Oklahoma Senate Bill SB359

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25
• Report Pass: 2/10/25
• Refer: 2/10/25

Caption

Motor vehicles; allowing Service Oklahoma to provide a list of open recalls for vehicles with motor vehicle registration and notify certain vehicle owners. Effective date.

Summary

SB359 authorizes Service Oklahoma to check National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall information before issuing a motor vehicle registration or sending a renewal notice, and to notify the vehicle owner if the vehicle has one or more open safety recalls. The notice may be given at the time of registration or included with a renewal notice, and it must describe each open recall and explain that the repair can generally be performed at no cost by a manufacturer-approved dealer, subject to federal law. The bill defines “open recall” narrowly as a safety-related recall requiring manufacturer notification and repair or modification by an authorized dealer, while excluding certain labeling/owner’s manual issues and recalls that involve repurchase or financial compensation rather than repair. It also states that the new notice process does not change the underlying liability of manufacturers or authorized dealers for recall repairs, and it shields the Executive Director of Service Oklahoma and designated employees or operators from liability for acts or omissions related to the notice process except in cases of gross negligence.

Impact

If enacted, SB359 would add a new section to Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and create a state-run recall notification mechanism tied to vehicle registration and renewal. The practical effect would be to integrate federal recall data into the registration process, potentially increasing the likelihood that Oklahoma vehicle owners learn about unresolved safety recalls. The bill also limits liability exposure for Service Oklahoma personnel while preserving existing manufacturer and dealer responsibilities under law.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests generally favorable support for the bill. It passed the Senate Aeronautics & Transportation Committee unanimously on a 12-0 vote with a do pass as amended recommendation, indicating broad agreement on the consumer-safety purpose of the measure. No committee transcript is available, and the bill was later referred to Appropriations, so the record does not show extended public debate or opposition in the materials provided.

Contention

The main policy issue appears to be the scope and administration of the notice program rather than the concept itself. Potential points of concern include the added administrative burden on Service Oklahoma, the accuracy and timing of recall data pulled from federal sources, and the liability protections for agency staff. The bill also excludes certain recall types from the definition of open recall, which could matter to stakeholders who want broader notice coverage or, conversely, a narrower state role in recall communications.