Oklahoma Senate advances multiple bills, designates two as emergency measures and confirms Tax Commission nominee

The Oklahoma Senate on the floor moved and approved several measures on a single-day agenda and confirmed a cabinet-level nominee. Senators advanced a state-level resolution on campaign finance, amended and passed a bridge-related transportation bill as an emergency measure, adjusted allocations tied to transportation debt service, approved a change to point-of-sale credit-card surcharges, and confirmed a nominee to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Senator Howard presented HCR 1,006, described in her explanation as asking Congress to "propose a constitutional amendment so that states have more control over the money, which specifically is dark money going into campaigns and ballot initiatives in the state." Debate was waived and the House concurrent resolution passed by voice vote.

In floor debate over transportation-related measures, Senator Hace introduced amendments to Senate Bill 12-39 to remove outdated language and to move a sunset date from 2026 to 2031 for provisions tied to structurally deficient bridges; the amendment was adopted. The bill as amended passed third reading on a recorded vote, 44 ayes to 2 nays, and the sponsor requested emergency designation; the chamber advanced the bill as an emergency measure.

Senator Yek described Senate Bill 13-09 as a Transportation Committee request concerning the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund (referred to on the floor as the Rhodes Fund). The sponsor said the bill would increase the amount reserved to repay debt service obligations within that fund and cited a fiscal-impact statement showing no net fiscal impact. The bill passed on final reading and was advanced as an emergency measure.

Senator Kern told colleagues that Senate Bill 21-32 would "adjust the surcharge on the credit cards at the point of sale from 2% to 3%." The measure passed on final passage; the clerk recorded 28 ayes and 17 nays. Senator Hall asked to be shown as not voting on SB 21-32 under Article V, Section 24 of the Oklahoma Constitution for reasons of personal interest.

The chamber also handled a confirmation. The clerk read the nomination of Daniel LaFortune to fill an unexpired term on the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Senator Hall moved the advice and consent motion; the tier-1 roll call returned 44 yeas and 1 nay, confirming LaFortune to the commission.

Votes at a glance
HCR 1,006 — Passed (voice vote) — sponsor: Senator Howard.
SB 12-26 — Final passage (47-0 reported) — sponsor: Senator Rader.
SB 12-39 — Amendment adopted; final passage 44-2; advanced as an emergency measure — sponsor: Senator Hace.
SB 13-09 — Final passage (46-0 reported); advanced as an emergency measure — sponsor: Senator Yek.
SB 21-32 — Final passage 28-17; Senator Hall recorded as not voting for personal-interest reasons — sponsor: Senator Kern.
Daniel LaFortune — Confirmed to Oklahoma Tax Commission (44-1) — moved by Senator Hall.

What lawmakers said and next steps
Senators generally advanced the measures by unanimous consent or voice procedures when debate was waived. Several bills were moved as emergency measures, which accelerates implementation timing if enrolled. Where the transcript records numerical tensions or wording that appears inconsistent (for example, the sponsor's floor explanation of SB 13-09 referenced changing a reserve amount "from 80,000,000 to 10,000,000"), the article reports the sponsor's explanation and notes that the fiscal-impact statement cited on the floor showed no fiscal impact; the official enrolled bill text should be consulted for precise numeric language and legal effect.

The senate adjourned and set its next floor session for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.