The bill enacts the "Guidance Transparency Act" and amends several sections of the Administrative Procedures Act in Oklahoma. It introduces a new definition for "guidance document," which encompasses agency statements of general applicability that are not classified as major or nonmajor rules, and specifies that these documents can include various forms of communication such as memoranda and directives. The bill mandates that agencies maintain and make available for public inspection all guidance documents, alongside their exempt rules, at their principal place of business and on their websites. Additionally, it requires agencies to submit all guidance documents to the Secretary of State on a quarterly basis for publication in an electronic, indexed, and searchable format.

The amendments also modify existing definitions and clarify the responsibilities of the Office of Administrative Rules, which is tasked with publishing "The Oklahoma Register" and the "Oklahoma Administrative Code." The bill emphasizes the importance of transparency by ensuring that guidance documents are accessible to the public and clarifies that these documents do not carry the force of law unless authorized. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 75-250.3, 75-250.9