Senate unanimously advances bill directing State Regents to update university technology-transfer guidance

Senator Reinhart explained and won adoption of an amendment to Senate Bill 1670 that adds "defense" to a list of industries covered by the bill, and the Senate advanced the bill on third reading with a 45-0 vote, also approving it as an emergency measure.

"Members, the amendment simply adds defense to the list of industries that this bill is [guiding] transfer technology in," Senator Reinhart said, explaining the change was intended to ensure no industry is overlooked. He told colleagues SB 1670 "requires the state regents to update technology transfer guidance for Oklahoma universities," establish tiered ownership frameworks to align value among investors, universities and private-sector partners, and mandate a review every seven years.

Senator Reinhart framed the bill as closing the gap between laboratory research and market execution, saying the missing link is "actual lab to market execution" and that the measure aims to help bring ideas into companies and jobs.

The amendment was adopted after a brief, uncontested voice vote; the bill faced no floor debate afterward and passed unanimously. Senator Reinhart asked that the final vote be considered a vote on the emergency clause, and the presiding officer so ordered without objection.

With the passage, the State Regents will be directed to prepare updated guidance for technology transfer at the state's universities; the bill includes procedural requirements for tiered ownership and periodic review but the record on the Senate floor did not include specific implementation timelines beyond the seven-year review requirement.