Oklahoma House Bill HB1045

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Homeless persons; identification cards; replacement fee; definition; fees for certified copies of records; certified birth certificate copy fee; requirements; effective date.

Summary

HB1045 creates two fee exemptions for homeless persons in Oklahoma. First, it amends the state identification card law to allow a homeless person to receive one replacement identification card without paying the usual replacement fee, so long as the person provides proof of temporary residence through a social worker or an emergency shelter coordinator. The bill defines “homeless person” for this purpose as someone unable to secure permanent, fixed, and stable housing, as determined by a social worker or shelter coordinator. Second, the bill amends the vital records statute to allow a homeless person to obtain one certified copy of a birth certificate without charge, again only when the request is submitted through a social worker or emergency shelter coordinator and includes the required shelter or agency documentation and attestation. In both cases, the free benefit is limited to one no-cost document before standard fees apply. The bill also retains existing provisions governing identification cards for minors, older adults, inmates, sex offenders, and REAL ID compliant and noncompliant cards.

Impact

The bill would amend 47 O.S. Section 6-105.3 and 63 O.S. Section 1-325 to add new statutory fee waivers for homeless persons. It would affect Service Oklahoma, the Department of Corrections, the State Board of Health, licensed operators, social workers, and emergency shelters by creating a documented process for verifying homelessness and issuing a free replacement ID card or free certified birth certificate copy. The bill does not broadly eliminate fees; it narrowly limits the exemption to one replacement ID card and one birth certificate copy per homeless person, with the existing fee structure otherwise remaining in place.

Sentiment

The bill’s apparent purpose is assistance-oriented and likely reflects a supportive sentiment toward helping homeless individuals obtain essential identity documents needed for housing, employment, benefits, and reentry. No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the record supplied. Based on the text alone, the measure appears framed as a targeted access and administrative relief bill rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the verification requirements and the narrow scope of the exemption. The bill requires a social worker or emergency shelter coordinator to certify homelessness, which may raise administrative or access concerns for people who are unsheltered but not connected to a shelter or service provider. Another possible issue is the one-time limit on the free replacement ID and free birth certificate copy, which may be viewed as too restrictive by advocates, while others may see it as a reasonable safeguard against abuse and revenue loss. No specific opposing or supporting lawmakers are identified in the provided record.