Oklahoma House Bill HB3303

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/3/26

Caption

Insurance; auto insurance; accident investigation process; Oklahoma Insurance Department; penalties; police reports; arbitration; effective date.

Summary

HB3303 would regulate certain practices of auto insurers in Oklahoma by requiring each authorized insurer to submit its accident investigation process to the Oklahoma Insurance Department by July 1, 2027, or when applying for licensure after that date. The bill creates penalties for noncompliance with that filing requirement, including monetary fines for early violations and a 90-day suspension of the insurer’s ability to write new business in Oklahoma after repeated offenses. The bill also changes how auto accident claims are handled when a police report exists. In those cases, insurers would be required to pay claims according to the police report, but they could challenge that result by requesting arbitration through the Oklahoma Insurance Department. If the Insurance Commissioner finds a violation of this requirement, the insurer again faces a 90-day suspension of its privilege to write new business in the state.

Impact

If enacted, HB3303 would add new provisions to Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes governing auto insurance claims handling and insurer oversight. It would give the Oklahoma Insurance Department a new role in collecting accident investigation procedures, enforcing compliance through fines and business suspensions, and resolving disputes through arbitration when insurers contest claims based on police reports. The bill would directly affect auto insurers operating in Oklahoma, as well as policyholders and claimants involved in motor vehicle accidents.

Sentiment

The available legislative history shows favorable early committee sentiment, with the House Civil Judiciary Committee voting 9-0 to do pass the bill. The bill was advanced as a policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee, suggesting it received a positive initial reception among committee members. No opposing testimony or recorded debate was provided in the available materials.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the bill’s mandatory claim-payment rule and its enforcement structure. Insurers may object to being required to pay claims according to police reports, especially if they believe the report is incomplete or inaccurate, though the bill provides an arbitration process to challenge claims. Another likely issue is the severity of the penalties, including fines and a 90-day suspension of the ability to write new business, which could be viewed as strong regulatory pressure on insurers. Supporters would likely emphasize consumer protection and faster, more predictable claims handling, while insurers may focus on due process and the risk of disputes being resolved too rigidly.