Rep. Clay Staires

Maddy summarySB 563 allows Oklahoma county employees to take up to three paid workdays per year for election duties. It authorizes county boards of commissioners to create policies enabling qualified employees to use this leave to serve as precinct officials, absentee voting board members, or other election workers. The bill requires counties to develop these policies in coordination with the county election board. This change directly affects county employees who wish to participate in elections without losing pay, while ensuring election staffing needs are met.

Maddy summarySB 833 changes how medical expenses are handled in Oklahoma personal injury lawsuits. It requires courts to use actual payments made (not billed amounts) for past medical care, or Medicare rates if no payment was made. For future medical treatment costs, the bill limits evidence to amounts covered by the injured person's insurance or Medicare rates, not higher billed amounts. This affects personal injury plaintiffs, medical providers, and insurance companies by standardizing evidence rules for medical bills. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 4215 establishes the "Oklahoma Film, Television and Music Incentives Act of 2026," creating a new economic development program for the state's film, television, and music industries. The bill formally names the incentive program and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. It does not detail specific financial incentives or eligibility rules in the provided text. This legislation directly affects producers and businesses in Oklahoma's entertainment sector by establishing a framework for potential future incentives. The bill is currently in early committee review with no specific provisions outlined beyond its name and effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 4170 amends Oklahoma law to increase penalties for stealing crude oil, gasoline, or oil/gas drilling equipment. It sets misdemeanor penalties for theft under $1,000 (up to 60 days jail or $500 fine) and Class C2 felony penalties for $1,000+ value (fines up to $50,000 or 1-10 years in prison). The bill also adds felony charges if theft causes environmental damage requiring over $2,500 in cleanup costs. It directly affects individuals stealing oil/gas infrastructure, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of tools used in the crime. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 80 requires the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to complete specific actions before proposing any new turnpikes or modifications to existing ones. This bill directly affects the OTA and future turnpike development projects in Oklahoma. The key provision mandates that the Authority must fulfill certain procedural steps - such as conducting studies or public consultations - prior to submitting any new turnpike proposals to the legislature. The bill aims to ensure thorough evaluation and transparency in turnpike planning before formal proposals are made.

Maddy summaryHB 1957 requires street-legal low-speed electric vehicles and golf carts to be registered as motor vehicles in Oklahoma. It removes the need for an "M" license endorsement for operators (who must be at least 16 with a standard driver’s license) and mandates compliance with federal safety standards for vehicles operated on roads with speed limits ≤35 mph. Service Oklahoma can register converted golf carts meeting federal safety rules without requiring a full 17-digit vehicle identification number. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not override local city restrictions on low-speed vehicle use.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma bill requires owners association board members to physically live within the real estate development they govern. It affects homeowners associations in residential developments by mandating that board members be current recorded owners of lots in the community. The law also clarifies that membership transfers automatically when property titles are legally transferred. These changes take effect on November 1, 2026, and apply to associations after developers relinquish control.

Maddy summaryHB 3453 changes Oklahoma's eminent domain process by requiring courts to independently review whether a government taking qualifies as a "public use" and is "necessary," without deferring to the government's prior conclusions. It shifts the burden of proof entirely to the condemning authority (like cities or utilities), requiring them to prove necessity for each property parcel separately and show all feasible alternatives were considered. The bill mandates that property owners receive 60 days' notice of all project studies, environmental reviews, and financial analyses before a hearing. If the government fails to meet this burden, property owners may recover their legal fees. This bill affects all property owners facing eminent domain and the agencies seeking to use it, effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4178 amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to add new exemptions for specific public entities and activities. It creates a new exemption allowing sales tax-free admission ticket surcharges used solely to repay debt for constructing athletic facilities, theaters, or cultural venues at public universities. The bill also expands existing exemptions for sales to certain public trusts, county fairs, educational institutions, and public authorities carrying out construction contracts. These changes directly affect state universities, local government entities, and fair authorities by reducing their taxable purchases. The policy focuses on clarifying and broadening tax relief for public infrastructure projects and nonprofit activities.

Maddy summaryHB 4175 allows Oklahoma school districts to request waivers from the state’s minimum school day and hour requirements (181 days or 1,086 hours annually) if they declare an emergency. School districts must formally request the waiver and get approval from the State Board of Education to temporarily reduce instructional time. The bill also restricts virtual instruction days, permitting no more than two days (12 hours) per school year toward the required hours starting in 2026-2027, with prior approval from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This directly affects public school districts in Oklahoma seeking flexibility during emergencies.