Sen. Todd Gollihare

Maddy summaryHB 2422 modifies Oklahoma's parole rules for certain sex offenders convicted of crimes involving minors under 13. It requires a mental health evaluation to determine if hormonal treatment (medroxyprogesterone acetate) could reduce reoffending risk, making voluntary hormonal treatment a condition for parole eligibility. Parolees must continue this treatment while incarcerated, and failure to comply - along with new offenses - revokes parole eligibility. The bill applies only to offenders convicted on or after its effective date and amends existing parole statutes (57 O.S. §§ 332.21, 512) to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2422 establishes new conditions for parole eligibility for certain sex offenders in Oklahoma. It applies to sex offenders over 21 who committed a registered sex crime against a minor under 13. Under the bill, such offenders would undergo a mental health evaluation; if hormonal treatment is determined to reduce re-offending, the offender may voluntarily elect to receive it as a parole condition. This treatment, administered by a licensed physician, must begin prior to release and continue while on parole. Failure to adhere to the treatment or committing a subsequent offense would result in the loss of parole eligibility, and these provisions apply to convictions on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHCR 1011 is a concurrent resolution that designates April 11, 2025, as "Route 66 Day" in Oklahoma. It recognizes the historical and cultural importance of U.S. Route 66, particularly its contributions to the state's transportation, migration, commerce, culture, and tourism. The resolution directs that copies be distributed to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the Oklahoma Historical Society for appropriate observance.

Maddy summaryHB 1860 requires that crime scene and autopsy photographs of victims submitted to Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board for clemency hearings be kept confidential and not released to the public. It directly affects victims and their families whose images are used in such hearings, ensuring their privacy. The bill amends Oklahoma's Open Records Act to explicitly list these victim photographs as confidential records under Section 24A.5(p), preventing public disclosure. It also mandates that these photographs be included in a separate hearing packet for the Board, separate from other case materials.

Maddy summaryHB 1860 requires crime scene and autopsy photographs submitted to Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board for clemency hearings to be kept confidential. It adds these specific victim photographs to the list of records exempt from public disclosure under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. This protects victims' families from having sensitive images made public during clemency proceedings. The bill directly affects individuals involved in clemency cases where such photographs are part of the hearing packet.

Maddy summarySB 352 prohibits utility companies from using eminent domain to build wind turbines, solar facilities, battery storage, or hydrogen gas facilities on private property. It also requires electricity providers to obtain a Corporation Commission certificate before using eminent domain for high-voltage transmission lines (over 300 kV). The bill directly affects utility companies seeking to expand infrastructure and private property owners whose land might be targeted for such projects. These changes amend Oklahoma’s eminent domain law (27 O.S. §7) to restrict certain facility siting and add oversight for major transmission projects. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Oklahoma Legislature and referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Oversight committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1480 changes how Oklahoma courts handle court fees and fines for children and their families. It requires courts to assess ability to pay before enforcing financial obligations (like fees, costs, or fines), considering income, expenses, dependents, and disability status. Families receiving federal aid (like TANF, SNAP, or disability benefits) or earning below 150% of the poverty level are automatically presumed unable to pay and receive debt waivers. Courts must inform families of their obligations and provide free cost hearings to determine payment ability, with no fees for requesting these hearings. The law applies to all juvenile cases involving court-ordered financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1480 ensures that a child's or their family's ability to pay court-ordered financial obligations (like fines, fees, or costs) cannot affect court decisions about their case. It requires courts to consider factors like income, household expenses, dependents, and disability status when determining payment capacity, and automatically waives these debts for families receiving certain federal/state aid (e.g., SNAP, TANF, disability benefits, or below 150% of the federal poverty level). The bill mandates free cost hearings for families unable to pay, with courts issuing no-fee summons and applying equal percentage reductions to all waived obligations. It also directs court clerks to proactively identify cases with no payments for 90 days and schedule hearings within 45 days.

Maddy summarySB 352 prohibits utility companies (electricity or gas providers) from using eminent domain to acquire private property for wind, solar, battery storage, or hydrogen facilities. It also requires these entities to obtain a Corporation Commission certificate before using eminent domain for high-voltage electric transmission facilities (over 300 kV). The bill directly affects renewable energy project developers and utility companies seeking to build large-scale infrastructure. This amendment to Oklahoma's eminent domain law for utilities takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission rules. It removes restrictions preventing licensed attorneys (or those with family members who are attorneys) from serving on the Commission, updates references to congressional districts to reflect current boundaries (instead of 1967 districts), and changes most terms to six years while eliminating the "no self-succession" rule. The amendment also removes limits on political party membership for Commission members. These changes directly affect who qualifies to serve on the Commission, which selects judicial nominees for Oklahoma courts.