HB1374 creates a new state framework for electric vehicle charging stations located in multistory buildings, focusing on fire safety, emergency access, and operator accountability. It directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to establish minimum fire safety standards and requires charging station operators to attest annually that their facilities comply with specified requirements. Those requirements include compliance with relevant National Electrical Code and National Fire Protection Association standards, locating charging stations on the ground floor and within 25 feet of an entry point, posting signage with operator and emergency information, providing an emergency call box and Class C fire extinguisher, ensuring adequate lighting and fire alarm systems, maintaining continuous video surveillance with 72-hour recall, and designating an emergency contact.
The bill also authorizes the Corporation Commission to adopt implementing rules, including annual reporting requirements, third-party inspections, and fees to support administration. Noncompliance can result in administrative penalties of up to $500 per day per violation, and all collected fees, fines, and assessments are deposited into the Corporation Commission Revolving Fund. The act is set to take effect November 1, 2025.
In terms of state law impact, HB1374 adds a new section to Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and expands the Corporation Commission’s regulatory authority over EV charging infrastructure in multistory structures. It ties state requirements to existing building, electrical, and fire safety codes while creating a new compliance and enforcement regime for charging station operators. The bill affects EV charging station owners/operators, building owners hosting such equipment, and the Commission itself.
The general sentiment around the bill appears largely supportive, with strong committee and floor approval in the House and a favorable Senate Energy Committee vote. The bill moved through the House with unanimous or near-unanimous committee support and passed third reading overwhelmingly, while the Senate committee vote was 8-2 in favor. The available discussion does not show extensive debate on the bill’s substance, but the vote pattern suggests broad acceptance of the safety-focused approach.
The main point of contention is the extent of government regulation imposed on private EV charging operations, especially in multistory buildings. The requirements are fairly prescriptive, including placement restrictions, surveillance, signage, and equipment mandates, which could raise compliance costs and operational burdens for operators. Any opposition appears to center on concerns about regulatory overreach and the practical impact on private property and business operations, rather than on the underlying goal of improving fire safety.
HB1374 would create new statutory duties for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and new compliance obligations for electric vehicle charging station operators in multistory buildings. It adds a new section to Title 68, authorizes rulemaking, annual reporting, inspections, and penalties, and establishes a dedicated fund source for collected fees and fines. The bill effectively standardizes fire-safety and emergency-response requirements for a specific category of EV charging infrastructure.
The bill appears to have generally favorable support, especially in committee votes, with broad approval in the House and a positive Senate Energy Committee recommendation. The overall tone is safety-oriented and pragmatic, with little evidence of organized opposition in the available materials. The limited dissent that appears is tied more to concerns about regulatory intrusion than to the bill’s policy objective.
The principal contention is whether the state should impose detailed operational and design requirements on private EV charging stations, particularly in multistory buildings. Critics are likely to view the bill as government interference in private business decisions and as adding compliance costs through surveillance, equipment, reporting, and inspection mandates. Supporters, by contrast, appear to emphasize fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and standardized safety practices for a growing technology.