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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 3451 By: Wilk
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority;
amending 69 O.S. 2021, Section 1705, as amended by
8 Section 572, Chapter 486, O.S.L. 2025 (69 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 1705), which relates to powers and
9 duties of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority; modifying
statutory references; modifying locations of
10 construction and operation of certain turnpikes;
requiring publication of certain notice; detailing
11 publishing requirements; requiring certain meeting be
held; requiring submission of certain report;
12 requiring report be published to website; requiring
certain formal public meeting be held; detailing
13 contents of meeting; requiring notice of certain
public meeting; detailing publishment requirements;
14 stating requirements for meeting venue; authorizing
persons to present at meeting; requiring public
15 comments be collected; requiring certain report be
submitted; requiring route changes be electronically
16 submitted; authorizing additional meetings at
Authority's discretion; requiring Authority submit
17 certain electronic report prior to completion of
design of a new route of an authorized turnpike
18 project; requiring certain authorizations terminate
after five years under certain conditions; removing
19 certain requirement for automatic tollgates;
modifying statutory references to certain proposed
20 turnpikes; requiring compensation for certain damaged
property; modifying certain entities Authority shall
21 comply with; requiring Authority adopt certain rules
and adhere to existing laws; and providing an
22 effective date.
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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1 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 69 O.S. 2021, Section 1705, as
2 amended by Section 572, Chapter 486, O.S.L. 2025 (69 O.S. Supp.
3 2025, Section 1705), is amended to read as follows:
4 Section 1705. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is hereby
5 authorized and empowered:
6 (a) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and
7 conduct of its business.
8 (b) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure.
9 (c) To maintain an office at such place or places within the
10 state as it may designate.
11 (d) To sue and be sued in contract, reverse condemnation,
12 equity, mandamus and similar actions in its own name, plead and be
13 impleaded; provided, that any and all actions at law or in equity
14 against the Authority shall be brought in the county in which the
15 principal office of the Authority shall be located, or in the county
16 of the residence of the plaintiff, or the county where the cause of
17 action arose. All privileges granted to the Authority and duties
18 enjoined upon the Authority by the provisions of Sections 1701
19 through 1734 1736 of this title may be enforced in a court of
20 competent jurisdiction in an action in mandamus.
21 (e) To construct, maintain, repair and operate turnpike
22 projects and highways, with their access and connecting roads, at
23 such locations and on such routes as it shall determine to be
24 feasible and economically sound; provided, that until specifically
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1 authorized by the Legislature, the Authority shall be authorized to
2 construct and operate toll turnpikes only at the following
3 locations:
4 (1) The Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
5 (2) The Southwestern (H.E. Bailey) Turnpike between Oklahoma
6 City and Wichita Falls, Texas.
7 (3) The Northeastern (Will Rogers) Turnpike between Tulsa and
8 Joplin, Missouri.
9 (4) The Eastern (Indian Nation) Turnpike between Tulsa
10 Henryetta and Paris, Texas, including all or any part thereof
11 between McAlester and the Red River south of Hugo.
12 (5) The Cimarron Turnpike between Tulsa and Interstate Highway
13 35 north of Perry, including a connection to Stillwater.
14 (6) The Muskogee Turnpike between Broken Arrow and Interstate
15 Highway 40 west of Webbers Falls.
16 (7) All or any part of an extension of the Muskogee Turnpike,
17 beginning at a point on Interstate Highway 40 near the present south
18 terminus of the Muskogee Turnpike, and extending in a southeasterly
19 direction on an alignment near Stigler, Poteau and Heavener to the
20 vicinity of the Arkansas State Line to furnish access to Hot
21 Springs, Texarkana, Shreveport and New Orleans.
22 (8) A tollgate on the Turner Turnpike in the vicinity of
23 Luther, Oklahoma, and in the vicinity of the intersection of State
24 Highway 33 and Turner Turnpike in Creek County, Oklahoma, or in the
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1 vicinity of the intersection of State Highway 33 and Turner Turnpike
2 or U.S. Highway 66 in Creek County, Oklahoma, from any monies
3 available to the Authority.
4 (9) Add on the Will Rogers Turnpike a northbound automatic
5 tollgate onto State Highway 28 and a southbound on-ramp from State
6 Highway 28.
7 (10) A turnpike (Chickasaw Turnpike) or any part or parts
8 thereof beginning in the vicinity of Duncan extending east to the
9 vicinity of the City of Davis, and extending in a northeasterly
10 direction, by way of to the vicinity of the City of Ada, to a
11 connection in the vicinity of Henryetta or in the vicinity of the
12 intersection of State Highway 48 and Interstate 40; and a turnpike
13 or any part or parts thereof from the vicinity of Snyder extending
14 north to the vicinity of Woodward.
15 (11) A turnpike or any part or parts thereof beginning at a
16 point in the vicinity of Ponca City, or at a point on the Kansas-
17 Oklahoma state boundary line east of the Arkansas River and west of
18 the point where Oklahoma State Highway No. 18 intersects said state
19 boundary line, and extending in a southeasterly direction to a
20 connection with the Tulsa Urban Expressway System in the general
21 area of the Port of Catoosa.
22 (12) All or any part of an Oklahoma City toll expressway system
23 connecting the residential, industrial and State Capitol Complex in
24 the north part of Oklahoma City with the residential, industrial and
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1 Will Rogers World Airport Complex in the south and southwest parts
2 of Oklahoma City.
3 (13) A turnpike (The Industrial Parkway) or any part or parts
4 thereof beginning at a point on the Oklahoma-Kansas state boundary
5 line between the point where U.S. Highway 66 intersects the boundary
6 line and the northeast corner of Oklahoma and ending by means of a
7 connection or connections with Shreveport, Louisiana, and Houston,
8 Texas, in southeastern Oklahoma and at no point to exceed thirty
9 (30) miles west of the Missouri or Arkansas border.
10 (14) A turnpike or any part or parts thereof beginning in the
11 vicinity of Velma or County Line to a point intersecting with
12 Interstate 35 in the area south of Davis.
13 (15) A turnpike or any part or parts thereof beginning in the
14 vicinity of Watonga and extending south and/or east to the vicinity
15 of north and/or west Oklahoma City.
16 (16) A tollgate on the Will Rogers Turnpike near the
17 intersection of State Highway 137 and the Will Rogers Turnpike,
18 located south of Quapaw.
19 (17) A tollgate on the Muskogee Turnpike in the vicinity of
20 Porter, Oklahoma, a tollgate on the Will Rogers Turnpike in the
21 vicinity of Adair, Oklahoma, a tollgate on the Turner Turnpike in
22 the vicinity of Luther, Oklahoma, and a tollgate on the H.E. Bailey
23 Turnpike at Elgin, Oklahoma, from any monies available to the
24 Authority.
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1 (18) A tollgate on the Turner Turnpike in the vicinity of
2 Wellston, Oklahoma, from any monies available to the Authority.
3 (19) A tollgate on the Muskogee Turnpike in the vicinity of
4 Brushy Mountain, Oklahoma, and in the vicinity of Elm Grove,
5 Oklahoma, from any monies available to the Authority.
6 (20) (8) All or any part of an Oklahoma City Outer Loop
7 expressway system beginning in the vicinity of I-35 Interstate 35
8 and the Turner Turnpike and extending west into Canadian County and
9 then south to I-40 Interstate 40; and then south and east to I-35
10 Interstate 35 in the vicinity of Moore and Norman; and then
11 extending east and north to I-40 Interstate 40 east of Tinker Field;
12 and then extending north to the Turner Turnpike to complete the
13 Outer Loop.
14 (21) (9) All or any part of the Tulsa south bypass expressway
15 system (Creek Turnpike) beginning in the vicinity of the Turner
16 Turnpike near Sapulpa and extending south and east to U.S. Highway
17 75 in the vicinity of 96th Street to 121st Street; and then east
18 across the Arkansas River to a connection with the Mingo Valley
19 Expressway; and then south and/or or east to a point on the Tulsa-
20 Wagoner County Line county line near 131st Street south in the city
21 City of Broken Arrow.
22 (22) (10) A new turnpike (Creek Turnpike) or any part thereof
23 from near the west gate of the Will Rogers Turnpike south to the
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1 west end of south Tulsa Turnpike at the Tulsa-Wagoner County Line
2 county line.
3 (23) (11) A new turnpike (Cherokee Turnpike) or any parts
4 thereof from the vicinity of the connection between State U.S.
5 Highway 33 412 and U.S. Highway 69 easterly to the Arkansas State
6 Line state line.
7 (24) A four-lane extension of the Muskogee Turnpike from
8 Interstate Highway 40 west of Webbers Falls to the Poteau vicinity.
9 (25) A new turnpike or any part or parts thereof beginning at a
10 point in the vicinity of northwest Tulsa, and extending in a
11 northwesterly direction, by means of a connection or connections
12 with the cities of Pawhuska and Newkirk, to a point intersecting in
13 the vicinity of U.S. Highway No. 77 and the Kansas State Line.
14 (26) A full access interchange on the Indian Nation Turnpike
15 south of Interstate 40, in the vicinity of Henryetta, Oklahoma, and
16 in the vicinity of the proposed theme park, museum or an industrial
17 facility which qualifies for the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program Act,
18 from any monies available to the Authority.
19 (27) A new turnpike beginning at a point directly west of the
20 Arkansas line and four-laning Highway 70 from that point to the
21 farthest western reach of Highway 70 creating a southern route
22 through Oklahoma.
23 (28) (12) A new turnpike and bridge or any parts thereof from a
24 point in the vicinity of the city City of Mustang southerly across
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1 the South Canadian River to the H.E. Bailey Turnpike in the vicinity
2 of the city City of Tuttle; and then easterly across the South
3 Canadian River to a point in the vicinity of the city City of
4 Norman.
5 (29) A new turnpike or any parts thereof beginning at a point
6 in the vicinity of the city of Altus and extending in a
7 northwesterly direction to a point in the vicinity of the city of
8 Sayre.
9 (30) A new turnpike or any parts thereof beginning at a point
10 in the vicinity of the city of Enid and extending in a westerly
11 direction to a point in the vicinity of the city of Woodward.
12 (31) An on- and off-ramp or any parts thereof at Fletcher,
13 Oklahoma, in the vicinity of the Interstate 44 and State Highway 277
14 intersection. Any existing on- or off-ramp or any parts thereof in
15 the vicinity of Fletcher, Oklahoma, shall not be removed and shall
16 be maintained pursuant to Section 1701 et seq. of this title.
17 (32) A new bridge crossing the Arkansas River between South
18 Delaware Avenue and Memorial Drive in Tulsa County. This project
19 shall commence upon a determination by the Oklahoma Transportation
20 Authority that such bridge shall be self-sufficient at some point
21 over a thirty-year time period from the toll charges associated with
22 the bridge project.
23 (33) An exit ramp or any parts thereof from the eastbound lane
24 of the Turner Turnpike at 96th Street in Tulsa.
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1 (34) An on- and off-ramp or any parts thereof on the Cimarron
2 Turnpike in the vicinity of the northside of the Glencoe, Oklahoma,
3 municipal limits.
4 (35) (13) A new turnpike (Gilcrease Expressway) or any parts
5 thereof beginning at Interstate 44 at or near its intersection with
6 49th West Avenue, past State U.S. Highway 64/412, turning
7 northeasterly, crossing 41st West Avenue, and continuing eastward to
8 the L.L. Tisdale Expressway in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
9 The Authority shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general
10 circulation in the vicinity of an authorized turnpike project that
11 states that the Authority is seeking to commence project design on
12 the route. Such notice shall be published prior to seeking any
13 contract for the design of a new route of an authorized turnpike
14 project. Such notice shall be published for four (4) consecutive
15 weeks. The Authority shall also publish and maintain such notice on
16 its website for no less than four (4) consecutive weeks.
17 The Authority's approval of any contract to undertake the design
18 of a new route of an authorized turnpike project shall take place in
19 an open and public meeting held in compliance with the Oklahoma Open
20 Meeting Act. After such meeting, the Authority shall:
21 (A) Within ninety (90) days, submit a report electronically to
22 the Governor, the members of the Legislature, and to the elected
23 officials of any city or county where the new route shall be
24 located, inclusive of conceptual project maps and preliminary
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1 project details. Such report shall also be published on the website
2 of the Authority,
3 (B) Within one hundred twenty (120) days, schedule and hold a
4 formal public meeting to provide a description of the new route and
5 preliminary project details, including the approximate location,
6 scope of work, and design elements.
7 (i) Notice of the public meeting shall be given electronically
8 by posting on the Authority's official website and by publication in
9 a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the new
10 route, or a major part of it, is to be located. The notice to be
11 published in a newspaper of general circulation shall be published
12 in four consecutive weekly issues of the newspaper, with the first
13 publication to be at least thirty (30) days prior to the public
14 meeting date. In addition to such notices, the Authority shall make
15 a good-faith effort to provide notice to all known property owners
16 within one-half (1/2) mile on each side of the new route. The
17 Authority shall use its discretion in selecting the method to
18 provide the notice to property owners, considering the number and
19 types of property interests of such owners.
20 (ii) The public meeting shall be held at a convenient location
21 that is as near to the new route as practical.
22 (iii) At the public meeting, any person may submit oral or
23 written statements and data about the new route. Reasonable limits
24 may be set upon the time allowed for oral statements.
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1 (iv) The Authority shall also collect public comments through
2 an online portal with links to the portal shared at the public
3 meeting and on the website of the Authority. Such online portal
4 shall be open for use by the public thirty (30) days prior to the
5 public meeting,
6 (C) Within thirty (30) days of the public meeting, provide an
7 electronic report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the
8 Transportation Commission summarizing the oral and written
9 statements presented at the meeting, in addition to any data
10 received, including any economic impact reports and support or
11 opposition to a route offered by cities and counties where the new
12 route is to be located, and
13 (D) If the location of a new route changes based on the results
14 of the public meeting provided for in division (C) of this
15 subparagraph, electronically report such changes to the Governor,
16 the Legislature, the Transportation Commission, and to the elected
17 officials of cities and counties where the new route will be
18 located. Additional public meetings, conducted in accordance with
19 the provisions of division (C) of this subparagraph, may be
20 scheduled at the Authority's discretion.
21 Prior to the completion of the design of a new route of an
22 authorized turnpike project, the Authority shall electronically
23 submit to the Governor, the Legislature, and to the elected
24 officials of cities and counties where the new route will be
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1 located, the independent approval of the Transportation Commission
2 as provided in Section 1701 of this title.
3 Legislative authorization for any new turnpike location enacted
4 after the effective date of this act, shall terminate five (5) years
5 after the effective date of the act authorizing such turnpike,
6 unless the Authority has, in an open and public meeting held in
7 compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, approved a contract
8 to commence project design.
9 All access roads, interchanges, or lead roads connecting such
10 turnpikes with existing highways must be built by funds furnished by
11 the Authority.
12 The minimum and maximum wages for the construction of the roads,
13 highways and projects provided for in Sections 1701 through 1734
14 1736 of this title shall be in accordance with the schedules of
15 wages used or adopted by the Commission in construction of state
16 highways.
17 The Authority is hereby authorized to enter into contracts or
18 agreements with agencies and instrumentalities of other states or
19 the national government for construction, maintenance and operation
20 of interstate turnpikes or highways.
21 The Authority is hereby required to construct and install
22 automatic tollgates on the Will Rogers Turnpike at State Highway No.
23 28 near Adair.
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1 (f) To issue turnpike revenue bonds of the Authority, payable
2 solely from revenues, including the revenues accruing to the trust
3 fund created by Sections 1701 through 1734 of this title, for the
4 purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any one or more
5 turnpike projects. Provided that any bonds issued for the
6 construction of the proposed turnpike referred to in subparagraphs
7 (10) (7), (20) (8), (21) (9), and (22) (10) of paragraph (e) of this
8 section shall be issued as one issue for all four of the proposed
9 turnpikes and shall be financed, constructed and operated under one
10 bond indenture.
11 (g) To fix and revise from time to time tolls for the use of
12 any turnpike projects.
13 Any common carrier having authority at the time of opening any
14 turnpike project to operate upon a highway approximately paralleling
15 the turnpike project shall be granted without further showing
16 authority to operate over the turnpike project to all municipalities
17 which such carrier is serving at the time the turnpike project is
18 opened to traffic. But nothing herein shall be construed as
19 granting any new operation rights to any common carriers.
20 (h) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property
21 in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties.
22 (i) To acquire in the name of the Authority by purchase or
23 otherwise on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may
24 deem proper, or by exercise of the right of condemnation in manner
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1 hereinafter provided, such public or private lands, including public
2 parks, playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights
3 therein, rights-of-way, property, rights, easements, and interests,
4 as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of Sections
5 1701 through 1734 1736 of this title; provided, that all public or
6 private property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by
7 Sections 1701 through 1734 1736 of this title shall be restored or
8 repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as
9 practicable and the owner of such property be compensated in
10 accordance with the provisions of Sections 1706 through 1708 of this
11 title.
12 (j) To designate, except as is provided for herein, the
13 location, and establish, limit, and control such points of ingress
14 to and egress from each turnpike project as may be necessary or
15 desirable in the judgment of the Authority to insure the proper
16 operation and maintenance of such project, and to prohibit entrance
17 to such project from any point or points not so designated.
18 (k) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements
19 necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the
20 execution of its powers, and to employ consulting engineers,
21 attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts,
22 superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as
23 may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their compensation;
24 provided, that all such expenses shall be payable solely from the
Req. No. 14141 Page 14
1 proceeds of turnpike revenue bonds issued under the provisions of
2 Sections 1701 through 1734 1736 of this title or from revenues;
3 provided, further, no attorney employed by the Authority, nor any
4 member of any law firm of which the attorney may be connected, shall
5 ever be paid any fee or compensation for any special or
6 extraordinary services.
7 (l) To receive and accept from any federal agency grants for or
8 in aid of the construction of any turnpike project, provided, the
9 acceptance of such grants will not reduce the amount of federal aid
10 for the construction, repair, or maintenance of farm-to-market roads
11 and other highways and bridges in this state; and to receive and
12 accept aid or contributions from any source of either money,
13 property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and
14 applied only for the purposes for which such grants and
15 contributions may be made.
16 (m) To adopt such rules, and to do any and all things necessary
17 to comply with rules, regulations, or requirements of the Bureau of
18 Public Roads, Multistate Economic Development Regional Commission,
19 as defined in Sections 1151 through 1153, inclusive, of Title 74 of
20 the Oklahoma Statutes, Ozarka Region Commission Federal Highway
21 Administration or any other federal agency administering any law
22 enacted by the Congress of the United States to aid or encourage the
23 construction of highways.
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1 (n) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the
2 powers expressly granted in Sections 1701 through 1734 1736 of this
3 title. The design standards for all paving shall comply with the
4 design standards of the American Association of State Highway and
5 Transportation Officials as modified by the Oklahoma Department of
6 Transportation. All contracts for construction work on turnpike
7 projects shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, or bidders,
8 after notice by publication in a newspaper published in the county
9 where the work is to be done in two consecutive weekly issues of the
10 newspaper. In all cases where more than eight (8) miles of
11 construction is let at the same time and is not an advertisement for
12 a surface-treatment-only project, such advertisement shall provide
13 for bids on sections of the turnpike not to exceed eight (8) miles.
14 If the project advertised is a surface-treatment-only project of
15 more than twenty (20) miles of road, the advertisement shall provide
16 for bids on sections of the road no longer than twenty (20) miles,
17 as well as bids on the project as a whole. Subject to the following
18 restrictions and limitations, the Authority shall, when contracting
19 for construction work, divide such work into paving projects, bridge
20 projects, including underpasses and overpasses, and earthmoving or
21 miscellaneous projects, according to the type of work to be done.
22 Each project shall be let under a separate contract or contracts and
23 no contract or project shall include more than one of such types of
24 construction work. Each contract for construction work shall
Req. No. 14141 Page 16
1 contain a provision that ninety percent (90%) of all labor employed
2 on the project shall be residents of Oklahoma. However, contracts
3 for bridges may include earthwork and structures for the approaches
4 thereto.
5 (o) To adopt such rules, and to do any and all things necessary
6 to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and permits
7 related to the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of
8 turnpike projects authorized by this section.
9 (p) It shall be unlawful for any member, officer or employee of
10 the Authority to transact with the Authority, either directly or
11 indirectly, any business for profit of such member, officer, or
12 employee; and any person, firm, or corporation knowingly
13 participating therein shall be equally liable for violation of this
14 provision.
15 The term "business for profit" shall include, but not be limited
16 to, the acceptance or payment of any fee, commission, gift, or
17 consideration to such member, officer, or employee.
18 Violation of this provision shall constitute a Class D1 felony
19 offense punishable by incarceration as provided for in subsections B
20 through F of Section 20N of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or a
21 fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and not more
22 than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such imprisonment
23 and fine.
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1 (p) (q) In the event of a national emergency, the Authority,
2 subject to any vested rights or claims, may enter into contracts
3 with the federal government or any authorized agency thereof to
4 allow the federal government or agency thereof to use such turnpikes
5 partly or exclusively during the existence of such emergency,
6 provided, that the federal government agrees in such contract to
7 pay, during the term of such contract, an amount sufficient, when
8 added to any tolls collected, to meet all operating and maintenance
9 expenses, interest payments, and the minimum sinking fund and
10 reserve requirements of the trust agreement for the turnpike covered
11 by the contract.
12 (q) (r) All meetings of the Authority shall be open public
13 meetings, and all records shall be public records, except when
14 considering personnel or litigation.
15 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.
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17 60-2-14141 JBH 12/01/25
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Req. No. 14141 Page 18Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.