The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee advanced more than a dozen transportation-related bills on multiple topics Tuesday, including a one-year limit on post-condemnation refund claims, changes to commercial driver's license instructor rules, a five-year airport construction program and a proposal to incrementally increase a roads fund to $1 billion.

Why it matters: The measures affect state infrastructure funding and regulatory practice across Oklahoma — from local airport planning and roadway sales to who may instruct and be certified to train commercial drivers. Several bills clarify agency authority or respond to constituent requests, and many require follow-up with executive-branch agencies for implementation.

On property condemnation refunds, Senator Reid presented Senate Bill 836, which limits the time the state may seek reimbursement if it later determines a condemnation payment exceeded fair value. Reid said the bill would require the state to reconcile an overpayment “within a year,” explaining that “we overpaid you” cases should not be pursued years after payment when recipients may have spent the funds. The committee voted to advance SB 836 (vote: 11 ayes, 0 nays).

In naming and ceremonial matters, the committee cleared Senate Bill 165 to designate a bridge in Oklahoma County for Donald Ray Ward, a long-time highway department employee. The bill advanced on a roll call (vote: 11 ayes, 1 nay).

On commercial driving and instructor certification, the committee moved several related bills. Senate Bill 417, identified as a Department of Public Safety request to align state law with federal rules that set the minimum age for full CDL privileges, advanced unanimously (12-0). Senate Bill 487, intended to ease rule barriers that delayed licensing for drivers of adaptive vehicles and to allow out-of-state or contract driver educators to complete training in a driver’s personal adaptive vehicle, also advanced 12-0.

Senate Bill 402, presented as a technical change to incorporate part of an existing administrative rule into statute so Service Oklahoma must consider prior experience as a CDL instructor when certifying instructors, prompted more substantial debate. Author Senator Stewart said the change would help re-certify experienced instructors who have been teaching rather than actively driving in the last decade: “CDL trainer's role is to bring new drivers into the industry,” he said in closing. The committee passed SB 402 (vote: 9 ayes, 3 nays) after the author agreed to strike the bill title and consult with Service Oklahoma.

On smaller technical updates and constituent requests, Senate Bill 368 updated the statutory definition of “kayak” to explicitly include hand-cranked and pedal-driven models; it advanced unanimously (12-0).

Airport planning: Senate Bill 730 would require the Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to develop a 20-year system plan and a separately programmed five-year airport construction plan to guide state and federal funding. Sarah Hynes presented the bill and the department’s executive director (Grayson Ortiz) explained the difference: the 20-year system plan sets long-range classifications and facility goals while the five-year program identifies specific funded projects. The committee advanced SB 730 (vote: 11 ayes, 1 nay).

Roads funding and rail policy: The committee took up an amendment to Senate Bill 67, which concerns the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund. Members discussed clarifying language from the Oklahoma Tax Commission and rising construction costs; details in the transcript show the amendment passed, though the committee roll-call for the final bill tally is not specified in the provided record. Separately, the committee adopted Department of Transportation-suggested amendments to Senate Bill 341 to streamline the process for selling state-owned short-line rail corridors; the amended bill advanced by roll call (11-0).

Other measures advanced included Senate Bill 598 (adjusting farmer-permit-to-license transitions), Senate Bill 375 (authorizing Mid-America Industrial Park to enter interlocal agreements and to set certain access controls and speed limits), and Senate Bill 401 (limiting liability for traffic-control subcontractors that follow DOT specifications). SB 598 advanced (vote: 10 ayes, 2 nays); SB 375 advanced (12-0); SB 401 advanced (10 ayes, 2 nays).

What remained: The committee laid over Senate Bill 340 for later consideration and directed authors in at least one case (SB 402) to consult with Service Oklahoma before the bill proceeds further. Several senators asked authors to follow up with agencies to resolve technical or implementation questions noted during questioning.

Votes at a glance (bills advanced or otherwise acted on in transcript):
- SB 836 (condemnation refund window): advanced; tally 11 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 165 (bridge naming — Donald Ray Ward): advanced; tally 11 ayes, 1 nay.
- SB 417 (DPS/CDL age compliance): advanced; tally 12 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 340: laid over.
- SB 487 (adaptive driving instructor rules): advanced; tally 12 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 402 (CDL instructor rule/statute clarification): advanced after striking title and author consultation; tally 9 ayes, 3 nays.
- SB 368 (kayak definition update): advanced; tally 12 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 730 (airport system plan/five-year construction program): advanced; tally 11 ayes, 1 nay.
- SB 67 (Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund — amendment adopted; final tally not specified in provided transcript).
- SB 341 (ODOT rail-sale authority amendments): amendment adopted; bill advanced; tally 11 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 598 (farmer permit to driver’s license adjustments): advanced; tally 10 ayes, 2 nays.
- SB 375 (Mid America Industrial Park interlocal authority / speed limits): advanced; tally 12 ayes, 0 nays.
- SB 401 (traffic-control subcontractor liability limit): advanced; tally 10 ayes, 2 nays.

Key quotations from the record: Senator Reid on SB 836: “we overpaid you,” explaining the bill’s one-year reconciliation window; Senator Stewart on SB 402: “CDL trainer's role is to bring new drivers into the industry”; director Grayson Ortiz on SB 730: the system plan “is kind of the 20 year long term goals and visioning” while the five-year program “is the actual programming of state and federal dollars for specific projects.”

What’s next: Most bills that advanced will move to the Senate floor and, where applicable, require coordination with state agencies (Department of Public Safety/Service Oklahoma, Department of Transportation, Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics) for rules, implementation details and funding actions. Committee members repeatedly asked authors to follow up with agency staff to tighten statutory language or confirm administrative feasibility before floor consideration.

Ending note: The committee concluded after clearing its agenda; Chair Yack reminded members there are two weeks left to hear policy bills and said a forthcoming agenda will announce next steps.