Sen. Shane Jett

Maddy summarySB 1883 amends Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act to require the state Legislature to permit audio and video recording of all public legislative meetings. This directly affects attendees, journalists, and the public who currently observe legislative sessions. The key provision explicitly states the Legislature "shall not prevent any person" from recording meetings, removing any barriers to such recordings. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2026, and applies to all legislative sessions conducted under the Open Meeting Act.

Maddy summarySB 1800 requires Oklahoma school districts and charter schools to immediately suspend employees facing investigations, arrests, or charges for specific offenses involving sexual abuse or exploitation of students (as defined in Oklahoma law). Upon receiving law enforcement notification, school boards must suspend the employee without a hearing, preserving their pay and benefits while prohibiting them from school grounds during the suspension. Superintendents must also notify parents that the employee is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and mandates the State Board of Education to create implementing rules.

Maddy summarySB 1797 prohibits intentionally releasing chemicals into Oklahoma's atmosphere to alter weather patterns, affecting any individual or entity conducting such activities within the state. It authorizes the Governor to deploy the Oklahoma Air National Guard to investigate violations, document evidence, and escort violators for further action. The bill repeals all existing Oklahoma laws related to weather modification (previously codified in sections 1087.1-1087.20 and 1801.1-1801.4). It takes effect on November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1742 prohibits Oklahoma state employees from stating their preferred pronouns on any official work documents or communications. It defines workplace harassment to include stating preferred pronouns, requiring the Department of Labor to create standards for handling such violations, which must be approved by both legislative chambers before being distributed to all state agencies. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage. This directly affects all state employees and agencies in their official workplace communications regarding pronoun usage.

Maddy summarySB 1660 amends Oklahoma's Children's Code to restrict when children can be placed in emergency custody. It requires child welfare agencies to complete a safety evaluation before removing a child from home, ensuring the removal is only for an imminent safety threat. The bill mandates that children taken into protective custody must be assessed within 23 hours to determine if they can safely stay with relatives or in emergency foster care instead of entering state custody. This directly affects children in custody cases, parents, law enforcement, and child welfare agencies by adding procedural safeguards to prevent unnecessary removals.

Maddy summarySB 1903 amends Oklahoma's death certificate filing rules, directly affecting hospitals, funeral directors, and medical staff who complete death certificates. It requires hospitals to ensure medical certification (listing cause of death) is filed within five days by the attending physician or their designee, with funeral directors completing the full certificate within ten days. The bill specifically mandates that medical professionals list suicide methods (e.g., lethal drugs) and note "suicide" as the manner of death when known. It also provides liability protection for medical certifiers acting in good faith, excluding willful misconduct. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1741 clarifies and updates Oklahoma law regarding off-duty carry of firearms by full-time and reserve peace officers. It specifies that officers must wear uniform or carry official identification (badge, commission card, CLEET certification) when carrying approved weapons off-duty, and requires agencies to maintain and report authorized off-duty carriers to CLEET. The bill also creates an online application process through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for officers to obtain a handgun license under the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, waiving standard requirements like background checks if the officer already has them from employment. This directly affects all commissioned peace officers in Oklahoma seeking off-duty carry authorization.

Maddy summarySB 1754 designates Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM) as domestic terrorist organizations under Oklahoma law. The bill requires state agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle operations linked to these groups, including prosecuting those who fund them. It is based on legislative findings that characterize both groups as using violence and intimidation to suppress lawful political activity. The bill declares an emergency, meaning it would take effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summarySB 1902, the Oklahoma Professional Self-Determination Act, requires state licensure boards to develop and implement their own examinations for professional licenses instead of relying solely on national exams. It directly affects licensed professionals (including emergency medical personnel under Section 3) by shifting exam authority to Oklahoma state boards and prohibiting boards from penalizing licensees for lawful expression of opinion about medical policy. Key provisions mandate state-developed exams meeting national standards, protect against retaliation for lawful speech (except HIPAA violations), and preserve existing licensure pathways. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and requires boards to create these exams within one year of enactment.

Maddy summarySB 1783, the "Prohibiting Corruption in the Legislature Act of 2026," prevents Oklahoma legislators from serving on any committee if they have a close family member (within three degrees of relation, like parents, siblings, or children) working for a state or local government agency they oversee. The law specifically bars legislators from committee roles - such as member, vice chair, or chair - if their family member is employed by, appointed to, or contracted by a state entity with oversight over that agency. Violating this rule is considered corruption and results in removal from office. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and codifies these restrictions in Oklahoma Statutes.