Rep. Mike Osburn

Maddy summaryHB 3327 increases Oklahoma's State Board of Education from seven to nine members and changes how they are appointed: the Governor appoints four members, the House Speaker appoints two, and the Senate President appoints two, all from congressional districts or the state at large. It immediately vacates all current board seats and requires new appointments within 30 days, with terms ending April 2, 2030, after which future appointments follow this structure. The bill also adds eligibility requirements, including a high school diploma or equivalent, prohibits serving on a local school board, and mandates free training workshops for new members. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3322 clarifies Oklahoma's rules for interpreting state statutes, particularly when multiple versions of the same law exist due to repeated amendments. It specifies that laws enacted after July 1, 1989, are presumed severable (meaning invalid parts don't void the entire law) unless a court finds the remaining parts are inseparable. For older laws, it presumes severability unless a court determines the remaining parts depend on the invalid section. Additionally, when conflicting versions arise from different amendments, the most recently enacted version (with exact enactment time) is presumed to reflect the Legislature's current intent.

Maddy summarySB 2062 allows low-risk offenders to self-report directly to a correctional facility instead of being transported from county jail, bypassing initial detention and processing. It applies when a sentencing court determines an offender poses low public safety risk based on offense type, criminal history, and community ties. The bill eliminates transportation reimbursement for sheriffs or detention centers in these cases, as the Department of Corrections now handles arrival processing. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1638 amends definitions within Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act to clarify who qualifies as a "charitable health care provider" and "community health care provider." It specifies that charitable providers serve medically indigent patients without compensation, and community providers must work at federally qualified health centers or meet specific federal application criteria. The bill also refines the definition of "employee" for tort claims, explicitly including certain medical professionals (like those at state hospitals or in mental health contracts) while excluding others, such as physician faculty not acting in administrative roles. These changes directly affect medical providers, government entities handling tort claims, and individuals filing injury or property loss claims against Oklahoma agencies. The bill updates existing legal terminology without creating new substantive requirements.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes constitutional amendments to change how Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction is selected and removed. Starting November 1, 2034, the position would be appointed through a process requiring the House to provide six nominees, the Governor to select one, and the Senate to confirm with a two-thirds vote. If the Senate fails to confirm, the Governor selects a new nominee from the original list. The Superintendent could also be removed by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers or by the Governor with a two-thirds vote in one chamber. The proposal must be approved by voters before taking effect.

Maddy summarySB 1362 modifies Oklahoma's in-person absentee voting hours and requirements. It extends voting windows to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday before most elections (with specific Saturday hours for certain elections) and adds a Wednesday voting period before General Elections. Voters must now provide identity proof or sign a sworn statement for provisional ballots, and absentee voting boards must follow strict ballot-handling procedures, including sealing electronic storage media daily. The bill affects voters applying for in-person absentee ballots and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 2053 allows Oklahoma counties and municipalities to impose a local excise tax of up to 10% on medical marijuana sales. Counties must first gain voter approval through a special election (either via a county commission resolution or a 5% voter initiative petition), and cannot hold another election for six months if the tax fails. Municipalities may similarly levy the tax under the same 10% cap, with all tax proceeds required to fund public safety and infrastructure projects. The tax duration must be specified during the voter approval process, and the bill takes effect November 1, 2026. This bill directly affects medical marijuana businesses operating in participating localities and local government revenue streams.

Maddy summaryHB 3324 creates a statewide health platform to connect Oklahoma's hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), and public health entities through a unified, cloud-based system. The platform must provide real-time communication tools - including live video consultations, ECG/image sharing, and emergency alerts - for time-sensitive cases like strokes, heart attacks, and mass casualty incidents. It establishes a revolving fund in the state treasury, funded by state/federal appropriations and donations, to implement and maintain this system. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires all eligible health entities to use the platform for emergency coordination.

Maddy summarySB 1244 modifies Oklahoma's parole rules for inmates aged 60 or older by requiring the Pardon and Parole Board to grant parole to eligible individuals who have served either 10 years or one-third of their sentence (whichever is shorter), provided they pose minimal public safety risks. The bill mandates that the Board use a risk-assessment tool including health status when evaluating these inmates and requires parole hearings for eligible aging inmates. It updates statutory language to define "aging inmate" as 60+ years old and specifies that the Board must consider health factors in risk assessments. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 1058 is a proposed constitutional amendment to Oklahoma's Constitution that would allow school districts to use voter-approved property tax increases (up to 5 mills per $1,000 of assessed value) for operational expenses, in addition to current uses like building construction, repairs, and furniture. Currently, funds from the building and operations fund can only cover physical infrastructure and furniture. If approved by voters, this amendment would expand the permitted uses of these tax revenues to include "operations deemed necessary" by school districts. The measure requires a majority vote of qualified voters in the school district to approve the tax increase and its expanded use. The proposed ballot title clarifies this change without advocating for or against it.