Rep. Josh Cantrell

Maddy summarySB 345 updates definitions in Oklahoma's Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act to clarify what constitutes excavation, damage, and related terms. It specifically excludes small agricultural work (like postholes or shallow trenching), routine maintenance, and certain public projects from the definition of "excavation." This affects excavators, utility operators, and public agencies by providing clearer standards for preventing damage to underground utilities during construction. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not create new requirements but refines existing legal language.

Maddy summarySB 345 amends definitions in Oklahoma's Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act (63 O.S. §142.2). It clarifies terms like "certified project," "damage," "excavate," and "permitted project" to improve precision in the law. The bill updates statutory language and references but does not create new requirements or affect how the law is enforced. This is a procedural clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma's school attendance law, changing the requirement from applying to "all children" to applying only to "state resident United States citizens" or children specifically authorized by state law. It would amend Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution to specify that compulsory school attendance (for children aged 8-16, unless alternative education is provided) applies solely to U.S. citizen children or those legally required by state law. The amendment would exclude non-citizen children from the mandatory school attendance requirement, shifting the scope of who must attend school within Oklahoma. This is a procedural resolution directing the Secretary of State to place the proposed constitutional change on the ballot for voter approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parents or guardians enrolling children in Oklahoma public or charter schools to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status using specific documents like passports, permanent resident cards, driver licenses, Social Security cards, or birth certificates. School districts must track and report the number of students whose parents could not provide this documentation to the state education department, but the law explicitly states that children cannot be denied education based on this requirement. The bill also prohibits schools from recording individual students' citizenship or immigration status information, allowing only aggregate counts of undocumented enrollment. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause to allow immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1677 is a procedural bill that formally names the legislation as the "Elections Act of 2025" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2025. It does not establish new voting rules, election procedures, or affect any specific voters or election processes. The bill solely serves to designate the name and implementation timeline for future election-related legislation. This is a routine administrative measure, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 amends Oklahoma's Nursing Home Care Act by adding specific definitions to clarify key terms used in the law. It defines terms like "abuse" (willful injury or confinement causing harm), "access" (rights for ombudsman and case managers to visit facilities), and "administrator" (requiring at least one-third of work time for on-site supervision). These definitions directly affect nursing homes, their administrators, state regulators, and residents by establishing clear standards for care and oversight. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies existing legal language to improve implementation of the Nursing Home Care Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1670 removes an exemption that previously allowed individuals holding alcohol licenses (for private clubs serving alcohol) to become bail bondsmen. The bill amends Oklahoma law to explicitly prohibit these license holders from acting as bail bondsmen, adding them to the list of disqualifications under Section 1315. This change directly affects alcohol licensees operating private clubs where alcoholic beverages are consumed on-site. The key mechanism is updating the disqualification list to eliminate the prior exception for alcohol license holders, while maintaining existing restrictions on felons, law enforcement, and others. The bill does not affect alcohol licensees holding permits issued before 1984.

Maddy summaryHB 1669 allocates $6,000,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the existing Department of Emergency Management for fiscal year 2026. This funding supports the department's current duties, such as disaster response and emergency coordination, without creating a new agency. The bill is purely procedural, establishing a specific appropriation amount rather than changing policy or creating new requirements. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and is classified as an emergency measure.

Maddy summaryHB 1673 requires new state, county, or municipal correctional facilities built after November 1, 2024, to be located at least 1,000 feet from elementary or secondary schools and 2,500 feet from juvenile secure facilities, measured from property lines. Privately owned halfway houses and transitional living centers in residential neighborhoods must obtain local zoning approval before opening. Facilities established before May 20, 1994, or approved by school district boards and private school governing bodies are exempt from the distance rules. In counties with over 250,000 residents, inmates cannot be present in facilities within 1,000 feet of a school for most correctional activities (except construction, maintenance, or janitorial work under supervision).

Maddy summaryHB 1672 mandates specific suspensions for students in grades 3-5 who assault school staff or volunteers. It requires a three-day in-school suspension for a first offense, seven-day out-of-school suspension for a second offense, and expulsion for a third offense in the same school year. The bill also establishes separate suspension rules for grades 6-12 (semester-long suspensions) and requires school districts to adopt policies including alternative placements and appeal processes for suspensions. These changes directly affect elementary students, school administrators, and school districts by altering disciplinary protocols for student violence against staff.