All Roll Calls
Yes: 174 • No: 0
OklahomaHB 2166Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouse
Definitions and general provisions; newspapers; notices; publications; effective date.
Sponsored By: John Pfeiffer (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Senate Committee
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Stricter rules for legal newspapers
The law sets two paths to be a legal newspaper. A periodical must, for 104 straight weeks before its first notice, keep paid county circulation, be admitted as paid periodical mail, and publish without a break. A nonperiodical must print at least weekly, keep 200 paid print subscribers to verified people, and average 25% news over 12 months. It must have a county office, publish an Oct 1 ownership and circulation statement, print an ID box, get an independent audit before qualifying and each year, petition the district court, and declare its county; moving counties requires requalifying for 104 weeks. All qualifying papers must register ownership with the Secretary of State and stay independent of government and political parties.
Clear county rules for notices
Legal notices are valid only when run in a legal newspaper of the county. Each paper can qualify in only one county and must declare its status by October 1 for the next year; that choice stands until the next October 1. If a county has no legal newspaper, notices must run in a legal paper in an adjoining county that has general circulation there. Where none exists, a paper can qualify after 52 straight weeks in a 12‑month period and meeting the other rules.
Protection for short publication gaps
Moving the place of publication within the same county, or a permitted name change, does not break continuity. A paper can miss up to 21 straight days after its last issue for emergencies like fire, disaster, or a declared health emergency. Missing up to 14 straight days in a calendar year is also allowed. Publishing 50 of the last 52 weeks still counts as continuous, and notices stay valid.
Free statewide online legal notices
If a paper has a website, it must post all legal notices there for free, before any paywall, for as long as they run in print. The paper must also post each notice on the statewide joint newspaper website at no extra cost to the requester. Each issue with notices must include a promo ad pointing to local and statewide sites. Printed issues with notices must be kept for at least three years.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John Pfeiffer
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Bill Coleman
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
THIRD READING
Yes: 46 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Committee vote: Business & Insurance
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Top_of_Page
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Committee vote: Business & Insurance
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 3/25/2025
THIRD READING
Yes: 89 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
DO PASS
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor 05/11/2026
5/12/2026HouseSent to Governor
5/6/2026HouseEnrolled measure signed, returned to House
5/6/2026SenateEnrolled, signed, to Senate
5/6/2026HouseReferred for enrollment
5/5/2026HouseEngrossed measure signed, returned to House
5/5/2026SenateMeasure passed: Ayes: 46 Nays: 0
5/5/2026SenateGeneral Order, Considered
5/5/2026SenatePlaced on General Order
4/22/2025SenateReported Do Pass Business and Insurance committee; CR filed
4/17/2025SenateSecond Reading referred to Business and Insurance
4/1/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/26/2025SenateEngrossed, signed, to Senate
3/26/2025HouseReferred for engrossment
3/25/2025HouseThird Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 89 Nays: 0
3/25/2025HouseGeneral Order
3/25/2025HouseAuthored by Senator Coleman (principal Senate author)
3/10/2025HouseCR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Government Oversight Committee
3/10/2025HousePolicy recommendation to the Government Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute General Government
2/25/2025HouseReferred to General Government
2/4/2025HouseSecond Reading referred to Government Oversight
2/4/2025HouseAuthored by Representative Pfeiffer
2/3/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/3/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled (final version)
5/6/2026
Floor (Senate)
4/21/2025
Senate Committee Report
4/17/2025
Engrossed
3/26/2025
Floor (House)
3/10/2025
House Committee Report
3/10/2025
House Committee Substitute
3/10/2025
House Policy Committee Report
2/25/2025
Introduced
1/16/2025
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