Rep. Rick West

Maddy summaryHB 1189, the Oklahoma Right to Garden Act of 2025, protects Oklahomans' right to grow vegetables for personal use on their home property. It defines a "vegetable garden" as one on residential property for personal consumption (not resale) and states this right cannot be blocked by municipalities. However, cities and towns may still enforce reasonable rules about garden size near roads, water use during droughts, or invasive species control. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 478 removes the permit requirement for daytime feral swine removal on private or public property, but requires landowner or lessee permission for such removals. It repeals a previous special permit for private property owners to kill feral swine and modifies related statutes to make language gender-neutral. The bill maintains that nighttime removal still requires a permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. This directly affects landowners (who must consent) and individuals removing feral swine, streamlining daytime management while preserving oversight for nighttime activity.

Maddy summarySB 478 removes the requirement for a permit or license to remove or take feral swine from private or public property during daylight hours, provided the person has the landowner's or lessee's permission. It directly affects landowners (who must grant permission), hunters, and wildlife managers by simplifying daytime control of feral swine. The bill amends Oklahoma statutes (2 O.S. §6-604 and 29 O.S. §§4-107.2, 4-135) to eliminate prior permit needs, updates language to be gender-neutral, and repeals an outdated section about special permits for property owners. Nighttime removal still requires a permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, maintaining that restriction.

Maddy summaryHB 1191 amends Oklahoma's Milk and Milk Products Act to explicitly allow farmers to advertise on-farm sales of donkey milk (and goat milk). It clarifies that the law does not prohibit advertising incidental sales of these milks, defined as under 100 gallons per month. The bill directly affects small-scale dairy farmers producing donkey milk on their own farms who previously faced uncertainty about advertising. The key change removes an implied restriction, making advertising for these small-volume sales legally permissible. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1189, the Oklahoma Right to Garden Act of 2025, establishes a legal right for Oklahoma residents to grow vegetables on their personal residential property for home use. It defines "residential property" as a primary home for up to four households and "vegetable garden" as land used solely for growing produce for personal consumption (not resale). Local governments may still enforce reasonable, content-neutral rules about garden size near roads, water usage during droughts, or invasive species control, but cannot ban gardening outright. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 120 requires owners and operators of poultry feeding operations in Oklahoma to provide proof of Oklahoma residency for at least two years prior to applying for registration or licensure. This applies directly to individuals or entities operating poultry facilities seeking to comply with state registration rules. To verify residency, applicants must submit documents like an unexpired state driver's license, utility bills (excluding cell/internet), property deeds, or rental agreements. The bill also maintains existing requirements for Nutrient Management Plans, environmental history, and mandatory waste handling training (19 initial hours plus 2 hours every three years). These provisions aim to ensure operators have a sustained local connection to the state before receiving registration.

Maddy summarySB 136 would establish a moratorium on registering new poultry feeding operations and new licenses for certain poultry operations in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025. Existing operations can continue, but the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture can inspect them and revoke registration or licenses for violations of existing rules, with no reissuance allowed for revoked operations. The bill requires the Department to create implementing rules and directly affects new businesses seeking to start poultry operations in the state. It does not change current regulations for existing operations unless violations occur.

Maddy summarySB 136 establishes a moratorium on registering new poultry feeding operations in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025. The bill prohibits the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry from registering new operations but does not affect existing ones. The department may inspect existing operations and revoke registration or licenses for violations of related laws (e.g., Section 10-9.11), with no reissuance allowed for revoked cases. The bill requires the department to create implementing rules and codifies these provisions in Oklahoma Statutes.

Maddy summarySB 120 requires owners and operators of poultry feeding operations in Oklahoma to provide proof of Oklahoma residency for at least two years prior to registration or licensure. This applies directly to individuals or entities seeking to register new or existing poultry facilities. To verify residency, applicants must submit documents like a state driver's license, utility bill (excluding internet/cellular), property deed, or rental agreement. The bill amends existing registration requirements under Oklahoma law to include this residency verification step, with false statements subject to fines up to $10,000 per violation.

Maddy summaryHB 1188 requires the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to compensate property owners for nuisances caused by turnpike projects, such as noise, light pollution, and reduced property value, directly affecting owners of land within 800 feet of turnpike right-of-way. The bill mandates that the Authority send written notice to these property owners when acquiring land, informing them they can claim compensation equal to 10% of their property’s value. Property owners must request compensation in writing within 30 days, and the Authority must negotiate a settlement for 180 days; if unresolved, the case goes to court, where owners may recover legal fees if the court award exceeds the Authority’s last offer by 10% or more.