HB 1374 (2026) – Oklahoma
Summary of purpose, provisions, impact, and timelines
Purpose and intent
- Establish minimum fire safety standards for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations located in multistory buildings.
- Require annual attestation and potential rulemaking by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to oversee compliance, inspections, and enforcement.
- Create a framework to ensure public safety around EV charging infrastructure and provide a clear mechanism for compliance and penalties.
Key provisions
1) Minimum safety standards
- OCC shall establish minimum fire safety standards for charging stations that are accessible in multistory buildings.
- Charging stations must comply with a set of specified safety requirements (at minimum):
- Design, installation, and operation standards aligned with:
- National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 625
- NFPA codes 70 (National Electrical Code related), and 88A (standards for charging equipment)
- Stations located on the ground floor of multilevel structures
- Stations within 25 feet of an entry point accessible via public right-of-way or private drive from public way
- Signage at all egress points showing OCC registration number, charging station locations, emergency contact, and emergency call box location
- Emergency call box installation and a 10-pound Class C fire extinguisher within 25 feet of charging stations
- Adequate lighting as per the Oklahoma International Building Code (OIBC), Chapter 10
- Fire alarm system with notification capability per OIBC, Chapter 10
- Continuous video surveillance with 72-hour recall in the charging station vicinity
- Designation of a charging-station operator emergency contact with hours (business and after-hours) clearly listed
- Compliance with any other applicable OCC rules or fire safety standards enacted under this section
2) Attestation and reporting
- Each charging-station operator serving multistory buildings must attest annually to OCC that they comply with the standards.
- The attestation and ongoing compliance may reference reporting requirements under Title 68, Section 6501 et seq., and related OCC rules.
3) Rulemaking and administration
- OCC may promulgate rules to implement this section, including:
- Annual reports by charging-station operators confirming compliance
- Provision for third-party inspections pursuant to Section 6509 of Title 68
- Fees necessary to fund OCC duties under this section
4) Penalties and funding
- Administrative penalties may be imposed on operators who fail to meet requirements or comply with rules:
- Penalty not to exceed $500 per day, per violation
- All collected fees, fines, or assessments go into the OCC Revolving Fund (as established in Section 180.7, Title 17)
5) Effective date
- The act becomes effective November 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- EV charging-station operators that provide access to charging equipment in multistory buildings (e.g., parking structures in office, residential, or mixed-use buildings).
- OCC, which will establish regulations, process attestations, inspections, and penalties.
- Potential third-party inspectors engaged under OCC oversight.
Procedural/timeline aspects
- Effective date: November 1, 2025.
- Operators must begin annual attestations to OCC starting after enactment, with subsequent yearly compliance reporting.
- OCC has authority to promulgate and enforce rules, perform inspections (potentially via third parties), and set related fees.
- Penalties accrue on an ongoing daily basis for noncompliance (up to $500 per day per violation).
Notes
- The bill is a committee-substitute version of HB 1374, with amendments adopted in the Energy/Utilities committees.
- It creates a safety-focused overlay specifically for EV charging infrastructure in multistory buildings, expanding safety requirements beyond general building codes.
