The bill establishes the Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, to address animal shelter overpopulation and reduce euthanasia rates for cats and dogs. It provides grants to local governments and animal welfare organizations for spay and neuter services, with funding decisions made by the newly formed Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program Advisory Board. This board will consist of various stakeholders, including private animal shelters and veterinarians, and members will be reimbursed for travel expenses but will not receive compensation. Additionally, the bill amends the Animal Friendly Revolving Fund to include funding for the Spay and Neuter Grant Program and removes the provision allowing purchasers of special license plates to choose where their fees are deposited, directing a portion of those fees to the fund instead.

Furthermore, the bill introduces various specialized license plates to support specific causes and organizations, such as education, health research, and community initiatives. Each plate will be designed in consultation with relevant organizations, and a licensing fee of up to $20 will be charged for the use of logos and designs. The fees collected from these plates will be allocated to designated revolving funds to support their respective causes. The bill also outlines the fee structure for these plates, with a renewal fee of $35 per year, and includes provisions for recodification of existing law, taking effect on July 1, 2027. Notably, it deletes previous language regarding the designation of funds for the Animal Friendly License Plate, streamlining the allocation process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47-1104.10, 47-1135.5