Rep. Carl Newton

Maddy summaryHB 4473 is a procedural bill that names the "Poor Persons Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. It does not describe any substantive policy changes, services, or mechanisms affecting poor persons. The bill text only establishes the act's name and effective date without outlining specific provisions or impacts. Since it lacks concrete legislative content beyond naming and timing, no further policy summary can be provided.

Maddy summarySB 2140 authorizes Oklahoma veterinarians to use telemedicine for evaluating, diagnosing, and recommending treatment for animals when in-person care isn't immediately feasible - such as in urgent cases to prevent serious harm or suffering. It requires veterinarians to gather sufficient information via video, photos, or records, document telemedicine visits like in-person consultations, and prohibits using it for routine care like annual exams unless approved by the State Board. The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners must create rules for telemedicine standards, recordkeeping, staff training, and medication prescriptions (except in emergencies). The law takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting veterinarians and pet owners seeking remote veterinary care.

Maddy summarySB 1722 amends Oklahoma's public construction contracting law to clarify procedures for negotiating contracts when bids exceed budgets due to unforeseen market conditions. It requires state agencies to request negotiations with the lowest bidder within 10 days of bid opening, with final contracts approved within 120 days, provided the project was properly planned and delays would harm agency missions. The bill specifies that consultant fees for revisions must cover only construction costs - not interior design - and must be paid from the agency's existing funds. This affects all state agencies managing public construction projects, effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 110 provides $389,040 in state funding to create a new death investigation district and hire three additional death investigators for the Board of Medicolegal Investigations. This funding supports the Board's capacity to investigate deaths within a newly established geographic area. The bill allocates existing state funds without changing laws or creating new obligations.

Maddy summarySB 1591 limits THC content in medical marijuana edibles, capping individual products at 10 milligrams of THC and packages at 100 milligrams. It also requires packaging to minimize appeal to children, prohibits targeting under-21s with imagery, and mandates specific warning labels (e.g., "For use by licensed patients only," "Keep out of reach of children"). The bill directly affects medical marijuana processors and dispensaries by setting these product standards and requiring monthly reporting on production and sales. It does not change patient access or recreational use, focusing solely on safety and labeling for medical products.

Maddy summaryHB 4474 names a future law as the "Oklahoma Professions and Occupations Act of 2026" and sets its effective date for November 1, 2026. This is a procedural bill that does not change existing regulations or create new requirements for professions or occupations. It establishes the official title for a future statute but contains no substantive policy changes. The bill is purely administrative, preparing for potential future legislation under this named act.

Maddy summarySB 1727 allows minors under 18 or their parents to sue social media companies if a diagnosed mental health issue (like anxiety or depression) was caused by the minor’s excessive use of algorithmically curated platforms - those using engagement-driving features like autoplay, endless scrolling, or push notifications. To win, plaintiffs must prove the mental health condition resulted from the excessive use, but courts must assume causation unless the company shows it implemented safety measures. Social media companies can avoid liability by limiting minors’ daily use to 3 hours, blocking access between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., requiring parental consent, and disabling engagement features for minors. If liability is found, plaintiffs can recover $10,000 per incident or actual damages, plus attorney fees.

Maddy summarySB 1871 requires social media platforms operating in Oklahoma to verify the age of users using state-issued ID (not just birth dates) and obtain parental consent for users under 18. Platforms must segregate minors' personal data, set default privacy settings to restrict visibility to "connected accounts" (like family/friends), disable search indexing of minor profiles, and limit data sharing. It mandates platforms to freeze existing accounts and verify ages by a specified deadline, with strict security measures for minor user data. The bill directly affects all social media platforms serving Oklahoma residents, minors under 18, and their parents/guardians who must provide consent.

Maddy summaryHB 4458 would extend a five-year property tax exemption for qualifying manufacturing facilities in Oklahoma, directly affecting new or expanded manufacturing operations that meet specific criteria. Key provisions include setting a $500,000 minimum investment threshold (adjusted annually for inflation) for facilities to qualify, clarifying that facilities need not remain unoccupied for 12 months to maintain the exemption after the first year, and requiring annual wage verification for certain applicants. The exemption applies to facilities engaged in transforming materials into new products, aircraft repair, specific data services, and large distribution centers meeting investment and employment benchmarks. This bill is currently in committee review (referred to Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee) and has not yet passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Oklahoma's oil and gas law to specifically exclude iodine from the definition of "constituent elements" in oil and gas produced water. It means companies extracting iodine from wastewater generated during oil and gas operations are no longer subject to regulations governing the extraction of other minerals from this waste stream. The change directly affects businesses seeking to commercially recover iodine from oilfield wastewater, clarifying that such extraction falls outside the scope of existing rules. The provision ensures iodine recovery can proceed without triggering additional regulatory requirements tied to other mineral extraction.