Sen. Lisa Standridge

Maddy summarySB 1892 removes a requirement for Oklahoma public school districts to include the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey in their biennial reviews of mental health crisis protocols. The bill amends Section 24-159 of Oklahoma statutes by deleting language mandating the use of this specific survey during protocol updates, and repeals Section 24-158 which established the survey. This change affects school districts that previously needed to incorporate survey data into their protocol reviews, shifting their review process to use alternative methods. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 1968 requires Oklahoma's State Regents for Higher Education to create a policy allowing public colleges to grant college credit for courses taken at state-funded technology centers. This directly affects students enrolled in technology center courses (who gain transferable credit) and public colleges (which must adopt the policy). The policy must include clear processes for recording credit, a detailed list of eligible courses, and specific requirements for technology center instructors teaching college-level material. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration making it effective immediately upon approval.

Maddy summarySB 2023 requires out-of-state pharmacies that ship drugs into Oklahoma to obtain a license from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy and comply with Oklahoma's pharmacy laws, including storage and staffing rules. It mandates initial and annual on-site inspections by Oklahoma inspectors (not out-of-state agencies), with pharmacies covering inspection costs. Violations - like failing to follow storage guidelines or pharmacy ratios - can result in fines up to $50,000 per violation or permanent license revocation if not corrected within 90 days. The bill directly affects pharmacies operating across state lines, ensuring they meet Oklahoma's safety and quality standards for drug distribution.

Maddy summarySB 1860 restricts the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to constructing and operating toll roads only on specific, pre-approved routes listed in the bill, such as the Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It limits the Authority’s power by explicitly defining authorized locations instead of granting broad construction authority, preventing new turnpike projects without separate legislative approval. The bill amends Oklahoma Statute § 1705 to clarify these boundaries and update legal references, affecting the Authority’s operational scope. This change directly impacts the Authority’s ability to expand infrastructure, ensuring future projects require new legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 1879 limits the reasons voters in Oklahoma can request an absentee ballot to five specific justifications: employment outside their county/state on election day, physical illness/disability preventing in-person voting, caring for someone with such a condition, military service (or qualifying family member), or being a deployed first responder/emergency worker. The bill requires all absentee ballot applications - especially electronic ones - to include matching voter registration details (name, birth date, ID number) and a qualifying justification, with applications lacking these being denied. It also mandates address confirmation for electronic applications by January 1, 2023, and specifies that voter registration details cannot be modified online without following Section 4-109.4. This bill directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots and takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1896 requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students annually for reading skills like decoding and comprehension using approved tools. Students who do not meet grade-level reading proficiency after receiving targeted intervention must be retained in third grade, unless they qualify for exemptions (e.g., English learners with less than one year in an English-learner program or students with disabilities). The bill mandates that schools provide individualized reading intervention plans within 30 days of identifying a deficiency and allocate state funds to support retained students. It directly affects third-grade students and public school districts, with specific requirements for screenings, interventions, and parental notifications.

Maddy summarySB 1954 creates the Turnpike Legislative Oversight Board to oversee the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's operations, policies, and spending. The Board will consist of members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore, with members representing each of Oklahoma's six legislative districts. It requires the Turnpike Authority to submit annual reports and additional information to the Board, which will monitor the Authority's activities and expenditures. The bill amends existing law to add this oversight structure while updating statutory references related to the Turnpike Authority's governance.

Maddy summarySB 2022 tightens Oklahoma's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules to strictly align with federal requirements. It imposes a 3-month time limit on SNAP benefits for able-bodied adults aged 18-50 without dependents (ABAWDs) within any 36-month period, unless they work at least 20 hours weekly. The bill prohibits Oklahoma from creating new exemptions or relaxing federal work requirements, mandates individualized case-by-case exemptions only, and bans any policy that expands eligibility or delays federal enforcement. It requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to use federal income/asset limits for eligibility and strictly adhere to federal verification standards.

Maddy summarySB 1869 restructures Oklahoma's Educational Television Authority (OETA) by removing its designation as an "essential" state function, altering its governance, and prohibiting the transfer of state funds to it. The bill redirects specific OETA funds to the new "Healthy Parks Healthy Minds Fund" and transfers certain OETA facilities to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It also repeals 16 existing sections of law governing OETA, simplifying its legal framework. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, with the bill declared an emergency.

Maddy summarySB 1952 sets a $4 billion total borrowing limit for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on all its revenue bonds, replacing the previous statutory cap. This bill directly affects the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority by restricting the total amount of debt it can issue at any time. The key provision amends Section 1709 of Oklahoma law to establish this $4 billion ceiling on aggregate outstanding bond debt. The bill does not alter bond issuance procedures, interest rates, or repayment terms, only the maximum total borrowing amount.