Rep. Dell Kerbs

Maddy summaryHB 1769 updates Oklahoma school district health insurance benefits for employees. It sets minimum monthly flexible benefit allowances tied to the HealthChoice (Hi) individual plan premium: $69.71 for certified staff and $189.69 for support staff starting in 2025. Employees must choose benefits during an annual enrollment period (November 1-December 15) and can receive unused allowance as taxable pay. The bill affects all school district employees who opt out of the cafeteria plan, with changes taking effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1760 creates tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who donate to approved education organizations. Individuals can claim a 50% credit (capped at $1,000 for singles or $2,000 for married couples), while businesses can claim up to $100,000. Donors who commit to a two-year contribution receive a higher 75% credit. The bill requires scholarship-granting organizations to submit annual financial reports and program outcomes to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It directly affects taxpayers donating to qualifying education groups and the organizations receiving these funds.

Maddy summarySB 797 amends Oklahoma law to clarify procedures for suspending school administrators and teachers. It allows immediate suspension without notice if school officials believe it protects students, but requires a formal dismissal hearing within 10 days. The bill also specifies that if suspension relates to criminal charges that could affect a teaching certificate, the individual loses pay during the suspension but retains benefits like health insurance. If cleared by court or the State Board of Education, they receive back pay for the suspension period. This directly affects school administrators and teachers in Oklahoma public schools.

Maddy summarySB 797 allows school districts to immediately suspend administrators or teachers without a hearing if they believe it protects student safety, provided they initiate formal dismissal proceedings within 10 days. The bill specifies that suspended staff retain benefits (like health insurance) but may lose pay during the suspension if criminal charges could lead to loss of teaching credentials; those cleared by court or the State Board of Education receive back pay for the suspension period. It applies directly to school district officials and educators in Oklahoma.

Maddy summaryHB 1755 requires Oklahoma to recognize U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved pesticide warning labels as fully compliant with all state warning requirements, including health and safety duties. This directly affects pesticide manufacturers, sellers, and agricultural businesses in Oklahoma by eliminating the need for separate state-specific labels. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025, streamlining compliance without creating new obligations. It is a procedural measure aligning state law with federal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1755 requires that any pesticide label approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) satisfies Oklahoma's state labeling requirements for health and safety warnings. This bill directly affects pesticide manufacturers and sellers in Oklahoma, removing the need for additional state-specific warning labels beyond federal EPA approval. The key provision preempts state-level labeling rules, ensuring federal compliance equals state compliance for warning labels. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 483 authorizes Oklahoma county commissioners to establish relocation assistance programs for homeless individuals. The program provides counties with the authority to cover travel and relocation costs for eligible participants who voluntarily move to a destination where a family member, employer, or other supporter agrees to receive and assist them. Eligibility requires participants to be homeless (defined as lacking stable housing), sober during travel, not on parole/probation without approval, and not having used such a program within the past two years. Counties must verify support from the receiving party through written attestation before travel and follow up within 90 days to confirm housing retention. The bill explicitly states counties conducting these programs are not liable for injuries or damages.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 requires online services targeting Oklahoma children (defined as under 18) to conduct data protection impact assessments and design products in the "best interest of children." It prohibits covered entities (online services processing children's data) from using "dark patterns" to manipulate choices, collecting excessive data, or processing data in ways that could cause physical, emotional, or privacy harm. The law mandates age-appropriate default privacy settings, bans selling or sharing precise geolocation data without consent, and clarifies that de-identified data or public information is excluded. It explicitly states the law does not create private lawsuits for violations or apply to services not reasonably likely to be accessed by children.

Maddy summaryHB 1758 would provide Oklahoma virtual charter schools with $100,000 annually if their academic performance is within 10 points of the state average on the Oklahoma State Report Card. Schools meeting this threshold could use the funds for facility costs, student testing, transportation, or student services. Funding is based on academic data from two years prior (e.g., 2022-2023 scores determine 2025 funding) and is in addition to existing district funding. The bill requires available state funds and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 is a proposed Oklahoma law designed to protect children's online privacy by requiring companies offering online products or services to Oklahoma children to conduct data protection impact assessments before processing their personal data. It directly affects "covered entities" (profit-driven companies operating online services in Oklahoma that process children's data), mandating age-appropriate default privacy settings, banning "dark patterns" that trick children, and prohibiting the collection of precise location data without consent. Key provisions include defining "best interest of children" to prevent harm (like psychological injury or discrimination), requiring clear privacy notices in child-friendly language, and restricting data processing that could cause material harm. The bill is currently pending, having been withdrawn from committee in February 2025, and does not create private lawsuits or apply to de-identified data.