OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton), Chair of the state House Appropriations and Budget Committee, has pre-filed 56 bills before the start of the first regular session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature on Feb. 3.
The majority of his proposed measures pertain to public finance and the Budget and Finance Act of 2025. Other pre-filed bills address topics including public utilities, public safety, child services, competitive bidding, emergency medical services, transportation and a banking privilege tax.
Southwest Ledger will follow the process of all bills from southwest Oklahoma representatives through the legislative session.
Specific bills pre-filed by Caldwell include: House Bill 2742, an act relating to cigarettes and specifically amending State Statute 68 O.S. 2021, Sections 301, 321 and 322 which pertain to the administration of cigarette excise taxes. It also would modify the definition of cigarette. It will be redefined to mean and include all rolled tobacco, wrapped in paper or any substitute therefore, intended to be heated or burned, and weighing not exceeding three pounds per thousand cigarettes.
HB 2752, an act relating to eminent domain and specifically would amend 27 O.S. 2021, Section 7, w hich relates to eminent domain for electricity, determining when eminent domain may be used and provides that eminent domain shall not be used for certain facilities on private property. It would also require certain entities seeking eminent domain to receive specific certificates under certain circumstances and designates that the Corporation Commission grant such certificates.
HB 2753, an act relating to the Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act. It specifically relates to the cap on capital investment tax credits, authorizing and providing for expansion of the program, providing for additional offering, limiting the amount of an additional offering and clarifying administration.
Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) has pre-filed five bills for the upcoming legislative session. They include topics pertaining to eminent domain, schools, firearms, abortion-inducing drugs and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
Her eminent domain proposal, HB 1152, relates to amending 27 O.S. 2021, Section 13, which addresses eminent domain policies and increasing the purchase price for eminent domain.
Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) has pre-filed 31 bills for the upcoming legislative session. Topics include the Oklahoma College Athletic Conference Act, the environment, revenue and taxation, utilities, Corporation Commission, petroleum storage tanks, schools, game and fish, agriculture, water and water rights, transportation, commercial solar facilities and a nuclear energy study.
The Oklahoma Nuclear Energy Feasibility Act of 2025, HB 1375, proposes to provide a timeline for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to engage an outside consulting firm to provide the service of conducting a technical and legal feasibility study on promoting nuclear energy generation; providing required requisites for the consulting firm; providing scope of the feasibility study; requiring cooperation by certain groups by providing information relevant to the feasibility study; providing timeline for delivery of the report of feasibility study; providing that report shall be delivered to certain parties; providing that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is authorized to retain, negotiate with, and expend a certain amount necessary to provide compensation to the consulting firm; providing for non-codification and providing for codification.
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) has pre-filed 26 bills for the upcoming legislative session. The majority of the proposals pertain to the Sunset laws for boards and commissions. However, other topics include revenue and taxation, professions and occupations, administrative rules and procedures, criminal procedure, statutes and reports and administrative law.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) has pre-filed 22 bills for the upcoming legislative session, with 18 of the measures related to schools or education. Those topics include a minimum salary schedule, transfer students, school funding, student athletes and subject matter standards.
Lowe has also proposed the following bills: HB 1089, which is an act relating to amusements and sports and proposes amending 3A O.S. 2021, Section 267, which pertains to horse racing. The proposal would modify what organization licensees will negotiate and covenant.
HB 2603, which relates to motor carriers and would create the Motor Carrier Public Safety Enforcement Act. The measure specifically addresses transferring certain powers, duties and responsibilities from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to the Department of Public Safety.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) has pre-filed 18 bills for the upcoming legislative session. Topics include cancer screening, schools, insurance, mental health, artificial intelligence expert testimony, revenue and taxation, Medicaid reform, bullying, special elections, public health and safety, legal services, revolving fund, the Oklahoma Open Records Act, landlord and tenant relations, legal notices and the aerospace industry.
HB 2013 is an act relating to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and would create Dylan’s Law, which would provide insurance coverage for individuals diagnosed with epilepsy; prohibiting refusal of coverage or renewal based on epilepsy diagnosis; mandating coverage for seizure protection; authorizing Service Oklahoma to create certain driver licenses for people diagnosed with epilepsy; prescribing the use of a unique symbol; and making the use of the symbol voluntary.
Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) has pre-filed nine bills for the upcoming legislative session. Five of the nine proposals pertain to criminal procedures or crime and punishments. Other topics include the attorney general and private attorney contracts, professions and occupations, water and water rights and oil and gas.
HB 1706 would create the Pretrial Procedures Modernization Act of 2025 and would amend 22 O.S. 2021, Section 181, which relates to appearances before magistrate without delay, require arrested defendants to be taken before a judge for pretrial release hearings and establish time limitations. Other state statutes are also recommended for amendment in the proposal.
House statistics Legislative statistics show that a total of 1,928 House Bills, 29 House Joint Resolutions, three House Resolutions and two House Concurrent Resolutions were pre-filed before the Jan. 16 deadline.
Last year, the Clerk of the House reported 1,210 House Bills, 12 House Joint Resolutions and one House Resolution were filed. Joint resolutions may be filed at any point during the session.
The first regular session of the 60th Legislature will begin at noon Monday, Feb. 3, with the State of the State address from Gov. Kevin Stitt in the House Chamber.