Rep. Erick Harris

Maddy summaryHB 3588 creates Oklahoma's "Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Act," establishing a standardized process for debtors to transfer all assets to a third party (an "assignee") to pay creditors. It directly affects debtors (individuals or businesses with debt) and creditors by defining key terms like "assignment agreement," requiring written transfers, and setting rules for how assignees manage assets and handle creditor claims. Key provisions include mandating assignees act in "good faith" with fiduciary duties, requiring written proof of claims from creditors, and clarifying how assets are distributed while protecting assignees who follow the process. The law aims to streamline debt resolution without favoring debtors or creditors, focusing on clear procedural rules for asset transfers and claim handling.

Maddy summarySB 2066 modifies Oklahoma's requirements for property-related documents submitted to county clerks for recording. It mandates specific margins (2 inches top, 1 inch elsewhere), requires documents to be legible in English with xerographically reproducible ink, and adds a $1 fee for each legal description exceeding 25 per page. The bill also clarifies that stray markings in margins won't void documents, allows electronic submissions via the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, and ensures documents filed before 1997 comply with current standards. This affects property owners, real estate professionals, and county clerks handling deeds, mortgages, and leases.

Maddy summarySB 1381, the Pretrial Procedures Modernization Act of 2026, changes Oklahoma's pretrial release rules to ensure faster, more individualized decisions. It requires defendants to be brought before a magistrate within 48 hours (72 on weekends) for a hearing to determine release conditions, where courts must consider 13 specific factors like offense severity, community ties, and risk of reoffending. The bill mandates written findings for any denial of bail, specifies least-restrictive release conditions when detention is ordered, and allows pre-appearance bail setting before formal charges. It also requires courts to inform defendants of their right to counsel, provide text reminders for court dates, and document all release decisions clearly.

Maddy summarySB 1295 creates a special fund within Oklahoma's State Treasury, managed by the Attorney General's Office, to develop a state and local database tracking domestic violence deaths. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support this database, which must be created within 24 months of the law's effective date (July 1, 2026). The database will be developed to meet requirements under existing law (Section 1601 of Title 22) for reviewing domestic violence fatalities. This funding directly supports the Attorney General's Office and local agencies involved in collecting and analyzing data on domestic violence-related deaths.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would change the term limits for members of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund's Board of Directors from seven years to four years. It also adds language allowing each appointing authority (Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, etc.) to remove their appointed member "at will." The amendment specifically targets the Board of Directors (not the Board of Investors), which oversees spending tobacco settlement funds for cancer research, tobacco prevention programs, children's health services, and senior health initiatives. The change would alter the governance structure of this fund, which manages money from tobacco settlement agreements to support public health programs across Oklahoma.

Maddy summaryHB 3743 updates Oklahoma's criminal procedure for determining defendant competency. It defines "competent" as understanding charges and assisting defense, and "incompetent" as lacking that ability. The bill requires courts to hold competency hearings within a "reasonable period" (max 2 years or the maximum sentence for the charge), mandates outpatient evaluations before inpatient care when possible, and requires periodic progress reports for competency restoration. It specifically adds protocols for cases involving intellectual disability, involving the Office of Public Guardian and Developmental Disabilities Services. This directly affects defendants in criminal cases, courts, mental health providers, and public guardianship offices.

Maddy summaryHB 3585 amends Oklahoma statutes governing court reporters, directly affecting court reporters, courts, and parties in legal proceedings. It removes the requirement that reporters use steno-masks exclusively, allowing electronic recording during proceedings when reporters are unavailable (with certified reporters still preparing official transcripts). The bill sets a $53,000 base salary for court reporters, adds a $400/year longevity bonus (capped at $8,000 annually), and provides a $3,000 annual equipment allowance. These changes apply to reporters in district courts, workers' compensation courts, and the Corporation Commission.

Maddy summarySB 1260 mandates that individuals convicted of specific serious offenses - including first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and certain violent crimes - must serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The bill prohibits these individuals from earning credits (such as good behavior time) that could reduce their sentence below this 85% threshold. It directly affects inmates convicted of the listed offenses, which include crimes like child sex trafficking (per Section 1030), forcible sodomy (Section 888), and human trafficking (Section 748). The law repeals prior statutes that allowed for shorter parole eligibility periods for these offenses and updates related legal references.

Maddy summaryHB 3582, the "Equal Parenting Act," creates a legal presumption that joint custody with equally shared parenting time is in a child's best interest when parents request it. The bill requires parents to submit detailed written plans covering living arrangements, child support, medical care, school placement, and visitation - accompanied by signed affidavits agreeing to the plan - before a court can approve joint custody. It also establishes rebuttable presumptions against joint custody in cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sex offender registry status, prioritizing the child’s safety. The law further protects parents fleeing domestic violence by preventing their relocation from being used against them in custody decisions. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3744 creates the "Oklahoma Criminal Procedure Act of 2026" as a new, non-codified legal framework (meaning it won't be added to Oklahoma's official statute book) and sets its effective date for November 1, 2026. This procedural bill does not change existing criminal procedure laws or practices but establishes a named act for future reference. It directly affects how Oklahoma's criminal justice system may reference this framework after the effective date.