Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2729 amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act, impacting how state agencies operate and how individuals interact with agency decisions. It mandates that reviewing courts and administrative hearing officers interpret state statutes and rules *de novo*, meaning they cannot defer to a state agency's interpretation, and should resolve any remaining doubt in favor of limiting agency power. The bill also requires a jury trial for civil penalties sought by administrative agencies if the underlying conduct would typically entitle a defendant to a jury trial at common law. Additionally, it clarifies when a claim for judicial review of a final agency order accrues and updates provisions for awarding court costs in review proceedings.
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Maddy summaryHB 2728, known as the REINS Act of 2025, modifies the process by which state agencies create administrative rules. It requires agencies to perform a detailed economic impact analysis for any "major rule," defined as one projected to cost businesses, local governments, or individuals $1 million or more over five years. The bill establishes a new Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency to independently review these economic analyses and report its findings to legislative committees. This process aims to increase transparency and legislative oversight of the potential economic impacts of new administrative regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 1034 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's Archives and Records Commission from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, under the state's Sunset Law. This procedural bill does not change the Commission's structure or authority - it maintains the existing membership (Governor-appointed Chair, State Librarian as Vice Chair, and three other officials) and its role overseeing state records disposal. The extension simply delays the Commission's automatic termination by one year without altering its current responsibilities or scope.
Maddy summaryHB 1034 extends the expiration date of the Archives and Records Commission from its previous sunset date to July 1, 2026, under Oklahoma's Sunset Law. The Commission, composed of the Governor's appointee (as Chairman), State Librarian, Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor, and State Treasurer, manages the disposition of state public records and archives. This change maintains the Commission's existing authority over state records (excluding political subdivisions and certain tax commission records) without altering its structure or responsibilities.
Maddy summaryHB 1030 extends the existence of Oklahoma's State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering until July 1, 2025, by re-creating the board under the Oklahoma Sunset Law. The bill specifies that the 11-member board - appointed by the governor - must include representation from each congressional district, with members required to have specific professional experience in cosmetology or barbering. Key provisions include membership qualifications (e.g., 5+ years’ experience, active practice), restrictions on board affiliations, and operational rules like annual reporting and meeting schedules. This procedural bill does not change the board’s regulatory functions but ensures its continued operation.
Maddy summaryHB 1029 extends the sunset date for Oklahoma's Funeral Board from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, ensuring the board continues operating under the Oklahoma Sunset Law. The bill re-establishes the seven-member board, requiring five members to be licensed funeral directors/embalmers with seven years of active practice, and two public members (one from healthcare) with no funeral industry ties. This directly affects funeral service professionals, licensing regulations, and the governance structure of the Oklahoma Funeral Board. The change is procedural, maintaining the board's current composition and responsibilities without altering its operational rules.
Maddy summarySB 897 extends the termination date of Oklahoma's Corporation Commission Plugging Fund from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036, ensuring continued funding for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells. The fund must be maintained at $5 million; if it drops below this level, the state will impose additional excise taxes on oil and gas producers until the fund is restored. This bill directly affects oil and gas producers who pay the excise taxes and the Corporation Commission, which manages the fund for environmental cleanup. The law becomes effective November 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 391 extends the Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board's existence until July 1, 2026 (correcting the bill title's "dissolving" error), requiring it to review opioid overdose cases involving adults. The Board gathers confidential records from medical examiners, hospitals, law enforcement, and other agencies to identify systemic issues in medical or law enforcement responses, then makes recommendations for improvement. All case discussions and recommendations remain confidential and privileged, not admissible in court, while the Board must publish an annual public report by February 1 detailing its findings and system coordination. This directly affects state agencies (like mental health services, law enforcement, and medical examiners) and ensures public transparency through annual reports.
Maddy summarySB 396 extends the expiration date for Oklahoma's Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. This change ensures the existing board, which oversees alcohol and drug counseling licensure, continues operating without interruption. The bill updates the statutory sunset date in state law but does not alter the board's composition, membership requirements, or operational rules. It directly affects the board members, licensed counselors, and the oversight of substance abuse counseling services in Oklahoma.
Maddy summaryHB 1549 modifies Oklahoma's allocation system for private activity bonds, which are tax-exempt bonds used to fund projects like housing and economic development. It redefines key terms and adjusts how the state's annual bond issuance limit ("state ceiling") is divided into specific pools, including increasing the Student Loan Pool to 15.5% and creating new pools for beginning agricultural producers and rural housing. These changes affect state agencies, local governments, housing authorities, and other bond issuers that rely on tax-exempt financing for projects like affordable housing, student loans, and economic development. The bill specifies that allocations from certain pools require approvals from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce or the Council of Bond Oversight. It became law on May 14, 2025, without gubernatorial action.