Rep. Carl Newton

Maddy summaryHB 1812 amends Oklahoma law to clarify that supervision requirements for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) apply specifically to APRNs employed by or contracted with hospitals, replacing a previous reference to "hospitals" alone. The bill adjusts definitions and eligibility rules for physicians overseeing APRNs, including specific responsibilities and disciplinary actions for noncompliance. This change directly affects hospital-employed APRNs and their supervising physicians by defining the scope of required oversight. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Human Services Oversight committee after committee passage with the amendment. (Note: Full provisions beyond the amendment text are not provided in the context.)

Maddy summarySB 598 amends Oklahoma law to allow individuals with farm permits to obtain a standard driver's license without taking the driving test, provided they operate vehicles during farming or ranching activities. It directly affects farm and ranch residents who already hold farm permits but lack regular licenses. The key mechanism updates Section 6-105 to waive the driving examination for these individuals when they are engaged in farming operations outside municipalities, as verified by their status as farm/ranch residents. This change streamlines the process for agricultural workers to legally operate standard vehicles while performing farm duties.

Maddy summarySB 259 requires groundwater permit holders to annually report their water usage by January 31, including specific details about swine operations using liquid waste systems and whether they are licensed under Oklahoma's Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board must investigate waste complaints, notify landowners before inspections, and implement a phased metering system for groundwater monitoring. The bill also prohibits water waste (like unpermitted use or inefficient practices), imposes fines for noncompliance, and appropriates funds to the Board for data collection and rulemaking. These changes directly affect groundwater users, especially agricultural operations, and expand the Board's oversight role.

Maddy summarySB 914 creates the "Oklahoma Regional Water District Act," requiring the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to designate geographic water districts by July 1, 2026. Each district must develop a regional water plan by 2026 addressing drought scenarios (at 75% and 50% normal flow), water conservation, infrastructure needs, and equitable adjustment of water rights. The plan must include specific strategies for managing supply during droughts, protecting existing water rights, and exploring regional water-sharing options like water banks. This directly affects counties, municipalities, agricultural interests, water utilities, and environmental groups within designated districts, with oversight by the Board and public hearings required for plan approval.

Maddy summarySB 914 creates the "Oklahoma Regional Water District Act," requiring the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to designate geographic regions as water districts by July 1, 2026. These districts must develop regional water plans by July 2026, including specific strategies for droughts at 50% and 75% water flow, and address water conservation, supply development, and fair adjustments to water rights. The plans must be reviewed by the Board, include public hearings, and be updated every five years, with conflict resolution mechanisms for disputes between districts. The bill directly affects counties, municipalities, agricultural interests, water utilities, and regional planning groups across Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 865 creates a state-run data-sharing platform called the Secure Interagency Collaboration Platform to connect Oklahoma law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, and federal immigration authorities (like ICE). It requires police to report arrests of suspected unauthorized immigrants through this system and mandates corrections facilities to screen inmates for immigration status. The platform would automatically alert authorities when an unauthorized immigrant is identified within the criminal justice system, prioritizing their deportation proceedings. Agencies failing to comply with reporting or data-sharing requirements may face administrative penalties.

Maddy summarySB 865, the Oklahoma Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement Act, requires Oklahoma law enforcement and the Department of Corrections to use a new Secure Interagency Collaboration Platform to identify and report suspected unauthorized immigrants to federal immigration authorities (like ICE). The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies report arrests of suspected unauthorized immigrants through this platform and that the Department of Corrections screen inmates for immigration status, notifying federal authorities when confirmed. Key mechanisms include integrating agency databases for real-time tracking, automated alerts when unauthorized immigrants are identified in the criminal justice system, and mandatory training for participating agencies. Non-compliance could result in administrative penalties, and the bill authorizes seeking federal funding for implementation. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1814, the "State Parks Emergency Maintenance Act," requires Oklahoma's Tourism and Recreation Department to submit an annual "Eight-Year State Parks Emergency Maintenance Plan" starting December 31, 2025. The plan must detail priority maintenance and construction projects, their costs, completion timelines, and status of previously funded work. It also establishes a revolving fund to finance these projects, limiting operational spending to no more than 20% of annual fund deposits. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to address critical infrastructure needs across Oklahoma's state parks system.

Maddy summaryHB 1814 creates the "State Parks Emergency Maintenance Act" to address maintenance needs in Oklahoma's state parks. It requires the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to submit an annual "Eight-Year State Parks Emergency Maintenance Plan" by December 31 each year, detailing priority projects, costs, timelines, and status of previously funded work. The bill establishes a revolving fund in the state treasury for park maintenance, limiting operational spending from the fund to 20% of annual funds. The fund will be used exclusively for implementing the maintenance plan, with expenditures approved through standard state payment procedures. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 864 modifies Oklahoma's Sex Offenders Registration Act to clarify who must register and strengthen requirements. It requires registration for individuals convicted of specific sex offenses (including child exploitation, sexual assault, and trafficking) who live, work, or attend school in Oklahoma, including those with out-of-state convictions. The bill explicitly prohibits plea agreements that allow offenders to avoid registration and clarifies that deferred convictions still mandate registration. It also states that sealing a criminal record does not remove the obligation to register, applying to both Oklahoma and certain out-of-state convictions.