Sen. Micheal Bergstrom

Maddy summarySB 1301 exempts animal rescue and shelter organizations in Oklahoma from paying state sales tax on their purchases. This bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code (68 O.S. § 1356) to add these organizations to the list of entities already eligible for tax exemptions. The exemption applies to tangible personal property and services purchased by qualifying nonprofits that rescue and shelter animals. It directly affects nonprofit animal welfare organizations across the state, reducing their operational costs.

Maddy summarySB 1300 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to prioritize energy sources that are affordable, reliable, and secure within the state. It mandates that energy providers prioritize U.S.-sourced fuel (excluding nuclear), ban critical materials from "foreign adversary nations" (as defined by federal designations), and prioritize infrastructure built in Oklahoma or the U.S. The bill also requires a sufficient supply of "green energy" (defined to include nuclear and natural gas meeting EPA standards) that is dispatchable - meaning available on demand - to meet all customer needs without interruptions. This directly affects energy providers and grid operators subject to the Commission's oversight.

Maddy summarySB 1310 ties salary adjustments for specific SNAP program managers to Oklahoma's SNAP error rate. If the error rate reaches 6% or higher, salaries for the Director, executive leaders, SNAP division director, and SNAP supervisors are reduced (up to 17% at 10%+ errors). The savings from these salary cuts fund a revolving account that pays $5,000 one-time bonuses to non-manager SNAP staff when the error rate drops below 5.75%. The bill directly affects SNAP program administrators and aims to incentivize reducing payment errors through salary adjustments and targeted bonuses.

Maddy summarySB 1318, "Alicia's Law," creates a dedicated revolving fund called the "Internet Crimes Against Children Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Treasury. The fund, managed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), is designed to support the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and foster collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement. It is financed through legislative appropriations, grants, and other designated funds, and can be continuously used without annual budget constraints for the fund's specified purposes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1315 prohibits individuals from countries designated as "countries of particular concern" by the U.S. Department of State from enrolling in Oklahoma's public higher education institutions starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. The bill directly affects international students from those specific countries, barring their enrollment in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will create implementing rules to carry out the policy. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

Maddy summarySB 1359 increases the annual contribution limit for political parties in Oklahoma from $10,000 to $100,000 per contributor (including corporations, labor unions, LLCs, and partnerships). It modifies campaign finance rules by requiring all contributions to a party committee to be aggregated annually toward this new cap, while excluding certain federal "Levin Funds" from the calculation. The bill repeals outdated rules that previously limited contributions from specific entities like corporations and labor unions. This directly affects political parties and their donors by allowing significantly larger annual contributions to party committees. The changes take effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySJR 25 proposes a constitutional amendment known as the "Taxpayer's Bill of Rights" that would require voter approval for most new or increased taxes, debt issuances, and certain spending changes by Oklahoma state and local governments. It establishes mechanisms for taxpayers to sue if taxes are collected illegally, with refunds plus interest for improperly collected funds, and limits annual spending growth for governments based on property value or enrollment changes. The amendment would prohibit new local income taxes, restrict property transfer taxes, and mandate specific voter disclosures before tax or debt votes, directly affecting all Oklahoma taxpayers and government entities.

Maddy summarySB 1385 creates the Oklahoma Critical Workforce Retention Act of 2026, providing tax exemptions for certain income earned in critical workforce sectors (such as skilled trades) and allowing deductions for related job costs. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers working in these high-demand fields by reducing their taxable income for 2026 tax years. The bill amends existing tax code to adjust taxable income, specifically exempting qualifying trade income and deducting trade-related expenses. This policy change aims to support workforce retention through direct tax relief for eligible workers.

Maddy summarySJR 26 proposes a constitutional amendment creating Oklahoma's "Taxpayer's Bill of Rights" (Section 44 of Article X), requiring voter approval for new local taxes and debt. It directly affects cities, counties, and school districts (referred to as "districts") by limiting annual spending growth to local property value increases or student enrollment changes, mandating refunds with 10% annual interest for excess tax collections, and requiring specific voter disclosures before tax or debt measures. Key provisions include prohibiting new property transfer taxes, blocking local income taxes, and requiring districts to mail detailed budget notices to voters 30 days before elections. The amendment would take effect January 1, 2028, if approved by voters.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution approves most proposed permanent rules from Oklahoma's judicial and public safety agencies (including the Attorney General, Department of Emergency Management, and State Bureau of Narcotics) for 2025. It specifically disapproves two rule sections: one from the Office of Juvenile Affairs (377:1-3-26(c)(2)) and one from the Department of Public Safety (595:25-5-15(e)), while directing distribution to the Governor and *The Oklahoma Register*. The resolution became law without the Governor's signature on May 28, 2025.