Rep. Tammy Townley

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Oklahoma Tourism Development Act to increase the cumulative inducement amount that can be provided annually for tourism promotion. It directly affects state agencies responsible for developing and marketing Oklahoma as a travel destination. The key provision allows for a higher annual budget allocation to incentivize tourism growth through financial incentives. The bill became law on May 7, 2025, without requiring the Governor's signature.

Maddy summarySB 249 increases sales tax credit limits for tourism development projects under Oklahoma's Tourism Development Act. It raises the maximum credit to 10% for projects costing $500,000-$1 million (previously capped by revenue-neutrality) and to 25% for projects exceeding $1 million, both still limited to revenue-neutral levels. The bill also expands pass-through options for Entertainment Districts, allowing approved companies to transfer credits to tenants with specific filing requirements. It directly affects tourism developers and entertainment district operators seeking state incentives. The changes extend the program's sunset date but maintain the requirement that projects must not cost the state money.

Maddy summaryHB 2893 modifies professional education requirements for public school paraprofessionals and teachers in Oklahoma. The bill requires the State Board of Education to establish a career development program for paraprofessionals, but exempts those with a bachelor's degree in education and recent classroom experience from additional professional education coursework requirements. It also exempts teachers with similar academic qualifications and recent experience from additional professional education coursework needed to obtain or renew emergency, alternate placement, or standard teaching certificates. This aims to streamline professional development by recognizing prior education and experience for eligible educators. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2895 modifies Oklahoma's child care licensing rules to improve staffing and facility standards. It requires directors of child care centers to have at least a bachelor's degree (with continuing education still needed), creates a one-year probationary period for new master teachers (extendable by one year), and mandates directors appoint a probationary master teacher within 60 days. The bill also updates space requirements: pre-November 2016 facilities must provide 35 sq ft per infant, while new/expanded facilities must provide 40 sq ft per infant. Additionally, after-school children are excluded from license capacity calculations when determining required master teacher staffing. The changes take effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2892 amends Oklahoma law to allow the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to request investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) in cases involving suspected child abuse or criminal harm to children. This change adds the Executive Director to the list of authorized officials - alongside the Governor, Attorney General, and Department of Human Services Director - who can formally ask for such investigations. The bill also includes confidentiality protections, requiring investigation records to remain restricted except to specific law enforcement or child welfare personnel. It does not create new programs but clarifies the Commission’s role in seeking law enforcement action for child safety cases.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2892 expands the authority of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY). It allows the Executive Director of the OCCY, or their designee, to request investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). These investigations can be initiated in cases where there is a reasonable belief that criminally injurious conduct, including physical or sexual abuse of a child, has occurred. This bill adds the OCCY's Executive Director to the specific list of state officials authorized to formally request OSBI investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 2895 amends the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act, impacting child care centers, their directors, and master teachers. The bill clarifies that a bachelor's or postgraduate degree meets educational requirements for a director and allows a one-year probationary period for new master teachers to fulfill qualifications. Directors are granted 60 days to appoint a probationary master teacher. It also specifies square footage requirements for infants in child care rooms, differentiating between facilities opened before and after November 1, 2016. Finally, after-school care children will not be counted when determining the number of required master teachers based on license capacity.

Maddy summaryHB 2894 amends the Oklahoma Tourism Development Act, modifying the tax incentives available for tourism projects. It adjusts sales tax credit amounts based on project investment tiers, offering up to 10% for projects between $500,000 and $1 million, and up to 25% for projects over $1 million. The bill specifically allows approved companies developing "Entertainment Districts" to pass through sales tax credits to their tenant businesses or, for larger projects, to receive incentive payments based on tenant sales tax collections. It also sets an annual cap of $30 million for cumulative inducements under the Act and concerns extending the Act's sunset date.

Maddy summarySB 365 authorizes the Oklahoma State Board of Education to create rules for issuing and revoking certification for head coaches in public schools. This directly affects head coaches, who are defined in the bill as the lead staff supervising school athletic activities. The key provision amends existing law to explicitly include head coaches under the Board’s authority to establish certification requirements for educational staff, alongside roles like teachers and principals. The bill does not set specific certification standards but grants the Board the power to develop them. It becomes effective immediately due to an emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 365 authorizes Oklahoma's State Board of Education to create rules for issuing and revoking certificates for head coaches in public schools. It directly affects head coaches - defined as the lead person supervising school sports programs - and school districts that employ them. The key provision amends state law to grant the Board explicit authority to establish certification standards, including requirements for obtaining, maintaining, and revoking these credentials. This change updates statutory language to formally include head coaches under the certification framework previously applied to teachers and other certified staff.