The Oklahoma Legislative session adjourned sine die on May 30. Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated the win for policy priorities set out in his February State of the State address, including: quarter point tax cut (lower than the half point desired), the establishment of business courts, elimination of virtual school days and a ban on phones in schools.
While Stitt took the passive approach and let over 300 bills take effect without his signature, he vetoed a record 68 bills, including: requiring insurance companies to cover diagnostic mammograms, strengthening DUI and open records laws, requiring ethics training for state department heads and solving the backlog of missing indigenous people’s cases.
Stitt’s strong hand didn’t stop there. In one Facebook rant, Stitt urged constituents to take a closer look at their representatives’ stance in the chamber: “You gotta know how these people vote, and are these people voting for bigger government and to override the governor’s veto?”
“This isn’t leadership. It’s bullying,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized Stitt’s threat in a post on X. “The vast majority of legislators are strong conservatives working to improve the lives of Oklahomans. These vetoes would diminish public safety, protect corruption and cronyism, prevent health insurance from covering breast screenings, empower drunk drivers and more.”
After learning of a resolution introduced to remove Allie Frieson from office at the Oklahoma Mental Health Department, Stitt issued a statement shifting the blame of the department’s financial failure to the spouse of resolution co-author Senator Paul Rosino.
“Governor Stitt has crossed a line,” Pro Tem Paxton said in a media statement. “His recent attempt to smear the good name of Senator Rosino’s wife is not just petty — it’s disgraceful. Senator Rosino’s wife is a part-time administrative employee. Instead of attacking a public servant’s spouse, the governor should be addressing the real problem: his own failed appointee.”
The House and Senate overwrote 47 of his vetoes, requiring two-thirds majorities in both chambers, setting a new record of governor vetoes overturned in Oklahoma. The resolution to remove Stitt’s appointee, Allie Frieson, passed with an overwhelming majority in both the House and Senate.
Education
HB1087 enables additional “step raises” on teacher pay for the 26th-40th years of service.
HB1601 allows teachers to use up to six weeks of accrued sick leave to extend their six-week maternity leave.
HB1727 allows veteran teachers (10+ years) to qualify for the OHLAP tuition scholarship, even in higher-income brackets.
HB2263 prohibits drivers from holding or using a cell phone while driving through a school zone.
SB840 establishes a new micro-credential program for teachers specializing in reading and dyslexia identification.
SB758 reduces reliance on virtual school days to ensure students receive the benefit of in-person learning.
SB139 requires public school districts to limit student cell phone use from “bell to bell” for the entire 2025-2026 school year.
Health
HB1389 mandates increased insurance coverage of breast cancer screenings.
SB176 requires health benefit plans in Oklahoma to provide extended length of prescriptions for contraceptive drugs.
HB2298 expands prescriptive authority for nurse practitioners.
HB2584 expands prescriptive authority for physician assistants.
SB804 requires long-term care facilities to create internal quality assurance committees and requires the commissioner of health to promote rules regarding minimum standards for medical care and medication administration.
Legal
HB1137 removes the requirement that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation work to obtain federal funding or apply for federal grants relating to the Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.
HB1178 creates a misdemeanor charge for individuals who are not disabled and falsely claim they have a service animal or use a service animal to gain treatment and benefits.
HB1563 authorizes a defendant to issue a mandate to provide documents or evidence to a business or commercial entity for certain records. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to turn over body camera, dashboard camera and sobriety test evidence to prosecuting authorities and defense council.
HB2163 establishes a “Public Access Counselor Unit” in the Attorney General’s Office to assist members of the public in accessing information via the Open Records Act.
SB631 establishes a minimum sentence for discharging a firearm into a building or dwelling used for public or business purposes.
SB1050 decreases the allowable time to file certain claims under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act.
SB1089 amends definitions related to the determination of mental health competency modifying procedures for proceedings for restoration of competency.
Governor wins
HB2764 is a significant reduction in personal income taxes and modernization of Oklahoma’s tax code, aimed at strengthening the state’s economy.
HB2781 is the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act, which supports the construction of a new aluminum plant, revitalizing Oklahoma’s industrial base and creating thousands of new jobs.
SB796 prohibits taxpayer-funded DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs at public colleges and universities.
SB480, the “Behind the Meter” law, is designed to increase energy generation as the demand for electricity rises nationwide due to a growing number of large-scale manufacturing facilities, data centers and artificial intelligence processing centers.
SB652 establishes five election days annually, scheduled in February, April, June, August and November, making election days less confusing to support voter turnout.
HB2728, The REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act) in Oklahoma aims to increase legislative oversight of state agency rules, particularly those with significant fiscal impacts. It requires state agencies to seek approval from the Legislature before adopting major administrative rules and provides for independent review of agency economic impact statements.
HB2729 is legislation to eliminate the “doctrine of Chevron deference,” a legal test that limited courts’ ability to interpret ambiguous administrative rules. The law ensures that unelected agencies do not have the final word in establishing law.
As the dust settles on the 2025 Oklahoma legislative session, the clash between the executive and legislative branches has left a lasting mark. While Gov. Stitt secured several cornerstone victories aligned with his agenda, lawmakers proved resolute in asserting their own vision for the state — one rooted in practical reforms, bipartisan priorities and an insistence on checks and balances. With record-setting veto overrides and bold policy shifts now in motion, the true impact of this session will unfold in the months ahead — in classrooms, courtrooms and communities across Oklahoma.
Visit oklegislature.gov.
This article appears in deadCenter Film Festival 2025.