Rep. Emily Gise

Maddy summaryHB 1600, the "Lori Brand Patient Bill of Rights Act of 2025," establishes 19 specific rights for patients receiving care in Oklahoma hospitals and clinics. It guarantees rights like respectful treatment, clear communication about medical options, informed consent, access to medical records, and the ability to refuse treatment (with consequences explained), while also outlining patient responsibilities such as providing accurate health information. The law directly affects all patients in Oklahoma healthcare settings, including minors (with parental responsibilities specified) and Medicare beneficiaries (notifying them about potential non-coverage). It became effective May 22, 2025, after being signed into law without the Governor’s signature.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 modifies Oklahoma's bail procedures for specific offenses, primarily affecting individuals arrested for domestic violence, substance abuse violations, or repeat driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. The bill requires courts to consider factors like substance abuse history, domestic violence records, and threat levels when setting bail, and prohibits personal recognizance bonds for domestic violence arrests or second/third DUI offenses. For repeat DUI arrests (Section 11-902), courts must determine bail and provide written findings on public safety risks before release. It does not change DUI penalties but alters release conditions for these specific cases. The bill became law without the Governor's signature on May 13, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 947 updates Oklahoma's nursing facility fee structure and fund allocation rules to improve long-term care services for seniors. It revises how the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee is calculated (based on 6% of total patient gross receipts divided by patient days) and designates specific uses for the resulting fund, including funding 15 ombudsmen positions and increasing monthly personal needs allowances for nursing home residents from $30 to $50. The bill ensures these programs - such as Medicaid services, nursing facility inspections, and senior support services - remain exempt from budget cuts. It directly affects nursing facilities (which pay the fee), seniors receiving Medicaid long-term care, and state agencies managing these programs. The bill was enacted without the Governor's signature on May 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 modifies the release process for individuals arrested for specific offenses in Oklahoma. It requires those arrested for domestic violence, certain controlled substance violations, or a second or subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) offense to appear before a magistrate, judge, or court to have bail determined. For domestic violence arrests, the bill outlines numerous factors a court must consider when setting bail and prohibits release on a personal recognizance bond. For repeat DUI arrests, judges must consider public safety and provide written findings on the bail amount.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 947 updates Oklahoma statutes related to long-term care services and funding for senior citizens. It amends provisions concerning the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee, which is assessed on licensed nursing facilities. This fee, combined with federal funds, supports the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund. The fund pays for services such as fifteen ombudsmen, ten nursing facility inspectors, and various Medicaid services for eligible residents, including an increase in the personal needs allowance for nursing home residents from $30 to $50 per month.

Maddy summaryHB 1601, the "ARCHER Act," extends maternity leave protections for eligible public school teachers in Oklahoma. It amends existing sick leave rules (70 O.S. § 6-104.8) to require school districts to provide extended leave for teachers who have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year, specifically covering pregnancy-related needs beyond standard sick leave. The bill creates a dedicated exception to current sick leave policies, ensuring teachers can take leave for maternity without losing pay, aligning with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) standards. This directly affects full-time classroom teachers in public school districts who meet the employment threshold. The law became effective after Governor approval on May 6, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 942 is a clarifying amendment to an existing education discrimination bill. It adds a specific provision (subsection G) explicitly stating that the bill's provisions do not restrict the implementation, funding, or administration of Indian education programs or services established under federal or state law. This amendment directly affects existing Indian education programs by ensuring they remain protected from potential unintended restrictions under the broader anti-discrimination law. The amendment was added to the bill on February 24, 2025, and the bill became law after the governor approved it on May 6, 2025.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 991 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) non-legally binding definition of anti-Semitism for specific state purposes. The bill requires state agencies, programs, and officials to use this definition exclusively for training, education, recognizing, and reporting anti-Semitic incidents - *not* as a legal standard for discrimination cases. It explicitly states the definition does not limit free speech protections under the U.S. or Oklahoma Constitutions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and was signed by the governor on May 6, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 991 codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Anti-Semitism, including its contemporary examples, into Oklahoma law. This definition is adopted exclusively as a tool and guide for state agencies and institutions, including law enforcement, for training, education, and recognizing and combating anti-Semitic hate crimes or discrimination. It also provides a framework for tracking and reporting anti-Semitic incidents within the state. The bill explicitly states that its provisions do not diminish or infringe upon rights protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or the Oklahoma Constitution.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 942, titled "Education; prohibiting certain discrimination on certain basis against students or employees," includes an amendment that clarifies its scope. This amendment ensures that nothing in the act will limit or restrict the implementation, funding, or administration of any Indian education programs or services established under federal or state law. The provided text primarily details this specific clarification, and does not fully outline the types of discrimination prohibited by the main bill.