Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
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3 SENATE BILL 1745 By: Jett
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to an Oklahoma Day of Prayer;
7 creating the Oklahoma Day of Prayer Act; providing
8 short title; providing legislative findings;
8 designating the Oklahoma Day of Prayer; requiring
9 Governor to issue certain proclamation; prohibiting
9 certain action; construing provisions; providing for
10 noncodification; providing for codification;
10 providing an effective date; and declaring an
11 emergency.
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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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15 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
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16 codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
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17 A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma
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18 Day of Prayer Act".
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19 B. The Legislature finds that:
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20 1. The National Day of Prayer is a long-standing tradition
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21 observed annually on the first Thursday in May, as established by
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22 joint resolution of the United States Congress in 1952 and amended
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23 in 1988;
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Req. No. 3523 Page 1
1 2. The President of the United States has issued an annual
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2 proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as the National
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3 Day of Prayer, calling upon Americans of all faiths and backgrounds
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4 to engage in voluntary prayer, meditation, or reflection;
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5 3. Prayer and spiritual reflection have played a significant
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6 role in the history and culture of this state and the United States
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7 since their founding; and
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8 4. This state has a compelling interest in acknowledging and
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9 preserving its historical and cultural heritage while respecting the
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10 religious freedom of all citizens.
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11 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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12 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 90.31 of Title 25, unless there
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13 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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14 A. The first Thursday in May is hereby designated as the
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15 "Oklahoma Day of Prayer".
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16 B. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation:
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17 1. Recognizing the Oklahoma Day of Prayer;
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18 2. Encouraging citizens, consistent with their individual
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19 beliefs, to engage in prayer, meditation, or personal reflection on
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20 that day;
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21 3. Calling for voluntary participation by residents, community
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22 organizations, and faith-based groups in observances that respect
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23 the diversity of religious expression in this state; and
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1 4. Inviting local governments, schools, and civic organizations
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2 to acknowledge the day in a manner consistent with the First
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3 Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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4 C. Participation in any Oklahoma Day of Prayer observance shall
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5 be entirely voluntary. No state agency, political subdivision,
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6 public school, or public institution shall compel any person to
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7 participate in religious exercise or penalize any person for
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8 choosing not to participate.
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9 D. Nothing in this act shall be construed to:
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10 1. Endorse or establish any religion;
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11 2. Prohibit or restrict private religious expression; or
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12 3. Require the expenditure of public funds beyond the issuance
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13 of the Governor's proclamation and minimal administrative costs.
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14 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
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15 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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16 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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17 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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18 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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20 60-2-3523 MSBB 1/14/2026 2:37:52 PM
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Req. No. 3523 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.