Sen. Micheal Bergstrom

Maddy summaryThis bill formally approves two specific permanent rules created by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which govern administrative procedures for the state's health care programs. By passing this resolution, the legislature is following a legal requirement to review and ratify major regulations before they become official law. The measure does not change how health care is delivered but instead validates the authority's existing operational guidelines. Once approved, the rules will be distributed to the Governor and the official state register to ensure they are properly recorded.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves specific proposed rule changes submitted by the Oklahoma Long-Range Capital Planning Commission regarding state capital planning. By passing this joint resolution, the state legislature formally accepts these updates, which are identified by specific code numbers in the official administrative regulations. The bill also instructs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the Governor and the editor of the Oklahoma Register for official record-keeping.

Maddy summaryHB 3007 extends the expiration dates for four Oklahoma environmental advisory councils until July 1, 2027, instead of their original 2026 sunset. The bill specifies membership requirements for each council: the Water Quality Council (12 members), Hazardous Waste Council (9 members), Solid Waste Council (10 members), and Radiation Management Council (9 members), with appointments split between the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. Each council must include specific representatives (e.g., industry, environmental groups, local government) and follows defined terms and removal procedures. These councils advise state agencies on water quality, waste management, and environmental protection policies. The bill does not create new regulations but ensures existing advisory structures continue operating.

Maddy summaryHB 3852 changes Oklahoma's process for appointing election precinct officials (inspectors, judges, and clerks). It shortens their terms from four to two years and requires county election boards to appoint these officials every two years, using nominee lists submitted by the top two political parties in the county. County central committees must provide lists equal to twice the number of precincts by June 15 after a gubernatorial election, with appointments finalized by July 1. The bill affects county election boards and precinct staff, taking effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2299, the "Dr. Tom Coburn Act," establishes rules for Oklahoma's delegates to Article V conventions (which propose U.S. constitutional amendments). It directly affects Oklahoma legislators appointed as commissioners or alternates at these federal conventions. Key provisions define "commissioner" and "commission," prohibit delegates from exceeding their assigned authority (e.g., voting beyond legislative instructions), and criminalize bribery, threats, or obstruction of delegates with a felony charge. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and is not codified in Oklahoma statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 3172, the "Fair Banking Act," prohibits Oklahoma banks and payment processors with over $100 billion in assets from discriminating against customers based on protected religion, speech, lawful economic activity, or bias toward these factors. It requires institutions to provide a specific written explanation within 30 days if they deny, restrict, or terminate services like checking accounts, loans, or credit cards. Customers can file a civil lawsuit if they believe discrimination occurred, and the law aligns with federal credit protections while adding new safeguards. The bill excludes insurance and investment services from its scope.

Maddy summaryHB 3006 extends the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education's existence until July 2027 (from 2026), continuing a body that advises on Native American student education. The council, composed of 18 members including tribal representatives, educators, and state education officials, must analyze data on Native American student outcomes and make annual reports to the State Board of Education. It focuses on identifying strategies to improve communication between tribes, schools, and education entities, and developing measurable criteria to assess educational success for Native American students. This bill directly affects Oklahoma’s public education system in how it addresses the needs of Native American students statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 3595 creates a permanent "Safer Counties Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Treasury, managed by the Department of Public Safety. This fund, financed by existing legislative appropriations to the Department, provides grants to all Oklahoma counties to purchase public safety and traffic barrier equipment. Counties must use these funds solely for public safety purposes and cannot divert them to other uses. The fund operates without annual budget restrictions, allowing ongoing disbursements for safety equipment purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 4319 requires Oklahoma state agencies to have specific, explicit state law authorization before creating new rules. It invalidates rules based on vague language (like "as necessary to carry out duties") and mandates agencies to cite exact law sections in rule notices. Agencies must inventory all current rules by 2029 and cite supporting state law, with unsupported rules automatically repealed by January 1, 2030, unless reapproved by the Legislature. The bill also gives the Legislature authority to disapprove rules lacking proper authorization during annual reviews. This directly affects all state agencies that issue rules and the legislative process for reviewing them.

Maddy summaryHB 1016 requires content creators in Oklahoma who feature minors in compensated online videos to set aside earnings in a trust account for the minor until they turn 18. It mandates detailed record-keeping of minor-related content, views, and earnings, and allows minors aged 13+ to demand removal of their likeness from content. Content creators must maintain these records until the minor turns 21 and face civil penalties for violations, including lawsuits for unpaid trust funds. The law directly affects minors appearing in compensated video content on platforms like social media or streaming services within Oklahoma.