Sen. Micheal Bergstrom

Maddy summarySB 918 amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act to require courts to interpret state laws and agency rules themselves (de novo) rather than deferring to agency interpretations during judicial review. It also prohibits state agencies from seeking civil penalties in cases where defendants would normally be entitled to a jury trial under common law. The bill directly affects individuals, businesses, and organizations challenging agency actions, as well as state agencies themselves, by changing how court challenges are processed and limiting penalty options. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 318 creates a new division within Oklahoma's Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to review state agency regulations. It requires LOFT to conduct "rule impact analyses" for major rules proposed by state agencies, evaluating costs, benefits, alternatives, and legal basis. This directly affects state agencies that draft new regulations, as they must now submit rule impact statements to LOFT for review. The division must be established within 90 days and limited to five full-time employees. The bill aims to provide legislative oversight of regulatory impacts before rules take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 requires Oklahoma law enforcement agencies to notify stalking victims about available support services and to serve a "Stalking Warning Letter" to the accused person, with the victim's input on whether it should be served. Victims may decline having the letter served to the accused, and law enforcement may serve it after an arrest if probable cause exists. The bill mandates that law enforcement enter the Stalking Warning Letter into a national database and provide a copy to the victim after service. This directly affects stalking victims, law enforcement agencies, and accused individuals in Oklahoma cases involving stalking.

Maddy summarySB 318 establishes the "Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny" (REINS) Act, requiring Oklahoma's Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to create a new division to review state agency regulations. It mandates that state agencies submit rule impact statements to LOFT for all "major rules" (defined under Oklahoma law) before final adoption. This directly affects state agencies that create regulations and gives LOFT new authority to analyze the fiscal and policy impacts of proposed rules. The bill updates existing statutes to formalize this review process, ensuring agencies provide detailed analysis of how regulations affect costs, services, and compliance before they take effect.

Maddy summarySB 918 changes how Oklahoma courts interpret agency actions. It requires courts to interpret statutes and rules themselves instead of deferring to agency interpretations, and to favor interpretations that limit agency power and maximize individual liberty when in doubt. The bill also prohibits state agencies from seeking civil penalties for conduct that would also be subject to a common law lawsuit with a jury trial right, except in summary judgment cases. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1155 requires Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety to create a real-time alert system that notifies drivers via phone text or app alerts and highway message boards when active police pursuits are occurring nearby. The system must only activate when a pursuit poses a public safety risk, providing clear details like the suspect vehicle's make, model, color, location, and direction while minimizing driver distraction. It mandates collaboration with mobile carriers and limits alerts to a defined radius around the pursuit, with automatic deactivation once the threat ends. This law directly affects drivers receiving alerts and law enforcement agencies confirming pursuits, aiming to enhance public safety during high-speed chases.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 amends Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act to include the Judicial Nominating Commission within the definition of a "public body." This means meetings of the Judicial Nominating Commission, which recommends candidates for judicial appointments, will now be subject to the same open meeting requirements as other public bodies. Specifically, the commission must provide public notice, allow public attendance, and maintain accessible meeting records. The change takes effect November 1, 2025, directly affecting how judicial selection processes are conducted and observed.

Maddy summaryHB 1155 requires Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety to create a real-time pursuit alert system for drivers during active police chases. The system must send mobile phone alerts (via text or app notifications) and update highway electronic signs with key details like the suspect vehicle's description, last location, and direction of travel, while limiting notifications to a targeted area around the pursuit. Alerts can only be issued when a pursuit poses a significant public safety risk and public notification would help reduce that risk. The bill mandates clear, concise information that minimizes driver distraction and ends alerts once the pursuit concludes or no longer threatens public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 adds Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission to the definition of a "public body" under the state's Open Meeting Act. This means the commission's meetings must now comply with the same public notice, accessibility, and transparency rules that apply to city councils, county commissions, and other government bodies. The bill explicitly includes the commission in Section 304 of the Open Meeting Act, requiring its proceedings to follow standard open meeting procedures. The change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 16, the Oklahoma Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibits financial companies (like banks and credit card networks) from using payment codes that identify gun stores or gun-related purchases. It also bans government agencies from collecting or maintaining lists of firearm owners or their transactions. The law directly affects financial institutions, payment networks, and state agencies handling transactions. Violations can be enforced by the Attorney General, who may seek fines up to $1,000 per incident for repeated noncompliance.