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NEW OKLAHOMA LAWS: A look at some bills passed so far this year

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NEW OKLAHOMA LAWS: A look at some bills passed so far this year


OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The countdown is on as Oklahoma’s legislative session comes to a close at the end of the month.

So far, there’s been quite a few bills the governor has signed into law.

In the past few weeks alone, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has approved dozens of bills.

Here are some notable ones that span a wide range of topics.

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HB 4156 – Banning Undocumented Immigrants

One law bans the presence of undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma.

Penalties involve hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines, jail time, and a requirement to leave the state.

The law has proven controversial.

While supporters of the bill, like the state Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R), argue that it protects the border from drugs and illegal marijuana trafficking, groups like the Oklahoma ACLU call it unconstitutional.

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SB 2035 – Temporary Car Tags

One bill creates a new system for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in the state.

Under the Mason Treat Act of 2024, rules will be implemented so no one will have to drive without a license plate after purchasing a car.

The bill is named after Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s 16-year-old son, who was involved in a near-deadly accident on I-40.

While his car was legally owned and he had all the proper documentation, he didn’t have a tag on his car due to the then-existing law.

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SB 1200 – Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Oklahoma is now the 20th state to sign a law that would “lock the clock,” following Stitt’s signing of a new law.

Specifically, Oklahoma wants daylight saving time—the time used from March to November—to be permanent all year long.

However, the federal government would have to trigger all these laws by passing its own law.

HB 1955 – Eliminating the State Grocery Tax

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Stitt signed a bill eliminating the state sales tax on groceries.

Starting in August, that’s 4.5% that shoppers will no longer have to pay.

There are some exceptions—including alcohol, dietary supplements, and prepared foods.

However, shoppers will still have to pay the city or county portion of the grocery sales tax.
HB 2102 – Hope Shaffer Act

Just last week, the governor signed the Hope Shaffer Act.

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This law prohibits student drivers from operating a motor vehicle when other students are passengers.

Hope Shaffer was a 15-year-old student driver who died in 2020 while sitting in the back of a car driven by a fellow student. When exiting I-240, another vehicle rear-ended their car.

One exception is that a student driver’s parents or guardians may sign a waiver allowing the student driver to ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle that is being operated by another student driver.

SB 1854 – Outlawing Homeless Encampments on State Land

One bill Stitt approved last month outlaws and fines homeless people who refuse to leave state-owned land.

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The law also bans tents, shelters, and bedding on state property.

First-time violators would receive a warning and offered help, such as driving them to a nearby shelter or pantry.

However, if the person refuses this help or to leave, they face either a $50 fine, upwards of 15 days in jail, or both.

HB 3571 – Odell’s Law

Those who are well over 21 years old may have tried to buy alcohol but were refused because they forgot to bring their ID.

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That reportedly happened to a 90-year-old man named Odell, who was refused beer because he didn’t have his.

Odell’s Law says establishments that sell alcohol no longer have to check the customer’s ID.

However, it reaffirms that places cannot sell alcohol to people younger than 21 years old and that they still have the right to verify someone’s age.

This year’s legislative session ends May 31 at 5pm.


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Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran

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Oklahoma leaders react after U.S.  and Israel launch joint attack on Iran


State leaders are reacting after the United States launched an attack on Iran Saturday morning.

U.S. Senator James Lankford said he is praying for the safety of the American service members involved in the attack.

“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has long threatened the United States and our allies. Today’s military actions underscore the seriousness of that threat and the need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Lankford said. “I’m praying for the safety of every American service member involved in these operations and for their families at home. God bless our troops and God bless America.”

Lankford also said that any Americans in the Middle East should keep an eye out for advisories and guidance from the U.S. Department of State.

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U.S. Representative Tom Cole released a statement following the attack:

It’s a time of reckoning for those who chant ‘Death to America.’ President Trump is right when he calls the effort to eradicate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and give its people the opportunity to seize their freedom ‘a noble mission.’ The evil Iranian regime has been the leading state sponsor of terror for decades. It has killed thousands of people within and beyond its borders, including hundreds of Americans. It must be defanged and dismantled.

The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively. He has warned Iran repeatedly that it must change its policies and its actions. He has negotiated with Iran in good faith and with great clarity. It was the Iranian regime that chose to ignore those warnings and make a mockery of those negotiations. In doing so, its tyrannical leaders made an enormous miscalculation.

Our Commander in Chief has made clear that his goal is not just to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is also to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country. Self-determination and freedom will be theirs to claim. I hope they will.

Like every American, my thoughts and prayers are with our brave and capable men and women in uniform who are carrying out this noble but hard and dangerous mission. I know that they will have the unwavering support of every American, and I am confident that they will acquit themselves with honor and distinction.

May God protect our troops and the innocent Iranian people – and once again – as He so often has, bless America.

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin said he is praying for the United States’ men and women in uniform in a post on Saturday.

“May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform—the greatest peacekeeping force in the history of the world. Americans are praying for your safety in this mission,” Mullin said.

U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said the Iranian regime is a threat to the U.S. and President Trump was left with no other choice than to take action.

As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime is an active threat to the United States, our allies, and stability across the Middle East.”

Iran’s refusal to accept a deal left President Trump with no choice other than to take decisive action to ensure the regime never possesses a nuclear weapon. There is no peace without strength, and the United States will not sit by while this regime pursues their nuclear ambitions, fuels their terrorist proxies, and brutalizes the Iranian people. I’m praying for our brave troops in the region. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a social media post that his prayers are with President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth as they work to achieve a safer world.

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“God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military engaged in the Middle East this weekend. My prayers are with our military, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our Generals, as they use American force to achieve a safer world for the future of our children and grandchildren,” Drummond said.



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Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes

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Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes


An investigative audit into the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority; it’s something the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is considering.

Fox 25 has been covering issues with the Oklahoma County Detention Center for years, from failed inspections to staffing issues and missed paychecks.

The issues had members of the Jail Trust recommending last June they undergo a performance review. Now, in a letter recently issued, county commissioners are asking State Auditor Cindy Byrd to look into the county Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust. But whether it’s tied to those ongoing issues remains unclear.

“I really wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin with that. I just wouldn’t even want to speculate, honestly,” said Commissioner Myles Davidson.

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Commissioner Davidson told FOX 25 if the audit were to happen, it wouldn’t be cheap.

“To go into a budget that we’re extremely tight on, and start adding hundreds of thousands of dollars, and time, these audits don’t happen overnight. I don’t know that we would have an answer to any question we could possibly ask before the budgetary cycle is over,” said Davidson.

Davidson said that cycle ends June 1. Instead, he’s suggesting they look into existing audits to see if there’s any useful information there first.

“I would simply say that we need to look at the audits that have been submitted already to the state auditor that the jail trust has already paid for, and then if we have questions about those, we need to bring in that auditing agency and question them. We do have the authority to do that,” Davidsons said.

However, Davidson isn’t sure they have the authority to request this audit.

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“When it comes to statute, we have to have it lined out, expressly in statute that we have this authority, and every county commissioner across the state has to abide by that,” he said.

Davidson said they’ll be meeting Monday to find out whether or not they do have the authority to request this audit. He told FOX 25 the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office reached out to folks with Cindy Byrd’s office and was told the audit would cost $100,000, adding that she’s so swamped that she can’t do it this calendar year.

FOX 25 also reached out to Jason Lowe’s office but they said they have no comment.



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Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith

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Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith


OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.

The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.

The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.

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