Oklahoma HB 1943: State government; Oklahoma Plain Writing Act of 2025; directing agencies to use plain writing in documents; effective date.

Bill Text

HB1943 POLPCS1 Michelle McCane-MAH
2/20/2025 3:34:10 pm
AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS

Amendment submitted by: Michelle McCane
Adopted: _____________________________

______________________________________
Reading Clerk

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State of Oklahoma

SPEAKER:

CHAIR:

I move to amend HB1943
Of the printed Bill
Page Section Lines
Of the Engrossed Bill

By deleting the content of the entire measure, and by inserting in lieu
thereof the following language:

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

PROPOSED POLICY
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1943 By: McCane

PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

An Act relating to state government; creating the
Oklahoma Plain Writing Act of 2025; defining terms;
directing agency heads to perform certain duties;
requiring agency websites to inform the public of its
compliance with plain writing requirements; requiring
inclusion of mechanism for receiving public input;
directing agencies to use plain writing in documents
by certain date; requiring the Director of the Office
of Management and Enterprise Services to develop and
issue certain guidelines; allowing agencies to follow
plain writing guidelines developed by certain
entities; providing for the publication of certain
reports on agency websites; barring judicial review
of compliance with plain writing requirements;
providing construing provision; providing for penalty
amount; providing for transfer of penalty amount;
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 13001 of Title 74, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

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A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma
Plain Writing Act of 2025".
B. As used in this act:
1. "Agency" means any state board, bureau, commission,
department, authority, public trust, interstate commission, the
Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Office of the Governor;
2. "Covered document" means any document that:
a. is necessary for obtaining any state government
benefit or service or filing taxes,
b. provides information about any state government
benefit or service, or
c. explains to the public how to comply with a
requirement this state administers or enforces.
The term also includes, whether in paper or electronic form, a
letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction, and does not
include a regulation; and
3. "Plain writing" means writing that is clear, concise, well-
organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the
subject or field and intended audience.
C. Not later than nine (9) months after the effective date of
this act, the head of each agency shall:
1. Designate one or more senior officials within the agency to
oversee the agency implementation of this act;

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2. Communicate the requirements of this act to the employees of
the agency;
3. Train employees of the agency in plain writing;
4. Establish a process for overseeing the ongoing compliance of
the agency with the requirements of this act;
5. Create and maintain a plain writing section on the website
of the agency as required under subsection D of this section that
is accessible from the homepage on the website of the agency; and
6. Designate one or more agency points-of-contact to receive
and respond to public input on:
a. agency implementation of this act, and
b. the agency reports required under subsection G of this
section.
D. The plain writing section described under paragraph 5 of
subsection C of this section shall:
1. Inform the public of agency compliance with the requirements
of this act; and
2. Provide a mechanism for the agency to receive and respond to
public input on:
a. agency implementation of this act, and
b. the agency reports required under subsection G of this
section.
E. Beginning not later than one (1) year after the effective
date of this act, each agency shall use plain writing in every

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covered document of the agency that the agency issues or
substantially revises.
F. 1. Not later than six (6) months after the effective date
of this act, the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise
Services shall develop and issue guidance on implementing the
requirements of this section. The Director may designate a lead
agency, and may use interagency working groups to assist in
developing and issuing the guidance.
2. Before the issuance of guidance under paragraph 1 of this
subsection, agencies may follow the guidance of:
a. the writing guidelines developed by the Plain Language
Action and