite sex.
There are limited exceptions for spaces such as medical assistance, maintenance, emergency response or preventing serious safety threats. Individuals will be able to file civil lawsuits if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in these designated spaces.
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) is the author of two bills vetoed by the governor last week.
They are:
• HB 1029 addressed extending the sunset year of the Oklahoma Funeral Board until July 1, 2026. Gov. Stitt said in his veto remarks that the board is a state agency that should be consolidated under a more appropriate umbrella.
“For too long, the Funeral Board has shielded the funeral industry from meaningful competition in the sale of caskets, urns and other funeral related merchandise and services. These barriers keep prices artificially high for grieving families.
“Instead of modernizing, the Board has preserved outdated regulations and entangled businesses in unnecessary red tape. Before granting another sunset extension, the Legislature should seriously evaluate where this Board belongs and what its core duties should be.
“Until the Funeral Board becomes more accountable and responsive to legislative oversight, its continuation should not be rubber-stamped.”
• HB 1030, which addressed extending the sunset year of the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to July 2028. The governor said in his veto remarks that the Legislature should “take a step back and ask: What does this Board really need to do and who should be in charge of it?
“Until the Board becomes more transparent, responsive and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce, its continued existence should not be taken for granted.”
Kendrix authored two bills that became law last week without the governor’s signature. They are:
• HB 1034, which addressed extending the sunset year of the Archives and Records Commission until July 1, 2028.
• HB 2736 is related to professions and occupations and the new law will amend state statutes pertaining to requirements to become a certified public accountant. In part, the measure would adjust educational requirements and clarify the process for criminal history record checks.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) co-sponsored seven bills that became law last week without the governor’s signature. They are:
• SB 190, which pertains to income tax and reauthorizes donations of tax refunds for the benefit of a regional food bank. Oklahoma taxpayers are allowed to donate a portion of their tax refund through an existing income tax checkoff program.
The new law will extend the program’s authorization until Jan. 1, 2026, and includes a minor technical update to reference the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
• SB 251 amends the state’s existing law regarding the County Community Safety Investment Fund. It specifically addresses expanding the types of evidence-based services that can qualify for funding and also establishes a minimum funding allocation for county governments or multi-county partnerships.
• SB 494 will remove references to Comp-Source Oklahoma from various state statutes. It would specifically eliminate special provisions that previously exempted the organization from certain state government regulations. Multiple state statutes would be amended to remove language that provided CompSource Oklahoma with unique exceptions to standard state agency requirements related to budgeting, property management, vehicle acquisition, communications systems and other administrative processes.
• SB 573 amends the state’s existing law regarding income tax exemptions for small business incubator tenants. New reporting requirements would be introduced for businesses seeking to maintain their tax-exempt status.
• SB 575 will amend state statutes related to the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. The new law will enhance reporting requirements for businesses and local government entities that receive state economic development incentives. It also requires entities and enterprises receiving matching payments to file an annual report with detailed information to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Details in the report would include, in part, employment data, changes in property assessed value and capital investment amounts.
In addition, the Department of Commerce is permitted to share the information with the Incentive Evaluation Commission and to be made public on its website.
• SB 577, which will modify the ad valorem tax exemption rules for manufacturing facilities in the state by requiring companies that receive tax exemptions to provide annual reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission detailing the number of new jobs created and their payroll data.
In turn, the OTC will be required to share the information with the Incentive Evaluation Commission for evaluation purposes. The new law also amends confidentiality rules to allow the disclosure of the job and payroll information.
• SB 813, which pertains to victim protective orders and modifies state law by enhancing procedures for emergency orders. In part, peace officers will be required to take more active steps when handling protective order requests, which includes attempting to serve the order.
In addition, a process for peace officers handling and filing the paperwork involved is outlined. This includes providing both the victim and the order subject with copies of the completed order and returning the original order to the district court.
Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) authored one bill approved by the governor last week.
HB 1693 pertains to criminal procedure and, in part, will change state statutes relating to death penalty procedures for the mentally incompetent. A mentally incompetent person is defined as someone who is not able to rationally understand why they are being put to death. The measure outlines the process an inmate’s attorney must follow if seeking a ruling of mentally incompetence.