Rep. Mark Lawson

Maddy summaryHCR 1011 is a concurrent resolution that designates April 11, 2025, as "Route 66 Day" in Oklahoma. It recognizes the historical and cultural importance of U.S. Route 66, particularly its contributions to the state's transportation, migration, commerce, culture, and tourism. The resolution directs that copies be distributed to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the Oklahoma Historical Society for appropriate observance.

Maddy summarySB 1090 creates the "Invest In Oklahoma" program, allowing specific state retirement funds and public entities (like the Teachers’ Retirement System and Land Office) to invest up to 5% of their assets in Oklahoma-based private equity, venture capital, and growth funds. The State Treasurer must select qualifying funds using criteria like investment performance, local capitalization, and return rates, while the new Cash Management and Investment Oversight Commission will monitor compliance and reporting. This program aims to direct state investment capital toward Oklahoma businesses and job growth. The bill amends state statutes to establish the program’s rules, fund selection process, and oversight structure, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1578 amends Oklahoma's notary public laws to strengthen identity verification requirements for notarial acts. It requires notaries to confirm a person's identity through personal knowledge, a credible witness, or valid ID before performing acknowledgments, verifications, witnessing signatures, or certifying copies. The bill increases penalties for failing to verify identity, making it a felony punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 30 days in jail. This directly affects all Oklahoma notaries who perform official notarial acts. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1578 amends Oklahoma law to require notaries public to verify a person's identity before performing any notarial act, such as witnessing signatures or certifying documents. It specifies that notaries must confirm identity through personal knowledge, credible witnesses, or valid ID documents. Failure to make this verification results in a misdemeanor charge punishable by fines up to $5,000 or 30 days in jail. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting all notaries performing official acts in Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 945 proposes changes to animal cruelty laws by creating new misdemeanor and felony offenses for specific acts of animal abuse. The bill modifies the scope and penalties of existing felony offenses to address different levels of severity in animal cruelty cases. These changes directly affect individuals who commit animal abuse and law enforcement officials who enforce animal protection laws. The legislation aims to provide clearer legal definitions and more appropriate penalties for various forms of animal cruelty.

Maddy summarySB 945 creates new misdemeanor and felony offenses for animal cruelty, expanding current penalties. It directly affects individuals convicted of harming animals by establishing specific criminal classifications based on the severity of the act. Key provisions include defining new misdemeanor charges for less severe cruelty and elevating certain cases to felony status with harsher penalties, while also modifying penalties for existing felony animal cruelty offenses. The bill aims to strengthen legal consequences for animal abuse without specifying enforcement details.

Maddy summarySB 49 creates a new exemption in Oklahoma's sales tax law for nonprofits that provide services to abused and neglected children, allowing these organizations to avoid paying sales tax on their purchases of goods and services. To qualify, nonprofits must submit specific documentation to the state proving they meet the eligibility criteria. This change updates Oklahoma's existing tax code, which previously exempted other entities like churches, schools, and government agencies. The exemption applies to purchases directly supporting services for abused and neglected children and takes effect on a date specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1577 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to cover medically necessary donor human milk-derived products (like donated breast milk) for infants under 12 months in inpatient or outpatient settings. Coverage applies when a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner certifies it is needed due to low birth weight (under 1,500 grams), prematurity (34 weeks or less gestation), or a specific medical condition. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must establish quality standards for these products, provide separate reimbursement (not bundled with hospital payments), and develop implementing rules while seeking federal approval. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, directly impacting Medicaid-covered infants and healthcare providers in Oklahoma.

Maddy summaryHB 1577 requires Oklahoma Medicaid to cover medically necessary donated breast milk products for infants under 12 months old in inpatient or outpatient settings. It specifically applies to infants with birth weights under 1,500 grams, gestational age of 34 weeks or less, or certain medical conditions requiring such products, as certified by a licensed provider. The bill mandates separate reimbursement for these products (not bundled with hospital payments) and requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to establish quality standards and rules for coverage. The policy takes effect November 1, 2025, pending federal approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1572 modifies Oklahoma's sales tax revenue allocation for tourism programs. It removes a previous cap on tourism funding (previously limited to $5 million annually for promotion), allows funds to be used for salaries (previously prohibited), and establishes new annual limits: $5 million for tourism promotion, $9 million for capital improvements, and $6.6 million for Route 66 projects. These changes apply to the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Tourism Capital Improvement Revolving Fund, and Oklahoma Route 66 Commission Revolving Fund. The bill directly affects these tourism agencies by altering how they receive and can spend sales tax revenue.