Rep. Ronny Johns

Maddy summarySB 375 amends Oklahoma statutes governing construction management for transportation projects, affecting the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. It requires these agencies to compile and maintain a list of qualified construction managers and design consultants, mandating specific disclosures about project scope, costs, funding, and construction inspector arrangements. The bill establishes standardized evaluation criteria for selecting consultants based on qualifications, capacity, past performance, and Oklahoma resident workforce participation. It also creates a committee to rank candidates and allows for "demand services contracts" for on-demand consultant needs. This bill became law on May 14, 2025, without the Governor's signature.

Maddy summarySB 375 amends Oklahoma statutes governing how the Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority solicit construction management and design consultant services for transportation projects. It requires new disclosures in solicitations about whether a construction inspector will be used and the inspector’s employer (state employee or external entity), and mandates that any change in inspector selection must undergo specific approval. The bill also sets a 30-day deadline for submitting interest in consultant roles and requires departments to form committees to rank qualified consultants based on qualifications, capacity, past performance, and Oklahoma resident work percentages. These changes directly affect transportation departments, contractors, and construction inspectors involved in public road and infrastructure projects.

Maddy summarySB 681 amends Oklahoma's property tax notice requirements to ensure homeowners with homestead properties receive clear information about value limits. Specifically, it requires county assessors to include details on applying for a "limit on fair cash value" (a homestead property tax cap) in written notices when property valuations increase. This applies directly to Oklahoma homeowners whose primary residence qualifies as a homestead under state law. The bill does not change tax rates but improves transparency in the notification process for affected property owners.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 681 amends Oklahoma's property tax law regarding notices of increased property valuation. The bill requires county assessors to include specific information in these notices sent to property owners. For real property classified as a homestead, the notice must now include information about the constitutional limit on the fair cash value of the property. This change aims to ensure homeowners are informed about potential limitations on their property's valuation increases.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 extends whistleblower protections to school support employees (like counselors, cafeteria workers, and administrative staff) in Oklahoma, alongside teachers. It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or rules - whether to supervisors, school boards, law enforcement, or the State Department of Education. The bill requires school districts to prominently post this law and clarifies it doesn’t override student privacy rights under FERPA. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after being approved by the governor on May 6, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 expands whistleblower protections for employees in Oklahoma public schools. This bill extends existing protections, previously applicable to teachers, to include school "support employees" such as paraprofessionals and administrative staff. It prohibits school districts from taking disciplinary action against these employees for disclosing or reporting believed violations of state law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or rules, even without prior notice to a supervisor. School districts are also required to post this law in locations accessible to all staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1485 modifies Oklahoma's teacher contract rules by clarifying that temporary contracts for teachers with emergency or provisional certificates are exempt from the four-semester limit. It requires school districts to provide written contract terms upfront, or the contract becomes a continuing one, and grants teachers who complete a full school year on temporary contracts one year of service credit toward career status. The law also specifies that temporary contract teachers in federally or privately funded roles must follow evaluation rules but cannot exceed the four-semester limit unless replacing a leave-taking teacher or for emergency/provisional certificate holders. The bill, which became law without a governor's signature on May 6, 2025, directly affects school districts and teachers using temporary contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 1485 amends Oklahoma law regarding temporary contracts for teachers. It creates an exception to the existing rule that limits teachers to working no more than four semesters on a temporary contract within a school district. Specifically, teachers who hold an emergency or provisional certificate can now be hired on temporary contracts beyond the four-semester limit. This allows school districts to continue employing these certified teachers on a temporary basis for longer durations.

Maddy summaryHB 1484, known as "Rain's Law," requires Oklahoma school districts to annually provide instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades six through twelve. This instruction must cover topics such as suicide prevention, fentanyl addiction prevention, and awareness of local resources. The State Department of Education will establish curriculum standards and provide resources to schools for this purpose. The bill also mandates that the Governor designate a "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week" in public schools, correlating with National Red Ribbon Week.

Maddy summaryHB 1491 modifies the grounds for removing members of Oklahoma's State Board of Education. It replaces vague terms like "incompetency" and "neglect of professional duty" with specific requirements: board members can now be removed for convictions related to offenses listed in Sections 3-104 and 3-104.1 of Oklahoma law. This directly affects State Board of Education members who face criminal convictions for specified offenses. The bill streamlines the removal process by defining clear legal triggers for termination.