Rep. Mike Kelley

Maddy summaryHB 3081 lowers the minimum age requirement for individuals supervising fire extinguisher business operations in Oklahoma from 21 to 18 years. The bill amends existing licensing rules to require applicants to provide evidence of this age qualification, along with other standard requirements like background checks, fingerprints, and proof of no disqualifying criminal history. It directly affects business owners and supervisors seeking or renewing fire extinguisher industry licenses. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3082 prohibits Oklahoma fire departments from employing anyone convicted of an offense requiring registration under the state's Sex Offenders Registration Act, including those who pled guilty or received deferred judgments. This directly affects firefighters (both volunteer and paid) with certain sex offense convictions, barring them from employment in fire departments. The law requires fire departments to ensure compliance, with violations punishable as misdemeanors carrying fines up to $1,000. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, adding a specific employment restriction to existing registration laws.

Maddy summaryHB 3406 creates two systems for fire bans in Oklahoma: counties can ban burning if meeting specific fire danger criteria (like National Weather Service red flags or drought conditions), or the governor can declare a statewide emergency during drought. Farmers are exempt from county bans if they submit a detailed burn plan 72 hours in advance to local fire departments, including weather conditions, firebreaks, and notifications. County bans expire after 8 days unless renewed, and governor’s emergency proclamations override county decisions. The bill requires fire departments to approve plans and mandates online posting of all bans for public notice.

Maddy summaryHB 3721 is a procedural bill defining terms for analyzing Oklahoma retirement legislation. It establishes clear categories like "nonfiscal retirement bill" to identify legislation that doesn't change retirement system costs or benefits (e.g., minor adjustments, disability standard modifications, or one-time benefit increases under specific funding conditions). The bill creates a framework for classifying pension-related bills based on fiscal impact, requiring the Legislative Actuary to review them. It does not alter current retirement benefits, contributions, or funding levels but sets rules for how such bills are processed. This is a technical clarification for legislative staff, not a policy change affecting retirees or systems.

Maddy summarySB 432 increases monthly pension benefits for Oklahoma volunteer firefighters who retired before the bill's effective date. It modifies how compensation is calculated by setting a threshold: volunteer firefighters earning over $9,939.69 annually in service pay (not expense reimbursements) will be classified as "paid firefighters," requiring them to meet physical standards to remain active members. The bill ensures retired volunteer firefighters receive at least the benefit level they had on June 30, 1985, and adjusts benefit amounts based on credited service years at retirement. This directly affects current and future retired volunteer firefighters, active volunteers exceeding the pay threshold, and municipal fire departments administering the pension system.

Maddy summarySB 1550 modifies Oklahoma's burn ban rules during drought emergencies, giving county commissioners and the Commissioner of Agriculture new authority to impose restrictions. It defines "extreme fire danger" using specific criteria (like NOAA drought data, low rainfall forecasts, or temperatures over 100°F) and allows counties to pass temporary burn bans via resolution after consulting local fire departments. Agricultural producers are exempt from these bans if they submit a detailed burn plan to fire departments and follow notification procedures, including weather conditions and firebreak details. The bill clarifies that county resolutions don’t override gubernatorial emergency proclamations and specifies that exemptions don’t change farmers' legal liability for burns.

Maddy summaryHB 3083 updates Oklahoma's burn ban law to define "extreme fire danger" as either a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning or specific conditions: severe drought, low rainfall forecast, high temperatures, or elevated wildfire activity. It allows county commissioners to issue immediate burn bans when these conditions exist, requiring fire department concurrence and public notice. The bill exempts agricultural producers who submit detailed prescribed burn plans to local fire departments, including weather conditions, firebreaks, and notifications. This directly affects residents, landowners, and farmers in counties with active burn bans during extreme fire danger periods.

Maddy summaryHB 3085 allows Oklahoma counties with fewer than 200,000 residents to levy a lodging tax of up to 5% on hotels, motels, and similar accommodations, but only after voter approval via election or petition. It requires counties to specify how tax revenue will be used (e.g., tourism promotion) and creates revolving funds for those designated purposes, which must be spent strictly on the stated goals. The tax cannot apply in municipalities that already charge their own lodging tax, and counties cannot seek another vote on the tax for six months if rejected. This bill directly affects small counties, local hospitality businesses, and municipal governments with existing lodging taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 3084 increases base salaries for Oklahoma court reporters to $55,000 annually (from $53,000), raises longevity pay from $400 to $500 per year (capped at $10,000 annually), and adds a $3,000 annual equipment allowance. The bill also creates new annual bonuses of $2,000 per certification for reporters holding specific credentials (RPR, RMR, RDR, or CRR), with a maximum $8,000 bonus for multiple certifications. It directly affects certified court reporters working in district courts, the Workers' Compensation Court, and the Corporation Commission. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3133 creates the "Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System Act of 2026," establishing a dedicated pension system for Oklahoma firefighters. The bill names the system and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026, without adding the provisions to Oklahoma Statutes (noncodified). It directly affects Oklahoma firefighters by creating a new retirement framework for their benefits. The bill does not detail specific contribution rates, benefit calculations, or other operational mechanisms beyond naming the system and setting its effective date.