Oklahoma Legislative Session: Tax, Library Bills Up For Consideration

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Like clockwork, state lawmakers filed more than 3,000 pieces of legislation for the upcoming 2025 legislative session.

After that, once the measure clears the Legislature, it can either be vetoed or signed by the governor. The Oklahoma legislative process is designed to be cumbersome.

In response to years of feral hogs causing extensive damage to property and agriculture in rural Oklahoma, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin , introduced Senate Bill 478, the Free to Hunt Feral Hogs bill. The bill removes all required permits for hunting feral hogs and free Oklahomans to protect their land, crops, and livestock from their destructive impact.

"Feral hogs are much more than just a nuisance — they are a threat to Oklahoma's farms, ranches and livelihoods," Deevers said. "It is preposterous that Oklahomans need to obtain multiple permits from multiple agencies to protect their own property from substantial damage. No one should have to navigate permit processes and bureaucratic red tape in multiple agencies just to protect what is rightfully theirs."

"One in four struggles to afford these products, and when students don't have access to them, they may miss class. It's stressful and embarrassing. It leads to higher student absenteeism, lower academic performance, and it can even cause some students to drop out," Nice said.

New legislation filed Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain , would require Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to submit a list of all available library materials to the Oklahoma State Department of Education by Oct. 1 each year. Under Senate Bill 19 , schools would be prohibited from having any inappropriate materials available to students.