Sen. Todd Gollihare

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require future Oklahoma Attorneys General to be licensed attorneys who have practiced law in Oklahoma for at least ten years. It specifically adds this requirement to Section 3 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, which already sets age and residency qualifications for state executive offices. The amendment would apply only to the Attorney General position, not to other offices like Governor or State Treasurer listed in the existing section. If approved by voters, this change would become part of the state constitution, affecting all candidates seeking the Attorney General role.

Maddy summaryHB 3749 establishes the "Counties and County Officers Act of 2026" as the official name for this legislation and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. This is a procedural bill with no substantive policy changes; it does not alter county governance or officer responsibilities. The bill simply provides a name and effective date for future reference, as it is explicitly stated to not be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes. No specific provisions or affected parties are defined beyond this naming and timing mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 3588 creates Oklahoma's "Uniform Assignment for Benefit of Creditors Act," establishing a standardized process for debtors to transfer all assets to a third party (an "assignee") to pay creditors. It directly affects debtors (individuals or businesses with debt) and creditors by defining key terms like "assignment agreement," requiring written transfers, and setting rules for how assignees manage assets and handle creditor claims. Key provisions include mandating assignees act in "good faith" with fiduciary duties, requiring written proof of claims from creditors, and clarifying how assets are distributed while protecting assignees who follow the process. The law aims to streamline debt resolution without favoring debtors or creditors, focusing on clear procedural rules for asset transfers and claim handling.

Maddy summaryHB 4363 is a procedural bill that names the "Oklahoma Higher Education Reform Act of 2026" and sets its effective date for November 1, 2026. It does not establish new policies or affect any individuals or institutions, as it merely provides a title for future legislation and specifies it will not be codified in Oklahoma Statutes. This bill serves only as a naming convention for a potential future higher education reform measure. The bill was introduced on February 2, 2026, and referred to the Rules Committee for further consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 4341 requires court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) working with children in Oklahoma court cases to complete approved training and pass background checks before being assigned cases. It mandates three specific background checks: child welfare records, criminal history through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and checks from previous states if the applicant lived in Oklahoma less than a year. The bill also establishes legal immunity for CASAs and program managers acting in good faith. This affects all CASA volunteers and the children they represent, with the requirements taking effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 (Oklahoma) clarifies tenant rights when landlords fail to meet rental agreement terms or health/safety standards. It requires tenants to provide landlords with written notice of issues, giving them 14 days to fix problems before tenants can take action. If landlords don’t act, tenants may legally withhold rent (up to one month’s cost for repairs), deduct repair costs from rent, or terminate the lease for uninhabitable conditions. The bill also prohibits landlords from pursuing eviction for nonpayment while tenants use these remedies, effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 modifies how retirement benefits are calculated for Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) members. It updates the rules for counting salary history (including maximum compensation limits for different time periods) and allows current Oklahoma Tax Commission members to elect to use their full constitutional salary for retirement calculations. The bill also revises definitions related to retirement terms, contributions, and benefit computation within OPERS statutes. These changes directly affect current and future OPERS members, particularly state/local government employees whose retirement benefits are based on salary history. The bill is currently in committee referral status as of February 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1647 creates a revolving fund called the County Community Safety Investment Fund within Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The bill broadens the fund's purpose to support evidence-based county programs including mental health/substance abuse treatment, pretrial diversion, jail intake screenings, employment, education, and housing services. Counties and multi-county partnerships can apply for funding, while the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System Board may receive up to $1 million annually for similar programs. The bill requires annual reporting to state legislators on fund allocations and program outcomes. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 1646 requires Oklahoma health insurance plans to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment without arbitrary limits, affecting all residents with such coverage. It mandates coverage for "core treatments" aligned with clinical standards (like those from psychiatric associations), prohibits limiting care to short-term/acute settings, and bans insurers from rescinding authorizations after services are provided. The bill also requires insurers to follow specific rules for reviewing treatment requests and ensures out-of-network care access when in-network options aren't available. This applies to all health benefit plans covering hospital or medical services in Oklahoma, aiming to align mental health coverage with physical health benefits. The bill is pending in committee as of February 2026.

Maddy summarySB 182 modifies retirement benefits for certain Oklahoma state employees, specifically members of the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It allows these employees to elect, within 90 days of appointment, to use the highest salary allowed for their position (rather than their constitutionally capped salary) when calculating retirement contributions and benefits. This change applies to both current and newly appointed Tax Commission members, making their retirement benefits based on a higher compensation amount. The bill updates related sections of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System statutes to reflect this election process.