Rep. Collin Duel

Maddy summarySB 200 requires estate executors or administrators to petition courts to deposit unclaimed funds into state banks when beneficiaries (like minors without guardians or unknown heirs) cannot receive payments within 90 days. Funds must remain in a bank account for a specified term - until the minor turns 18 or the beneficiary claims them - before release. If over $100 remains unclaimed for 30 days, courts may invest it in insured accounts, with earnings paid upon claim. The bill updates Oklahoma’s estate distribution rules to clarify handling of undistributed funds and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1565 requires school employees, healthcare providers, and others who suspect child abuse or neglect to immediately report it to Oklahoma's centralized child abuse hotline. For children under 18, these reports must also be sent in writing to local law enforcement for potential criminal investigation. The bill mandates the Department of Human Services to maintain written records of all referrals and their transmission to law enforcement, while protecting the confidentiality of reporters. It also prohibits retaliation against those who report in good faith and imposes penalties for failing to report or making false reports.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 552 bans state agencies that receive federal or state funds from using biotechnology equipment or services from companies designated by the federal government as "biotechnology companies of concern" (entities controlled by foreign adversaries posing national security risks through multiomics data collection). The bill specifically targets the use of multiomics technology - which combines data from genomics, proteomics, and other biological research areas - to prevent potential security threats. State agencies cannot contract with entities using such biotechnology, and the law only takes effect after a comparable federal law is enacted. This directly affects all Oklahoma state agencies managing federal or state funds, requiring them to avoid specific biotech vendors.

Maddy summaryHB 1565 amends the Oklahoma Children's Code, primarily affecting how child abuse and neglect referrals are handled by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and school employees. It mandates that DHS immediately report in writing to local law enforcement any referrals alleging abuse or neglect where the perpetrator is not responsible for the child's welfare, and requires DHS to maintain a record of these transmissions. Additionally, the bill directs school employees to report suspected abuse or neglect of students under 18 to both DHS and local law enforcement, while ensuring confidentiality for the reporting employee. These provisions aim to strengthen the reporting and investigation process for child abuse and neglect.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 552 prohibits Oklahoma state agencies receiving federal or state funds from using or procuring biotechnology equipment or services from "biotechnology companies of concern." These companies are defined as entities designated by the federal government as controlled by a foreign adversary and posing a national security risk due to their multiomic data collection research. State agencies are also barred from contracting with any entity that uses or procures such prohibited biotechnology. The bill's provisions will take effect upon the enactment of a corresponding federal law.

Maddy summarySB 650 requires municipal and publicly owned sewage utilities to create detailed five-year plans covering sewer system maintenance, overflow response, and funding. These plans must include mapping, inspection schedules for blockages, FOG (fats/oils/grease) ordinances, backflow prevention requirements, and capital improvement strategies. The bill also amends Oklahoma's Tort Claims Act to prevent personal injury claims from sewer overflows if utilities follow their approved plans, while still allowing property damage claims. This directly affects municipal sewage utilities and indirectly impacts ratepayers through potential rate adjustments. The law provides a 5-year implementation window for utilities to adopt these plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1561, the "Foreign Adversary Divestment Act of 2025," requires Oklahoma's public pension systems, university endowments, and local government investment funds to sell all holdings in entities tied to countries designated as "foreign adversaries" by the U.S. State Department. The bill prohibits investments in companies owned by such countries, state-owned enterprises in those nations, or companies domiciled there, with full divestment mandated by January 1, 2028. Affected funds must identify and eliminate these holdings, reducing prohibited investments to less than 0.05% of total assets. The law applies specifically to state-managed funds, including public retirement systems and public university endowments, and defines "foreign adversaries" as U.S.-designated hostile nations.

Maddy summaryHB 1564 creates the "Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act" to streamline small civil cases seeking monetary relief totaling $250,000 or less (excluding interest, penalties, and fees). It limits discovery to 180 days, mandates trials within 90 days after discovery ends, and caps trial time at 8 hours per side (extendable to 12 hours). The bill restricts written discovery requests to 15 per category and requires cases exceeding the $250,000 cap or seeking non-monetary relief to exit the expedited process. This applies directly to plaintiffs and defendants in qualifying civil suits, accelerating proceedings while maintaining defined procedural boundaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1564, the Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act, creates a streamlined court process for civil cases seeking $250,000 or less in monetary relief (excluding interest, damages, and fees). It limits discovery to 180 days, caps depositions at 20 hours total, and restricts written requests to 15 per type. The bill mandates trials within 90 days of discovery completion, allows up to 8 hours per side for trial proceedings (extendable to 12 hours for good cause), and requires alternative dispute resolution within 60 days if agreed upon. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and applies only to cases meeting the monetary threshold.

Maddy summaryHB 1561, the "Foreign Adversary Divestment Act of 2025," requires Oklahoma's public funds - including state pension systems, university endowments, and local government investment accounts - to stop holding investments tied to countries designated as "foreign adversaries" by the U.S. State Department. It prohibits these funds from owning shares in companies based in such countries, state-owned enterprises of those nations, or banks operating primarily in them. Funds must fully divest from these holdings by January 1, 2028, reducing residual investments to less than 0.05% of total assets. The law applies directly to state-managed financial assets, aiming to align public investments with U.S. national security designations.