Rep. Rick West

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1185 amends existing law regarding the disposition of seized property by sheriff's offices and campus police agencies. The bill specifically prohibits these agencies from destroying firearms that are determined to have historic military value. Instead, it mandates that such historic military weapons be donated to local units of veterans' organizations. This change affects how law enforcement agencies manage and disperse certain types of seized firearms.

Maddy summarySB 41 designates a specific bridge over the Kiamichi River on U.S. Highway 259 (approximately 0.5 miles south of State Highway 63 in Le Flore County) as the "PFC Lewis Othel Branscum Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers bearing this name on the bridge. This memorial honors PFC Lewis Othel Branscum, a military service member, and applies directly to the public using this location. The designation becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 41 designates a specific bridge on U.S. Highway 259 over the Kiamichi River (approximately 0.5 miles south of State Highway 63 in Le Flore County, Oklahoma) as the "PFC Lewis Othel Branscum Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers bearing this name on the bridge. This is a commemorative designation honoring PFC Lewis Othel Branscum, with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on regulations or funding. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1190 creates the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) as a formal state agency in Oklahoma, directly affecting law enforcement officers and contractors who handle sensitive records. The bill modifies background check requirements by mandating that all CLEET-certified personnel undergo criminal history searches through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), including fingerprint submissions to the FBI for national checks. It establishes a 13-member Council with specific appointments from law enforcement agencies, tribal leaders, sheriffs, and training organizations to set certification standards, oversee training programs, and manage educational scholarships. The bill also authorizes CLEET to appoint an Executive Director with specific qualifications and commission staff as peace officers for agency duties. (Note: The bill failed passage on March 26, 2025, with 33 yes votes against 58 no votes.)

Maddy summaryHB 1190 creates the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) to oversee and standardize law enforcement officer training, certification, and background checks across Oklahoma. The Council will require national criminal history checks (via FBI fingerprint analysis) for officers and set rules on certification, training standards, and continuing education. It is composed of 13 members representing law enforcement agencies, sheriffs, police chiefs, and educational institutions, with specific qualifications for the Executive Director (e.g., a law enforcement degree and five years of experience). This bill directly affects all Oklahoma law enforcement officers who must meet these new certification requirements.

Maddy summarySB 561 exempts individuals breeding or raising quail for personal use - such as for consumption, hobby, education, science, or releasing on private property - from needing a wildlife breeder's license under Oklahoma law. This change directly affects Oklahoma residents who raise quail without commercial intent, removing a licensing requirement for this specific activity. The bill amends Section 4-121 of the Oklahoma Wildlife Code to explicitly exclude quail from the licensing requirement, while other wildlife breeding remains subject to licensing. The exemption takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 561 exempts individuals in Oklahoma from needing a wildlife breeder's license when breeding or raising quail for personal consumption, hobby, education, scientific purposes, or releasing on private property. The bill amends state law to remove licensing requirements specifically for quail breeding, while maintaining other wildlife licensing rules for commercial or non-quail activities. It directly affects Oklahoma residents engaging in noncommercial quail breeding for personal use. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 753 creates a program requiring lessees of Oklahoma state-leased lands (such as ranchers or farmers renting public land) to manage invasive woody species - like non-native trees and shrubs that harm ecosystems - through state-approved stewardship plans. The bill mandates that lessees follow specific management practices to control these plants, with the state overseeing implementation and providing technical guidance. It directly affects private entities leasing state land, focusing on protecting ecological health on those properties. The legislation does not alter land ownership or impose new fees but establishes a structured approach for invasive species control on leased grounds. This is a substantive policy measure, not a procedural or commemorative resolution.

Maddy summarySB 753 creates the Oklahoma Invasive Woody Species Stewardship program for state-leased lands. It requires state agencies managing leased lands (like parks or conservation areas) to develop and implement plans for controlling invasive woody plants, such as tree species that disrupt ecosystems. The bill directly affects state land management agencies and their lessees by mandating specific invasive species management practices on leased properties.

Maddy summaryHB 1191 allows farmers to advertise on-farm sales of donkey milk under Oklahoma's Milk and Milk Products Act. It amends existing law to explicitly include donkey milk (alongside goat milk) in the advertising exception for "incidental sales," defined as averaging no more than 100 gallons per month. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects small-scale dairy farmers producing donkey milk on their own farms.