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Oklahoma Legislature· HB 3297Placed on General Order

An act relating to highway remediation services, the official text

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1                            STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

3 HOUSE BILL 3297            By: Hays

4

5

6                            AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to highway remediation services;

    requiring highway remediation and cleanup services

8   maintain certain minimum workers' compensation

    coverage; requiring coverage for licensure;

9   authorizing certain suspension or revocation of

    license; requiring certain price list be published on

10  website; requiring annual update of price list;

    listing requirements of price list; authorizing

11  certain direct billing for service provided; stating

    certain contracts invalid; allowing certain bill

12  consolidation; authorizing placement of certain lien;

    providing for attachment of lien; authorizing certain

13  retention of property; amending 47 O.S. 2021, Section

    953.1, which relates to maximum fees and charges;

14  allowing certain voluntary bill consolidation;

    limiting certain price markup by wrecker operators;

15  allowing markup after certain payment is made;

    providing for codification; and providing an

16  effective date.

17

18

19

20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

21  SECTION 1.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

22 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-7-407 of Title 27A, unless

23 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                 Page 1
1   Every highway remediation and cleanup service operating within

2 this state shall maintain workers' compensation insurance coverage

3 of not less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). Proof of

4 such coverage shall be provided upon licensure by the Department of

5 Environmental Quality and upon request to law enforcement, the

6 Department of Transportation, insurers, or contracting parties. The

7 Department of Environmental Quality may suspend or revoke the

8 license of a highway remediation and cleanup service for failure to

9 maintain the coverage required pursuant to this section.

10  SECTION 2.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

11 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-7-408 of Title 27A, unless

12 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

13  Each highway remediation and cleanup service operating in this

14 state shall publish and maintain on a publicly accessible website a

15 clear, searchable price list of its one hundred (100) most

16 frequently billed services. The price list shall be updated at

17 least annually and made available prior to or contemporaneously with

18 billing. The price list shall include, at a minimum:

19  1. A plain-language description of each service;

20  2. The standard charge for each service;

21  3. Units of measurement or billing increments; and

22  4. Any commonly applied surcharges.

23

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                 Page 2
1   SECTION 3.         NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

2 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2-7-409 of Title 27A, unless

3 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

4   A. A highway remediation and cleanup service providing services

5 at the scene of a roadway incident shall not be required to bill

6 through a wrecker or towing service in order to receive payment. A

7 remediation company may bill directly to the responsible party or

8 its insurer for services rendered. Any contract, policy, or

9 agreement that requires a remediation company to bill exclusively

10 through a wrecker or towing service is void and unenforceable.

11 However, a highway remediation and cleanup service may voluntarily

12 agree to combine charges for services rendered for accident cleanup

13 along with those of wrecker or towing service into a single

14 consolidated bill to be presented to a party or its insurer for

15 services rendered.

16  B. A highway remediation and cleanup service that provides

17 highway remediation and cleanup services shall have a statutory lien

18 for the reasonable value of services rendered upon:

19  1. The vehicle or vehicles involved;

20  2. Any cargo or property remediated; and

21  3. Any other property of the responsible party directly related

22 to the incident.

23  B. The lien shall attach upon performance of the services and

24 may be perfected in the same manner as other possessory or statutory

    Req. No. 14163                                                  Page 3
1 liens under Oklahoma law. A remediation company may retain

2 possession of property subject to the lien until payment for

3 services provided is made in full.

4  SECTION 4.      AMENDATORY  47 O.S. 2021, Section 953.1, is

5 amended to read as follows:

6  Section 953.1. A. The rates established by the Corporation

7 Commission shall determine the nonconsensual tow maximum fees and

8 charges for wrecker or towing services performed in this state,

9 including incorporated and unincorporated areas, by a wrecker or

10 towing service licensed by the Department of Public Safety when that

11 service appears on the rotation log of the Department or on the

12 rotation log of any municipality, county or other political

13 subdivision of this state, and the services performed are at the

14 request or at the direction of any officer of the Department or of a

15 municipality, county, or political subdivision. No wrecker or

16 towing service in the performance of transporting or storing

17 vehicles or other property towed as a result of a nonconsensual tow

18 shall charge any fee which exceeds the maximum rates established by

19 the Commission. Such rates shall be in addition to any other rates,

20 fees or charges authorized, allowed or required by law and costs to

21 collect such fees. Any wrecker or towing service is authorized to

22 collect from the owner, lienholder, agent or insurer accepting

23 liability for paying the claim for a vehicle or purchasing the

24 vehicle as a total loss vehicle from the registered owner of any

   Req. No. 14163                                                   Page 4
1 towed or stored vehicle, the fee required by Section 904 of this

2 title including environmental remediation fees and services.

3   B. When wrecker or towing services are performed as provided in

4 subsection A of this section:

5   1. Each performance of a wrecker or towing service shall be

6 recorded by the operator on a bill or invoice as prescribed by rules

7 of the Department and by order of the Commission;

8   2. Nothing herein shall limit the right of an operator who has

9 provided or caused to be provided wrecker or towing services to

10 require prepayment, in part or in full, or guarantee of payment of

11 any charges incurred for providing such services;

12  3. This section shall not be construed to require an operator

13 to charge a fee for the performance of any wrecker or towing

14 services; and

15  4. The operator is authorized to collect all lawful fees from

16 the owner, lienholder or agent or insurer accepting liability for

17 paying the claim for a vehicle or purchasing the vehicle as a total

18 loss vehicle from the registered owner of the towed vehicle for the

19 performance of any and all such services and costs to collect such

20 fees. An operator shall release the vehicle from storage upon

21 authorization from the owner, agent or lienholder of the vehicle or,

22 in the case of a total loss, the insurer accepting liability for

23 paying the claim for the vehicle or purchasing the vehicle where the

24 vehicle is to be moved to an insurance pool yard for sale.

    Req. No. 14163                                                 Page 5
1   C. The rates in subsections D through G of this section shall

2 be applicable until superseded by rates established by the

3 Commission.

4   D. Distance rates.

5   1. Rates in this subsection shall apply to the distance the

6 towed vehicle is transported and shall include services of the

7 operator of the wrecker vehicle. Hourly rates, as provided in

8 subsection E of this section, may be applied in lieu of distance

9 rates. Hourly rates may be applied from the time the wrecker

10 vehicle is assigned to the service call until the time it is

11 released from service either upon return to the premises of the

12 wrecker or towing service or upon being assigned to perform another

13 wrecker or towing service, whichever occurs first. When the hourly

14 rate is applied in lieu of distance towing rates, the operator may

15 not apply the two-hour minimum prescribed in subsection E of this

16 section nor may hookup or mileage charges, as prescribed in this

17 section, be applied.

18  Such distance rates shall be computed via the shortest highway

19 mileage as determined from the latest official Oklahoma Department

20 of Transportation state highway map, except as follows:

21  a. for distances or portions of distances not

22             specifically provided for in the governing highway

23             map, the actual mileage via the shortest practical

24             route will apply,

    Req. No. 14163                                                  Page 6
1   b. in computing distances, fractions of a mile will be

2   retained until the final and full mileage is

3   determined, at which time any remaining fraction shall

4   be increased to the next whole mile,

5   c. when, due to circumstances beyond the control of the

6   wrecker or towing service, roadway conditions make it

7   impractical to travel via the shortest route, distance

8   rates shall be computed based on the shortest

9   practical route over which the wrecker vehicle and the

10  vehicle it is towing can be moved, which route shall

11  be noted on the bill or invoice, or

12  d. when the wrecker or towing service is performed upon

13  any turnpike or toll road, the turnpike or toll road

14  mileage shall be used to determine the distance rates

15  charged and the turnpike or toll road fees may be

16  added to the bill or invoice.

17  2. Maximum distance rates shall be as follows:

18  Weight of Towed Vehicle  Distance                 Rate

19  (In pounds, including    Towed                    Per

20  equipment and lading)                             Mile

21  Single vehicle: 8,000 or less 25 miles or less    $3.00

22  Single vehicle: 8,000 or less Over 25 miles       $2.50

23  Single vehicle: 8,001 to 12,000 25 miles or less  $3.40

24  Single vehicle: 8,001 to 12,000 Over 25 miles     $3.00

    Req. No. 14163                                     Page 7
1   Single vehicle: 12,001 to 40,000 Any $5.75

2   Single vehicle: 40,000 or over  Any $6.75

3   Combination of vehicles         Any $6.75

4   E. Hourly Rates.

5   1. Rates in this subsection shall apply for the use of a

6 wrecker vehicle and shall include services of the operator of such

7 wrecker, except as provided in paragraph 4 of this subsection.

8 Rates shall apply for all wrecker or towing services performed that

9 are not otherwise provided for in this section, including, but not

10 limited to, waiting and standby time, but shall not include the

11 first fifteen (15) minutes of service following the hookup of a

12 vehicle when a hookup fee is assessed, as provided in subsection F

13 of this section.

14  Hourly rates shall apply from the time the vehicle or labor is

15 assigned to the service call until the time it is released from

16 service either upon return to the premises of the wrecker or towing

17 service or upon being assigned to perform another wrecker or towing

18 service, whichever occurs first. Whenever a wrecker vehicle is used

19 to tow a vehicle subject to distance rates, as provided in

20 subsection D of this section, hourly rates shall apply only for the

21 time such wrecker is used in the performance of services other than

22 transportation, except when such hourly rates are used in lieu of

23 such distance rates.

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                  Page 8
1   As used in this subsection, rates stated per hour apply for

2 whole hours and, for fractions of an hour, rates stated per fifteen

3 (15) minutes apply for each fifteen (15) minutes or fraction thereof

4 over seven and one-half (7 1/2) minutes. However, if the service

5 subject to an hourly rate is performed in less than two (2) hours,

6 the charge applicable for two (2) hours may be assessed, except as

7 provided for in subsection D of this section.

8   2. Maximum hourly rates for wrecker or towing services

9 performed for passenger vehicles, when rates for such services are

10 not otherwise provided for by law, shall be as follows:

11 Weight of Towed Passenger Vehicle Rate Per               Rate Per

    (In pounds)                    Hour                     15 Minutes

12

    Single vehicle: 8,000 or less  $60.00                   $15.00

13

    Single vehicle: 8,001 to 24,000 $80.00                  $20.00

14

    Single vehicle: 24,001 to 44,000 $120.00                $30.00

15

    Single vehicle: 44,001 or over $180.00                  $45.00

16

    Combination of vehicles        $180.00                  $45.00

17

    3. Maximum hourly rates for all other wrecker or towing

18

    services, when rates for such other services are not otherwise

19

    provided for by law, shall be determined based upon the gross

20

    vehicle weight rating of each wrecker vehicle used as follows:

21

    GVWR of Wrecker Vehicle        Rate Per                 Rate Per

22

    (In pounds)                    Hour                     15 Minutes

23

    8,000 or less                  $60.00                   $15.00

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                  Page 9
1   8,001 to 24,000              $80.00           $20.00

2   24,001 to 44,000             $120.00          $30.00

3   44,001 or over               $180.00          $45.00

4   Combination wrecker vehicle

5   with GVWR of 24,000 or over  $180.00          $45.00

6   4. a. Maximum hourly rates for extra labor shall be Thirty

7   Dollars ($30.00) per person per hour.

8   b. Maximum hourly rates for skilled or specialized labor

9   and/or equipment shall be the actual customary and

10  ordinary rates charged for such labor and/or

11  equipment. When skilled or specialized labor or

12  equipment is required, the wrecker operator's cost for

13  such skilled or specialized labor or equipment plus a

14  twenty-five percent (25%) gross profit markup to cover

15  overhead costs for such labor will be added to the

16  invoice or freight bill to be collected in addition to

17  all other applicable charges.

18  F. Hookup Rates.

19  1. Rates in this subsection shall apply to the hookup of a

20 vehicle to a wrecker vehicle when such hookup is performed in

21 connection with a wrecker or towing service described in this

22 section. Such hookup rate shall include the first fifteen (15)

23 minutes of such service, for which there shall be no additional fee

24 charged, but shall not include the use of a dolly or rollback

    Req. No. 14163                                                Page 10
1 equipment or a combination wrecker vehicle to accomplish such

2 hookup, for which an additional fee may be charged as provided in

3 subsection G of this section. Hookup shall include, but not be

4 limited to, the attachment of a vehicle to or the loading of a

5 vehicle onto a wrecker vehicle.

6   2. Maximum hookup rates shall be as follows:

7   Weight of Vehicle Being Hooked Up

8   (In pounds, including equipment                   Rate

9   and lading)

10  Single vehicle: 8,000 or less                 $65.00

11  Single vehicle: 8,001 to 12,000               $75.00

12  Single vehicle: 12,001 to 24,000              $85.00

13  Single vehicle: 24,001 or over                $95.00

14  Combination of vehicles                       $95.00

15  G. Additional Service Rates.

16  1. Rates in this subsection shall apply to the performance of

17 the following services:

18  a. the disconnection and reconnection of a towed

19  vehicle's drive line when necessary to prevent

20  mechanical damage to such vehicle,

21  b. the removal and replacement of a towed vehicle's axle

22  when necessary to prevent mechanical damage to such

23  vehicle, or

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                Page 11
1          c. the use of a dolly or rollback equipment when

2          essential to prevent mechanical damage to a towed

3          vehicle or when neither end of such vehicle is capable

4          of being towed safely while in contact with the

5          roadway.

6   2. Maximum additional service rates shall be as follows:

7   Weight of Towed  Service Performed

8   Vehicle (In pounds, Disconnect   Reconnect Use of Dolly

9   including equipment Drive Line;  Drive Line; or Rollback

10  and lading)      Remove Axle     Replace Axle Equipment

11  Rate Per Service Performed

12  8,000 or less    $10.00                   $15.00             $25.00

13  8,001 to 12,000  $15.00                   $20.00             $30.00

14  Rate Per 15 Minutes of Service Performed

15  12,001 or over   $20.00 $20.00 Not applicable

16  H. An operator shall be required to provide reasonable

17 documentation to substantiate all lawful fees charged the owner,

18 lienholder, agent or insurer paying the claim for the towed vehicle.

19 Fees for which the operator is being reimbursed or having paid to a

20 third party, shall include copies of the invoice or other

21 appropriate documents to substantiate such payment to said third

22 party.

23  I. Wrecker fees, including maximum distance, hourly, and hookup

24 rates shall be adjusted weekly by adding a fuel surcharge as

    Req. No. 14163                                               Page 12
1 provided in this section. The fuel surcharge shall be based on the

2 Department of Energy "weekly retail on-highway diesel prices" for

3 the "Midwest region" using Two Dollars ($2.00) per gallon as the

4 base price with no fees added. The wrecker fees shall be adjusted

5 to allow a one-percent increase in fees for every ten-cent increase

6 in fuel cost starting at Two Dollars and ten cents ($2.10) per

7 gallon.

8  J. When skilled or specialized labor or equipment is required,

9 the cost incurred by the wrecker operator for such skilled or

10 specialized labor or equipment plus an additional twenty-five

11 percent (25%) gross profit markup or gross profit margin shall be

12 allowed to cover overhead costs for such labor and will be added to

13 the invoice or freight bill to be collected in addition to all other

14 applicable charges. When a highway remediation and cleanup service

15 who is licensed by the Department of Environmental Quality is

16 utilized to provide the appropriate specialized labor, equipment, or

17 debris cleanup needed to assist with the clearing of an accident or

18 to clear the roadway following an accident, the highway remediation

19 and cleanup service and the wrecker operator may voluntarily

20 consolidate the services provided by both parties into a single bill

21 to be presented for payment of services rendered. If a consolidated

22 bill is presented in this manner, a wrecker or towing service may

23 markup the cost incurred by the wrecker operator for services

24 provided by the highway remediation and cleanup service plus an

   Req. No. 14163                                                 Page 13
1 additional fifteen percent (15%) gross profit markup or gross profit

2 margin to cover overhead cost for such services. This markup may

3 only be applied after the wrecker operator has fully paid the

4 highway remediation and cleanup service for the highway remediation

5 portion of the bill presented. This applies to labor and equipment

6 not regulated by the Commission.

7   K. Wrecker operators shall be allowed to obtain ownership and

8 insurer information, including accident reports and other public

9 records, from the Oklahoma Tax Commission or other states' motor

10 vehicle agencies or from law enforcement agencies for the purpose of

11 determining ownership and responsibility for wrecker fees. In the

12 event a state of origin is not known, the Department of Public

13 Safety and the Oklahoma Tax Commission shall assist in providing

14 such information. The wrecker operator is authorized to collect

15 lawful fees for such costs and services from the owner, lienholder

16 that seeks possession of a vehicle under a security interest, agent,

17 or insurer accepting liability for paying the claim for a vehicle or

18 purchasing the vehicle as a total loss vehicle from the owner of any

19 towed or stored vehicle.

20  SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.

21

22  60-2-14163      JBH      01/05/26

23

24

    Req. No. 14163                                                 Page 14
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