Lobbying regulation; political subdivisions; public funds; lobbyist; former members of the Legislature; effective date.

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

HOUSE BILL 3727 By: Shaw

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to lobbying regulation; prohibiting
political subdivisions from spending public funds on
hiring a lobbyist or paying a nonprofit state
association or organization that hires lobbyists;
clarifying activities not prohibited; creating right
of action for taxpayers or residents to seek
injunctive relief; directing award of attorney fees
and costs for prevailing taxpayers or residents;
prohibiting former members of Legislature from
registering as lobbyists for certain period;
prohibiting renewal of former members of Legislature
as lobbyists for certain period; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 4000 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. A political subdivision may not spend public funds:
1. To hire an individual required to register as a lobbyist
for the purpose of lobbying a member of the Legislature; or
2. To pay a nonprofit state association or organization that:
a. primarily represents political subdivisions, and

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b. hires or contracts with an individual required to
register as a lobbyist under Rule 5 of Appendix I of
Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. Subsection A of this section does not prohibit:
1. An officer or employee of a political subdivision from
providing information for a member of the Legislature or appearing
before a legislative committee;
2. An elected officer of a political subdivision from
advocating for or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to
influence the outcome of legislation pending before the Legislature
while acting as an officer of the political subdivision;
3. An employee of a political subdivision from advocating for
or against or otherwise influencing or attempting to influence the
outcome of legislation pending before the Legislature if those
actions would not require a person to register as a lobbyist;
4. A political subdivision from reimbursing an officer or full-
time employee of the political subdivision for direct travel
expenses incurred by the officer or employee for engaging in an
activity described by paragraph 1, 2, or 3 of this subsection; or
5. A full-time employee of a nonprofit state association or
organization that primarily represents political subdivisions of
this state from:
a. providing legislative services related to bill
tracking, bill analysis, and legislative alerts,

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b. communicating directly with a member of the
Legislature to provide information if the
communication would not require a person to register
as a lobbyist, or
c. testifying for or against legislation before the
Legislature.
C. If a political subdivision engages in an activity prohibited
by subsection A of this section, a taxpayer or resident of the
political subdivision is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief
to prevent further activity prohibited by that subsection and
further payment of public funds related to that activity.
D. A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under
subsection C of this section is entitled to recover from the
political subdivision the taxpayer's or resident's reasonable
attorney fees and costs incurred in bringing the action.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Rule 5.30, Appendix I of Title 74,
unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as
follows:
Beginning on January 1, 2027, no former member of the Oklahoma
House of Representatives or the Oklahoma State Senate may work or
register as a lobbyist until six (6) years after their last term has
expired. Former members of the Legislature who have become
registered lobbyists prior to January 1, 2027, shall not be eligible

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for renewal of their registration until six (6) years after their
last term has expired.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.

60-2-14692 MJ 01/13/26