Sen. Micheal Bergstrom

Maddy summaryHB 1539 reduces Oklahoma's top individual income tax rate from 5.50% to 4.75% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2024, and beyond. It directly affects all Oklahoma residents and nonresidents filing individual income tax returns, applying the new rate to income above specific thresholds (e.g., $7,250 for single filers and $12,850 for married joint filers). The bill revises tax brackets to lower the top marginal rate while keeping lower brackets unchanged, with the reduction contingent on a State Board of Equalization determination. This change lowers tax liability for most higher-income earners under the current structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1420 requires Oklahoma state agencies to reduce owned and leased property by prioritizing the sale of underutilized state-owned assets, eliminating unnecessary leases, and using existing property instead of new construction. It mandates that all state agencies obtain approval from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services before leasing, purchasing, or constructing new property, with proceeds from sales deposited into a dedicated building maintenance fund. The bill also requires annual public reporting on property sales, lease reductions, and fund usage, while exempting agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority from these requirements. This policy directly affects all state agencies (except the exempted entities) by changing how they manage real estate assets and funding for building maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 1420 requires all Oklahoma state agencies to seek approval from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services before leasing, purchasing, or constructing real property, prioritizing reuse of existing state-owned space. It mandates selling underutilized state-owned property, with proceeds funding the Maintenance of State Buildings Revolving Fund for facility upkeep. Agencies must obtain Oklahoma Historical Society approval before reusing historically significant properties. The law exempts specific entities like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority from these requirements.

Maddy summarySB 397 extends the expiration date of Oklahoma's State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, ensuring the board continues operating without interruption. The bill updates statutory language related to the board's structure, including membership requirements (4 licensed counselors, 3 family therapists, 2 behavioral practitioners, and 2 public members) and committee processes for reviewing licensure within specific specialties. It does not change the board's duties or create new policies, only prolonging its current operational timeline. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency.

Maddy summarySB 559 amends Oklahoma's Funeral Services Licensing Act to clarify that businesses selling funeral merchandise (like caskets or burial supplies) without providing other funeral services no longer need a funeral licensing permit. This directly affects retail sellers of these items who do not offer full funeral services, such as embalming or directing funerals. The bill updates Section 396.2 of the law to explicitly exclude such standalone merchandise sales from the licensing requirements. The change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Oklahoma's Funeral Services Licensing Act to clarify that businesses selling funeral merchandise (such as burial supplies and equipment) without providing other funeral services - like embalming, directing funerals, or operating a funeral establishment - are exempt from licensing requirements. The change specifically revises the definition of "funeral service merchandise" to exclude these limited sellers from the law's scope. This means retailers focused solely on selling such items, without offering additional funeral services, will no longer need a license under the current regulations. The amendment takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2299, the "Dr. Tom Coburn Act," establishes rules for Oklahoma's delegates to Article V conventions, which propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It defines key roles like "commissioner" (a state delegate) and "commission" (the legislative resolution setting delegate authority), and prohibits delegates from exceeding their assigned duties - violating this would be a felony. The bill also criminalizes bribery, threats, or obstruction of delegates during conventions, with penalties including felony charges. It takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting Oklahoma's convention delegates and anyone interfering with their duties.

Maddy summaryHB 2922 modifies Oklahoma's rules for payments between funeral homes and vendors. It requires penalties for late payments to be enforced only after a court judgment, limits penalties to the funeral home itself (not individual directors), and applies only to active funeral establishments. The bill also mandates compliance with federal bankruptcy laws and requires proper consumer fund receipts for all advance cash payments. These changes take effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2073 repeals Section 190.21 of Oklahoma's statutes, which established the Utility Restructuring Task Force. This bill directly affects Oklahoma's utility regulation system by removing a specific legal mechanism for reviewing utility restructuring. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2025, eliminating the requirement for the task force to operate. No new provisions or policy changes are created; the bill solely removes an existing statutory provision. (Procedural bill, summary limited to 3 sentences as requested.)

Maddy summaryHB 2073 removes a specific legal requirement by repealing Section 190.21 of Title 17 Oklahoma Statutes, which previously established the Utility Restructuring Task Force. This procedural bill directly affects the legal framework governing the task force, ending its statutory basis without creating new policies or obligations. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2025, and does not alter utility regulations or services. As a straightforward repeal, it has no direct impact on consumers, utilities, or ongoing utility policies.