Sen. Micheal Bergstrom

Maddy summarySenate Bill 897 extends the termination date of the Corporation Commission Plugging Fund from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This fund supports the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's efforts to respond to seeping natural gas incidents and emergency situations with potential environmental or public safety impacts. The bill maintains the requirement that the fund be held at a minimum of $5 million. If the fund falls below this level before the new termination date, an additional excise tax on oil and gas will be imposed to replenish it.

Maddy summarySB 36 amends Oklahoma law to exempt five state authorities - the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, Commissioners of the Land Office, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and Grand River Dam Authority - from the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission's property management rules. This means these entities no longer need Commission approval for leasing, purchasing, or transferring real property, and they are excluded from requirements to sell underutilized assets or deposit proceeds into the Maintenance of State Buildings Revolving Fund. The bill updates statutory language to clarify these exemptions while maintaining other provisions for state agencies not listed. It takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.

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. This bill directly affects the Oklahoma Funeral Board, which regulates funeral directors and embalmers, and the professionals licensed under its authority. The key change is simply delaying the board's automatic termination by one year, with no modifications to the board's composition or regulatory powers.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the operation of Oklahoma's State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering until July 1, 2025, by re-creating the board under the Oklahoma Sunset Law. The board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor, including one barber appointed at-large, with specific requirements such as 5 years of practical experience in cosmetology or barbering and residency in Oklahoma. It mandates representation from each congressional district (with adjustments for redistricting) and sets qualifications like high school graduation and age 25+. This directly affects cosmetology and barbering professionals regulated by the board, as it ensures continued oversight of licensing and standards.

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.

Maddy summarySB 690 amends Oklahoma's correctional system to clarify how inmates earn sentence-reduction credits. It establishes four class levels (1-4) based on participation in work, education, and rehabilitation programs, with higher credits for better performance (e.g., Class 4 inmates earn 60 credits/month if they have no prior felony convictions). The bill prohibits earning credits for inmates convicted of crimes resulting in death of law enforcement or DOC staff, or for those violating probation. It also updates language to be gender-neutral and specifies that credits equal one day of reduced incarceration per credit. This law directly affects all Oklahoma state inmates serving sentences with the possibility of sentence reduction through earned credits.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 690 amends current law regarding earned credits for inmates in state correctional institutions. The bill authorizes specific inmates to reduce their prison terms monthly based on their participation in work, education, and programs, and their conduct, through a class-level system. It also prohibits the transfer of certain earned credits. Inmates serving life sentences or convicted of crimes resulting in the death of a law enforcement or corrections officer are not eligible for these credit deductions. The bill also updates statutory language to be gender-neutral.

Maddy summaryHB 2731 amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act to change the deadline for submitting rules to the Legislature from April 1 to February 1 each year. State agencies must now submit rules by February 1 to be considered through the standard legislative process; if not, the Governor can approve or reject them by publishing a declaration in "The Oklahoma Register" by July 17. This law affects state agencies creating administrative rules and clarifies the Governor's authority over rule approval timelines, becoming effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2731 amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act, which outlines the process for state agencies to create and implement rules. This bill changes a specific deadline related to how the Governor can approve or disapprove administrative rules. It moves the date by which proposed rules must be received from April 1 to February 1 for the Governor to act on them if the Legislature has not passed a joint resolution. This adjustment affects the timeline for state agencies submitting rules and for the legislative and gubernatorial review process.