Sen. Shane Jett

Maddy summarySB 1764 amends the Oklahoma Juvenile Code's definition of "abuse" to explicitly state that parents may use "ordinary force" for discipline (including spanking, switching, or paddling) without it being considered abuse under the law. This change directly affects parents, child welfare workers, and courts when determining if disciplinary actions constitute abuse. The bill modifies Section 1-1-105 of the code by adding this clarification to the "abuse" definition, specifying that such discipline is permitted. It does not alter other definitions or create new programs.

Maddy summarySB 1740, the "Anti-Perverse Incentive Act," requires Oklahoma state agencies to deposit all fines and fees collected from individuals or businesses into the General Revenue Fund (instead of keeping them). It mandates an appeals process for anyone who believes a fine was imposed for punitive reasons, personal motives, or political reasons by agency staff. Agency employees who abuse this authority face a $1,000 penalty or the amount of the disputed fine, whichever is greater. The law applies to all state agencies and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1745 designates the first Thursday in May as "Oklahoma Day of Prayer" and requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging voluntary prayer, meditation, or reflection by Oklahomans. It explicitly prohibits state agencies, schools, or public institutions from compelling participation or penalizing non-participation in observances. The bill clarifies it does not endorse any religion, restrict private religious expression, or require public funding beyond minimal administrative costs for the Governor's proclamation. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and is designated as an emergency measure.

Maddy summarySB 1780 restricts how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority can use revenue from toll projects. It requires that funds from specific turnpike projects be kept in separate accounts and cannot be diverted to other projects or bonds. The bill also limits future bond issuances to be secured only by revenue from the exact project they fund, preventing cross-subsidization between turnpike projects. These changes apply to bonds issued after a specified date and do not authorize new turnpike construction.

Maddy summarySB 1671 requires all Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to provide annual, age-appropriate firearm safety instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must cover finding unsecured firearms, school safety, and proper handling/storage, include neutral viewpoints, and be approved by the State Department of Education. Schools may use approved materials from state agencies or designated brands, with preferred methods including videos, online resources, or approved off-campus courses (with parental consent). The bill directs the State Department of Education to determine the earliest appropriate grade for instruction after studying firearm injury data, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1758 amends Oklahoma's civil procedure law to expand direct appeals to the Supreme Court for specific types of orders, affecting parties in civil cases who receive certain rulings like attachment discharges, injunctions, or class action decisions. It creates a new pathway for appealing temporary orders in family law cases (such as custody, visitation, or child support) within 20 days, with courts required to prioritize these appeals. The bill sets clear deadlines for filing appeals, includes a 3-day notice rule for order mailing, and specifies that family law appeals generally won’t stay trial court proceedings unless the appellate court orders otherwise. The legislature declared an emergency to expedite this law’s implementation.

Maddy summarySB 1737 prohibits Oklahoma public school districts from offering any sex education class or program. It removes existing statutory requirements that previously allowed districts to provide such instruction (under specific abstinence-focused guidelines) and eliminates parental opt-out procedures for sex education. The bill amends Oklahoma statutes (25 O.S. § 2003 and 70 O.S. § 11-105.1) to delete language about developing sex education policies, curriculum approval, and parental inspection rights related to sex education. This directly affects public school districts, students, and parents by preventing the provision of formal sex education in Oklahoma schools.

Maddy summarySB 1659 removes a requirement that Oklahoma legislators obtain written approval from the House Speaker or Senate President to view juvenile court and child welfare records without a court order. This change allows state lawmakers to access these records directly for official duties, such as committee work or constituent services, without needing prior authorization. The bill specifically affects members of the Oklahoma Legislature who need to review child-related records for oversight or policy purposes. It updates existing law to streamline access while maintaining safeguards like requiring proper credentials and lawful use of the records.

Maddy summarySB 1795 restricts retirement benefits for certain Oklahoma public employees who face felony charges. It applies to members of four state retirement systems (Law Enforcement, Public Employees, Teachers', and Justices/Judges) who are formally charged with a felony in court. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the retirement system within 48 hours of a felony charge, at which point the system must immediately block access to retirement funds and reject any payment claims. Employees cleared of charges (found not guilty) regain full benefit access under this law. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1786 grants Oklahoma's State Auditor and Inspector expanded authority to independently conduct audits and investigations into state agencies, local governments, and entities managing public funds. It allows audits without prior approval from officials, authorizes subpoenas for documents and testimony, and requires entities to submit corrective action plans within 60 days for audit findings. The bill mandates referrals of potential fraud or criminal violations to the Attorney General, requires public release of serious audit findings (unless under criminal investigation), and establishes a new Investigative Division staffed by fraud examiners. The legislation also permits the State Auditor to recover audit costs from entities and appropriates $1.5 million for staffing and operations.