Legislative Watch

Oklahoma law changes on fixed dates, and a rule that is enacted is not the same as a rule that is in force. This page keeps the two apart.

Changing on November 1, 2026

These measures are enacted and signed, but not yet operative. Until the effective date, the current rule still governs.

Upcoming change, effective November 1, 2026

Local Food Freedom Act

The rule today

Through October 31, 2026 the Homemade Food Freedom Act governs. A "home food establishment" is a business on the premises of a residence with gross annual sales of prepared food under $75,000.

Beginning November 1, 2026

From November 1, 2026 the statute becomes the Local Food Freedom Act. The gross annual sales ceiling rises to under $250,000, the establishment definition expands beyond a residence to other qualifying locations, and sale and delivery rules are clarified including third-party vendors. Labeling, allergen disclosure and the exempt-from-inspection statement continue, as does food-safety training for time- or temperature-controlled foods. Local zoning and building code compliance is expressly required.

Enacted by HB 3720 (2026) · 2 O.S. §§ 5-4.1 – 5-4.6

Upcoming change, effective November 1, 2026

Groundwater reporting, metering and data center cooling

The rule today

Through October 31, 2026, willful failure to file an annual groundwater use report may result in permit cancellation. There is no groundwater-specific restriction on data center cooling technology beyond the existing rule barring cooling use without facilities to aerate and reuse the water.

Beginning November 1, 2026

From November 1, 2026, willful failure to report may result in penalties, fines or suspension rather than cancellation, and nonuse or conservation cannot diminish a permit holder's future permitted equal proportional share. Using groundwater to cool a data center through open-air evaporative or other non-recirculating systems is waste; permits require a demonstration of closed-loop, dielectric immersion or comparably low-consumptive cooling.

Enacted by SB 259 (2026) · 82 O.S. §§ 1020.12, 1020.15, 1020.19B

Already in force during 2026

In force since May 7, 2026

Raw milk labeling and sales

Requires an ODAFF-produced warning label and fill date on every container of raw milk or raw milk products; creates new violations for selling without consumer notice or labeling; expands the on-farm incidental sale exemption to raw milk products, not just fluid milk; raises the goat milk incidental-sale ceiling from 100 to 1,500 gallons per month. Carries an emergency clause, in force since May 2026.

SB 2028 (2026) · 2 O.S. §§ 7-413, 7-413.1, 7-414

In force since July 1, 2026

Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026

Requires separate tariffs and a minimum ten-year service term for large load customers adding 75 MW or more. Requires a data center buying land outside a municipality or industrial park to notify the Corporation Commission, county commissioners and every adjacent landowner within 60 days by certified mail, with a $1,500 per day penalty.

HB 2992 (2026) · 17 O.S. §§ 900 – 906

In force since January 1, 2026

Livestock theft reclassified

Theft of a horse, mule, cow, hog or implement of husbandry is a Class C2 felony (3–10 years, or a fine of three times value capped at $500,000). Theft of a dog, sheep or goat is a Class D3 felony. Each head of cattle stolen may be a separate offense.

21 O.S. § 1716 · 21 O.S. § 1716

How we track this

We publish a change only from enrolled text, the version passed by both chambers and presented to the Governor, or from the codified statute. Press releases, fiscal summaries and bill-tracker summaries are used to find measures, never to state what they do.

That distinction is not academic. One 2026 measure on this page had provisions in its committee substitute that did not survive to enrollment. Reporting from the earlier version would have described a law that does not exist.

Statute citations point to the Official Oklahoma Statutes published for the Oklahoma State Courts Network.

Last reviewed: August 19, 2026