Rep. Nicole Miller

Maddy summarySB 1028 modifies Oklahoma's notary public regulations by requiring a national criminal history check for all applicants and renewals, conducted electronically by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. It increases application fees to $50 (from $25), renewal fees to $45 (from $20), and adds a $50 "same day filing" fee, while raising the required bond amount from $1,000 to $10,000. These changes apply to all current and new notaries in Oklahoma, effective January 1, 2026. The bill mandates these updates to enhance background checks and financial accountability for notarial services.

Maddy summarySB 920 requires developers to obtain a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics before constructing buildings within a specified radius of existing or planned heliports or vertiports. This law directly affects property owners, developers, and construction companies planning projects near these aviation facilities. The key provision mandates that the state agency review and approve construction near such sites to ensure safety and compatibility with aerospace infrastructure. The bill became law on May 15, 2025, without the Governor's signature.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1028 updates the requirements for notaries public in Oklahoma. It mandates a national criminal history record check for all applicants, including those renewing a commission, and specifies that a felony conviction will prevent or remove an individual from serving as a notary. The bill also increases several fees, such as the initial application fee, renewal fee, and same-day filing service fee. Additionally, it raises the required bond for notaries from $1,000 to $10,000 and increases the bond filing fee. These changes will become effective on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 920 introduces new regulations for construction projects near aerospace infrastructure in Oklahoma. It mandates that a specific permit must be obtained for any construction occurring within a defined radius of a heliport or vertiport. This legislation grants the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics new authority to oversee and manage these construction permits, directly affecting developers and the department's responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 731 expands Oklahoma's evidence rules to allow statements from "vulnerable adults" (as defined in state law) to be admitted as evidence in court cases involving abuse, neglect, or sexual contact. The bill specifically permits such statements in juvenile delinquency cases, criminal trials, and related proceedings when the vulnerable adult is a victim or witness to crimes like physical abuse, sexual assault, or domestic violence. These statements can be used without the person testifying in court if they're unavailable or if the court deems the statement non-testimonial. The law applies to cases involving specific crimes listed in Oklahoma statutes, including those against children or vulnerable adults.

Maddy summarySB 751 amends Oklahoma's architectural licensing law to update exemptions for certain building projects. It exempts small structures from requiring a licensed architect, including two-story buildings with: 50 or fewer occupants in assembly spaces (A-2/A-3), 64 or fewer hotel/motel units (R-1), 100,000 sq ft or less for business (B), 200,000 sq ft or less for retail (M), and most industrial/utility buildings (F, S, U). The bill also allows licensed interior designers to handle nonstructural interior work in projects requiring architects and clarifies that renovations remain exempt if the building's use doesn't change. These changes take effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 731 modifies the Oklahoma Evidence Code to expand who can have their statements admitted as evidence in certain legal proceedings. The bill adds "vulnerable adults" to an existing hearsay exception, which previously applied to children and incapacitated persons. This change allows statements made by vulnerable adults describing physical abuse, domestic abuse, neglect, or specific sexual crimes against them or witnessed by them to be admissible. These statements can be used in juvenile deprived proceedings, pre-trial and post-trial criminal and juvenile delinquent proceedings, and criminal and juvenile delinquent trials under specified conditions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 751 modifies the Oklahoma State Architectural and Licensed Interior Designers Act. It changes the financial threshold for when certain public building projects are exempt from requiring a licensed architect. Specifically, the bill raises this exemption from $158,000 to $300,000 for construction, additions, or alterations to buildings used by state, county, municipal, or federal government entities, as well as public trusts and agencies. This means government projects below the new $300,000 value will not be required to use a licensed architect.

Maddy summarySB 216 extends Oklahoma driver license expiration dates for individuals released from state prison who held valid licenses before incarceration. It directly affects people convicted of non-mandatory-revocation offenses who had unexpired licenses during their sentence. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide release documentation to help obtain a provisional license without upfront fee payments, and sets a $25 monthly payment plan for outstanding fees after a six-month period. Service Oklahoma may suspend provisional licenses for non-payment. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 216 extends Oklahoma driver license validity for 6 months after release from state prison for individuals who had a valid license before incarceration and were convicted of offenses not requiring mandatory license revocation. It directly affects formerly incarcerated Oklahomans seeking to regain driving privileges. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide release documentation to help obtain a temporary license (provisional license) within 6 months of release, without requiring payment of fees or fines during that period. After 6 months, individuals must pay $25 monthly toward outstanding fees/fines to maintain the provisional license, with suspension possible for non-payment.