House Media

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill aimed at providing more flexibility for Oklahoma mobile food vendors by allowing alternatives to automatic fire suppression has been signed into law. House Bill 3369 , authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, and Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, allows certain mobile food vendors to use alternative fire suppression methods in place of automatic fire suppression systems if specific safety requirements are met. "This legislation works within the adopted fire code to provide an equivalent alternative method of fire suppression for food trucks," Hildebrant said. "House Bill 3369 provides flexibility for mobile food vendors by allowing alternatives to automatic fire suppression systems, as long as they have proper fire extinguishers and complete annual safety training. This helps small business owners continue operating while still prioritizing public safety." Gillespie agrees that this new law will remove regulations that make it difficult for mobile vendors to succeed. "Last year, Representative Hildebrant and I cut red tape for mobile food vendors through the landmark Food Truck Freedom Act," Gillespie said. "This measure builds on that progress by removing costly and unnecessary regulations in state law that make it difficult to operate these mobile businesses. This bill removes the sole mandate for overhead fire suppression systems by allowing practical alternative safety standards and makes liquefied petroleum gas inspections more convenient for food truck owners."  Current fire code standards state that mobile food vendors which produce smoke or grease-laden vapors are required to install automatic fire suppression systems. Under HB3369, mobile food preparation vehicles without automatic fire extinguishing systems will not be required to install them if they instead carry at least two portable Class K-rated fire extinguishers and require all employees complete annual fire safety training. "For many food truck operators across Oklahoma, the cost of installing automatic fire suppression systems created serious financial challenges," Hildebrant said. "This law provides a practical alternative that keeps safety standards in place while helping these small businesses continue serving their communities." The measure also simplifies the process for mobile vendors to obtain their permits from the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board and the State Fire Marshal. HB3369 takes effect Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The governor has signed into law a bill that modernizes the process for creating a newspaper of record when none exists in a county. House Bill 2166 is authored by Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando. "This ensures high standards and government transparency are maintained, but it allows the state to put a new process in place for the posting of public notices without having to go through the strictures of the postal service," Pfeiffer said. "This hopefully will make it easier for those wanting to start a newspaper, particularly in some of the state's smaller counties." HB 2166 clarifies what constitutes a legal newspaper of general circulation within Oklahoma by defining two different classes of newspapers: periodical permit newspaper and a non-periodical permit newspaper. Specific requirements for each class of newspaper are outlined in the measure. Both classes of newspapers will need to register ownership with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. They will need to publish all legal notices on the newspaper website in a timely manner and in front of pay walls, if applicable, as well as place notices on the statewide website established as a joint venture of a majority of Oklahoma newspapers qualified as legal newspapers when applicable. Publishing a promotional ad in each issue in which a public notice appears is a requirement, as is maintaining an archive of printed issues containing legal notices for at least three years. Another duty will be to maintain ownership independent of any governmental entity such as a political party, state agency, political subdivision or a fraternal or religious organization.  The bill also reduces the number of weeks by which a newspaper can be established if none exists in a county from 104 weeks to 52. Additionally, it raises the threshold from 14 to 21 days, without penalty, in which a newspaper can fail to publish due to an accident, emergency or natural disaster.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that requires first responders to notify law enforcement when treating a drug overdose has been signed into law by the governor. Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, is the author of House Bill 2941 . The bill requires first responders to notify law enforcement as soon as practicable after attending to the medical needs of the person they are treating when a drug overdose is suspected. Legal immunity will be granted to those who make the notification in good faith. "The hope is that by bringing first responders, health care workers and law enforcement together we can save lives, better educate our population, design prevention strategies and target resources to communities that need them most," Bashore said. The measure also establishes that in cases of fatal overdoses involving fentanyl, that will be the presumed cause of death. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports fentanyl was involved in 86% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, compared to approximately 10-20% annually prior to 2020.  "Fentanyl is a growing problem in our state and in the nation," Bashore said. "Having better data on the spread of fentanyl in our state will help us better track where help is needed most." The new law becomes effective Nov. 1.