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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 719 By: Paxton
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4
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5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to the State Travel Reimbursement
7 Act; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 500.2 and 500.9,
8 as amended by Sections 1 and 5, Chapter 63, O.S.L.
8 2022, and 500.14 (74 O.S. Supp. 2024, Sections 500.2
9 and 500.9), which relate to reimbursable expenses,
9 overnight lodgings, and rejection of travel claims;
10 modifying verification requirements for direct
10 airline purchases; modifying approving official for
11 certain claims for reimbursement; providing
11 discretion to the Director of the Office of
12 Management and Enterprise Services for certain
12 rejections; updating statutory language; updating
13 statutory reference; and providing an effective date.
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14
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15
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16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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17 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 500.2, as
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18 amended by Section 1, Chapter 63, O.S.L. 2022 (74 O.S. Supp. 2024,
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19 Section 500.2), is amended to read as follows:
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20 Section 500.2. A. Officials and employees of the state,
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21 traveling on authorized state business, may be reimbursed for
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22 expenses incurred in such travel in accordance with the provisions
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23 of the State Travel Reimbursement Act and existing statutes relating
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24 to state travel. Persons who are not state employees, but who are
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Req. No. 1453 Page 1
1 performing substantial and necessary services to the state which
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2 have been directed or approved by the appropriate department
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3 official, shall enjoy the protection of the sovereign immunity of
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4 the state to the same extent as a paid employee. Such persons may
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5 be reimbursed for expenses incurred during authorized official
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6 travel under these same statutory provisions; provided, it is
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7 indicated on the claim the person is not a state employee, a
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8 description of services performed is entered, and the agency head by
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9 approval of the claim certifies such services were substantial and
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10 necessary, and germane to the duties and functions of the
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11 reimbursing agency. Travel expenses incurred by a person during the
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12 course of seeking employment with a state agency, unless such travel
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13 is performed at the request of the employing agency, shall not be
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14 considered expenses incurred in performing substantial and necessary
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15 services to the state and shall not be reimbursed under the
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16 provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
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17 B. The chief administrative officer of the Department of Public
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18 Safety, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma
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19 State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, the Military
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20 Department of the State of Oklahoma, the Department of Corrections,
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21 the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the Alcoholic
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22 Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, the Oklahoma Department of
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23 Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, the Oklahoma Department of
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24 Emergency Management, the State Fire Marshal, and the State
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Req. No. 1453 Page 2
1 Department of Health may arrange for and charge meals and lodging
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2 for a contingent of state personnel moved into an area for the
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3 purpose of preserving the public health, safety, or welfare or for
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4 the protection of life or property. The cost for meals or lodging
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5 so charged shall not exceed the amount authorized in the State
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6 Travel Reimbursement Act. The chief administrative officer of each
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7 agency involved in such an operation shall require the vendor
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8 furnishing meals, lodging, or both meals and lodging to submit an
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9 itemized statement for payment. When a claim for lodging is made
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10 for a contingent of state personnel, individual members of the
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11 contingent may not submit a claim for lodging. When a claim for
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12 meals is made for a contingent of state personnel, individual
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13 members of the contingent may not submit a claim for meals.
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14 C. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Center for
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15 the Advancement of Science and Technology, and the Oklahoma
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16 Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry are hereby authorized
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17 to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food,
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18 lodging, meeting facility and beverage expenses as may be necessary
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19 for sponsoring seminars and receptions relating to economic
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20 development and science and technology issues. Such expenses may be
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21 paid directly to the contracting agency or business establishment.
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22 The Director Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Department of
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23 Commerce, the President of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement
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24 of Science and Technology, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall
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Req. No. 1453 Page 3
1 each provide a quarterly report of such expenditures to the
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2 Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
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3 President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
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4 D. The Native American Cultural and Educational Authority is
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5 hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the
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6 payment of food, lodging, and meeting facility as may be necessary
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7 to pursue the promotion of fundraising, marketing, and development
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8 of Native American educational programs and cultural projects, or to
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9 sponsor luncheons, seminars, and receptions relating to Native
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10 American educational, cultural, museum, and economic development
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11 issues. Such expenses may be paid directly to the contracting
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12 agency or business establishment. The Executive Director of the
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13 Native American Cultural and Educational Authority shall provide a
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14 monthly report of expenditures to the Native American Cultural and
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15 Educational Authority Board.
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16 E. For purposes of this section:
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17 1. "State agency" means any constitutionally or statutorily
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18 created state board, commission, or department, including the
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19 Legislature and the Courts;
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20 2. State agencies are authorized to enter into contracts and
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21 agreements for the payment of food and lodging expenses as may be
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22 necessary for employees or other persons who are performing
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23 substantial and necessary services to the state by attending
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24 official conferences, meetings, seminars, workshops, or training
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Req. No. 1453 Page 4
1 sessions or in the performance of their duties. Such expenses may
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2 be paid directly to the contracting agency or business
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3 establishment;, provided the meeting qualifies for overnight travel
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4 for the employees and the cost for food and lodging for each
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5 employee shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the
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6 State Travel Reimbursement Act;
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7 3. State agencies are authorized to enter into contracts and
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8 agreements for the payment of conference registration expenses as
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9 may be necessary for employees or other persons who are performing
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10 substantial and necessary services to the state by attending
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11 official conferences, meetings, seminars, workshops, or training
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12 sessions. Such expenses may be paid directly to the contracting
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13 agency or business establishment; and
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14 4. State agencies are authorized to enter into contracts and
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15 agreements for the payment of food and lodging expenses as may be
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16 necessary for employees attending an official course of instruction
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17 or training conducted or sponsored by any state agency. Expenses
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18 may be paid directly to the contracting agency or business
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19 establishment. The cost for food and lodging for each employee
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20 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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21 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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22 F. State agencies are authorized to make direct purchases of
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23 commercial airline tickets for use by employees in approved out-of-
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24 state travel. Each claim or invoice submitted to the Director of
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Req. No. 1453 Page 5
1 the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for the payment of
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2 the purchase shall bear the airline identifying ticket number, the
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3 name of the airline, total cost of each ticket purchased, class of
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4 accommodation, and name of the employee for whom the ticket was
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5 purchased and shall be filed on claim forms as prescribed by the
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6 Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. The
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7 employee shall sign an affidavit stating that the employee used a
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8 direct purchase commercial airline ticket received for his or her
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9 approved out-of-state travel, or in lieu of the affidavit, the
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10 employee may file a travel claim in connection with said airline
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11 flight.
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12 G. 1. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
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13 Services is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements
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14 for the payment of food, lodging, and other authorized expenses as
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15 may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor, or participate in
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16 conferences, meetings, or training sessions. The Director may
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17 establish accounts as necessary for the collection and distribution
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18 of funds, including funds of sponsors and registration fees, related
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19 to such conferences, meetings, and training sessions. Expenses
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20 incurred may be paid directly to the contracting agency or business
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21 establishment.
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22 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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23 meetings, and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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Req. No. 1453 Page 6
1 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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2 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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3 H. 1. The Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and
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4 Substance Abuse Services is hereby authorized to enter into
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5 contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging, and other
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6 authorized expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor,
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7 or participate in conferences, meetings, or training sessions. The
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8 Commissioner may establish accounts as necessary for the collection
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9 and distribution of funds, including funds of sponsors and
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10 registration fees, related to such conferences, meetings, and
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11 training sessions. Any expenses incurred may be paid directly to
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12 the contracting agency or business establishment.
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13 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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14 meetings, and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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15 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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16 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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17 I. The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System is hereby authorized to
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18 enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of lodging as
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19 necessary for employees to carry out their duties in representing
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20 any client whom the System has been properly appointed to represent.
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21 Such expenses may be paid directly to the contracting agency or
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22 business establishment. The cost for lodging for each employee
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23 shall not exceed the daily rate as provided in the State Travel
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24 Reimbursement Act.
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Req. No. 1453 Page 7
1 J. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is hereby
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2 authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of
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3 food, lodging, and meeting facility and beverage expenses as may be
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4 necessary for seminars and receptions relating to familiarization
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5 tours and tourism development. The expenses may be paid directly to
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6 the contracting agency or business establishment. The Executive
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7 Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department shall
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8 provide a monthly report of any such expenditures to the Oklahoma
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9 Tourism and Recreation Commission.
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10 K. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is hereby
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11 authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of
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12 exhibitor fees and display space charges at expositions to promote
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13 the Department's recreational facilities and the tourism and
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14 recreation industry. The expenses may be paid directly to the
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15 contracting agency or business establishment; provided, that no
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16 payment shall be made prior to the event unless it conveys a
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17 property right to the state for future availability and use.
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18 L. 1. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office of the Department of
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19 Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and
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20 agreements for the payment of food, lodging, and other authorized
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21 expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor, or
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22 participate in highway-safety-related conferences, workshops,
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23 seminars, meetings, or training sessions. The payments shall be for
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24 all persons in attendance, including, but not limited to, employees
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Req. No. 1453 Page 8
1 of political subdivisions or employees of the state or federal
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2 government. For purposes specified in this paragraph, only federal
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3 highway safety funds may be used in accordance with federal
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4 guidelines and regulations, and no appropriated state funds shall be
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5 used.
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6 2. The cost of food for persons attending any highway safety
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7 conferences, workshops, seminars, meetings, and training sessions
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8 that do not require overnight travel shall not exceed the total
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9 daily rate as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
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10 M. 1. The Director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of
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11 Investigation is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and
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12 agreements for the payment of food, lodging and other authorized
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13 expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor or
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14 participate in any conference, meeting, training session or
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15 initiative to promote the mission and purposes of the Bureau. The
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16 payments may be for all persons in attendance, including, but not
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17 limited to, employees of political subdivisions or employees of the
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18 state or federal government.
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19 2. The cost of food for persons that do not require overnight
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20 travel shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the
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21 State Travel Reimbursement Act.
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22 N. The Oklahoma Homeland Security Director is hereby authorized
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23 to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food,
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24 lodging and other authorized expenses as may be necessary to host,
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Req. No. 1453 Page 9
1 conduct, sponsor, or participate in homeland-security-related
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2 conferences, meetings, workshops, seminars, exercises or training
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3 sessions. The expenses may be paid directly to the contracting
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4 agency or business establishment.
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5 O. The State Department of Education is hereby authorized to
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6 enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging
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7 and other authorized expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct,
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8 sponsor or participate in conferences, meetings or training
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9 sessions. The State Department of Education may establish accounts
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10 as necessary for the collection and distribution of funds, including
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11 funds of sponsors and registration fees, related to such
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12 conferences, meetings and training sessions. Any expenses incurred
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13 may be paid directly to the contracting agency or business
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14 establishment.
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15 P. 1. The Insurance Commissioner of the Insurance Department
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16 of the State of Oklahoma is hereby authorized to enter into
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17 contracts and agreements for the payment of food, lodging, and other
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18 authorized expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor,
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19 or participate in conferences, meetings, or training sessions. The
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20 Commissioner may establish accounts as necessary for the collection
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21 and distribution of funds, including funds of sponsors and
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22 registration fees, related to such conferences, meetings, and
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23 training sessions. Any expenses incurred may be paid directly to
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24 the contracting agency or business establishment.
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Req. No. 1453 Page 10
1 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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2 meetings, and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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3 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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4 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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5 Q. 1. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is are
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6 hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the
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7 payment of food, lodging, and other authorized expenses as may be
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8 necessary to host, conduct, sponsor, or participate in conferences,
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9 meetings, or training sessions. The Oklahoma State Regents for
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10 Higher Education may establish accounts as necessary for the
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11 collection and distribution of funds, including funds of sponsors
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12 and registration fees, related to such conferences, meetings, and
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13 training sessions. Any expenses incurred may be paid directly to
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14 the contracting agency or business establishment.
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15 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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16 meetings, and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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17 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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18 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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19 R. 1. The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability is
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20 hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the
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21 payment of food, lodging, and other authorized expenses as may be
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22 necessary to host, conduct, sponsor, or participate in conferences,
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23 meetings, or training sessions. The Office of Educational Quality
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24 and Accountability may establish accounts as necessary for the
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Req. No. 1453 Page 11
1 collection and distribution of funds, including funds of sponsors
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2 and registration fees, related to such conferences, meetings, and
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3 training sessions. Any expenses incurred may be paid directly to
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4 the contracting agency or business establishment.
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5 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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6 meetings, and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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7 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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8 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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9 S. 1. The Oklahoma Department of Securities is hereby
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10 authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of
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11 food, lodging, meeting facility, facilitator fees and travel
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12 expenses, exhibitor fees and other authorized expenses as may be
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13 necessary to host, conduct, sponsor or participate in conferences,
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14 meetings, training sessions or initiatives promoting or otherwise
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15 relating to investor education. The Oklahoma Department of
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16 Securities may establish accounts as necessary for the collection
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17 and distribution of funds, including funds of sponsors and
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18 registration fees, related to such conferences, meetings, training
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19 sessions or initiatives. The payments may be for all persons in
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20 attendance, including, but not limited to, employees of the state or
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21 federal government or employees of political subdivisions of the
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22 state, including employees of boards of public education. Expenses
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23 incurred may be paid directly to the contracting agency or business
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24 establishment.
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Req. No. 1453 Page 12
1 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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2 meetings and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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3 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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4 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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5 3. The Oklahoma Department of Securities is hereby authorized
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6 to pay stipends to teachers participating in the investor education
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7 program and monetary achievement awards to select participating
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8 students. No appropriated state funds shall be used.
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9 T. 1. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is hereby
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10 authorized to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of
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11 food, lodging, meeting facility, beverage and other authorized
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12 expenses as may be necessary to host, conduct, sponsor or
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13 participate in seminars, receptions, conferences, meetings or
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14 training sessions related to the support of veterans and the
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15 development of veterans' services. Expenses incurred may be paid
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16 directly to the contracting agency or business establishment. The
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17 Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
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18 shall provide a monthly report of any such expenditures to the
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19 Oklahoma Veterans Commission.
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20 2. The cost of food for persons attending any conferences,
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21 meetings and training sessions that do not require overnight travel
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22 shall not exceed the total daily rate as provided in the State
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23 Travel Reimbursement Act.
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Req. No. 1453 Page 13
1 U. Whenever possible it shall be the policy of each state
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2 agency to prepay airline fares and lodging expenses using a purchase
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3 card issued to the agency. This policy shall apply to instances
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4 where employees of the agency are traveling on behalf of state
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5 government.
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6 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 500.9, as
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7 amended by Section 5, Chapter 63, O.S.L. 2022 (74 O.S. Supp. 2024,
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8 Section 500.9), is amended to read as follows:
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9 Section 500.9. A. Reimbursement for overnight lodging, while
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10 in official travel status, may be made at an amount authorized by
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11 the provisions of the federal Government Services Administration
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12 (GSA) in its Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), 42 C.F.R., Section
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13 300-1.1 et seq., and as updated in its FTR Bulletins bulletins for
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14 travel while away from home without additional documentation or the
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15 actual cost, if lower, per night except as provided in subsections
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16 B, C, E, and G of this section and Section 500.9A of this title.
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17 Receipts issued by the hotel, motel or other public lodging place
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18 shall accompany claims for reimbursement.
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19 B. State officers or employees attending meetings, workshops,
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20 conferences or other objectives of trips which are conducted at a
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21 designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place or where
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22 lodging has been arranged for by the blocking of rooms or by rate
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23 reductions for the participants by the sponsor as evidenced by the
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24 announcement or notice of the meeting, workshop, conference or other
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Req. No. 1453 Page 14
1 objective shall be reimbursed the actual lodging expense not to
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2 exceed the single occupancy room rate charged by the designated
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3 hotel, motel or other public lodging place; provided, that the
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4 officials or employees are in official travel status approved by the
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5 agency head or designee. Provided further, those state officers or
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6 employees attending meetings, workshops, conferences or other
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7 objectives of trips, which are conducted at a designated hotel,
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8 motel or other public lodging place as provided by this subsection,
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9 who choose to acquire less expensive lodging at another hotel, motel
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10 or other public lodging place shall be reimbursed the actual lodging
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11 expense not to exceed the single occupancy room rate charged by the
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12 designated hotel, motel or other public lodging place. Provided
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13 further, those state officers or employees so choosing this option
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14 shall be reimbursed for local transportation costs incurred
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15 traveling between such optional lodging and the designated hotel,
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16 motel or other public lodging place not to exceed the difference
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17 between the cost of the designated lodging and the cost of the
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18 optional lodging. Receipts issued by the hotel, motel or other
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19 public lodging place shall accompany claims for reimbursement.
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20 C. State officers and employees who have been required to
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21 attend hearings or meetings of any congressional committee or
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22 subcommittee or any federal agency, board or commission shall be
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23 reimbursed for their actual and necessary travel and lodging
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Req. No. 1453 Page 15
1 expenses; however, the agency head must approve any claims in
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2 connection with such expenses.
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3 D. Reimbursement for meals and lodging on out-of-state trips
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4 shall not begin more than one (1) calendar day before the meeting,
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5 workshop, conference or other objective of trip begins and shall not
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6 continue more than one (1) calendar day after said the meeting,
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7 workshop, conference or other objective of trip ends. This twenty-
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8 four-hour limit shall also apply for in-state travel when the agency
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9 determines that travel is of a duration where overnight travel prior
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10 to or after the trip objective would be necessary.
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11 E. Reimbursement for meals and lodging incurred in official
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12 travel in areas outside of the United States to implement the
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13 objectives of contracts, grants, agreements or gifts for which funds
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14 from these sources are furnished shall be reimbursed from said such
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15 funds at actual cost not to exceed the amount authorized for United
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16 States Government government employees in its periodical publication
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17 entitled "Standard Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign
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18 Areas), Department of State, Washington, DC". Provided, however,
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19 reimbursement for travel to points outside of the United States,
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20 whether performed under authority of contract, grant, agreement or
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21 otherwise, shall not begin more than two (2) calendar days before or
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22 end more than two (2) calendar days after the objective of the trip.
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23 F. Claims submitted to the Director of the Office of Management
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24 and Enterprise Services for payment under the provisions of this
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Req. No. 1453 Page 16
1 section shall be certified to by the principal fiscal officer or
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2 contract and grant administrator of each agency approving officer as
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3 prescribed by Section 34.68 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
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4 Such officer shall certify that such claim complies with and is
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5 authorized under this section.
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6 G. The Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
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7 Services agency approving officer may authorize reimbursement for
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8 overnight lodging while in official travel status within the State
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9 of Oklahoma this state at a rate of up to one hundred fifty percent
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10 (150%) of the amount authorized in subsection A of this section if
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11 it is determined that no lodging was available at the maximum rate
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12 set out in subsection A of this section. Prior to authorizing such
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13 payment, the state agency approving officer or employee shall
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14 certify receive in writing a verification by the employee of the
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15 efforts made to obtain lodging at the rate set out in subsection A
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16 of this section and the reasons why such lodging was not available
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17 within a reasonable distance from the state officer's or employee's
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18 work location.
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19 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 500.14, is
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20 amended to read as follows:
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21 Section 500.14. The Director of the Office of Management and
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22 Enterprise Services shall may reject any travel claim or voucher not
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23 in conformity with the provisions of this act the State Travel
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Req. No. 1453 Page 17
1 Reimbursement Act or existing statutes relating to reimbursement for
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2 travel expenses.
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3 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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Req. No. 1453 Page 18Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.