Sen. Jack Stewart

Maddy summarySB 772 updates Oklahoma county inventory and disposal rules for property. It lowers the cost threshold requiring inventory for items like laptops, tablets, and cell phones from $2,500 to $500, while keeping higher thresholds ($2,500) for road construction equipment. The bill modifies disposal procedures, requiring county commissioners to document sales or trades of items over $1,000 with detailed records, and mandates public auctions or sealed bids for selling such property. These changes directly affect all Oklahoma county governments managing equipment and supplies.

Maddy summarySB 537 amends Oklahoma's vagrancy law to allow business owners to request police removal of individuals deemed "vagrants" (defined as those in public/private space for illegal purposes) who are within 12 feet of their business doorway. If police confirm the person meets this definition, they must relocate the individual at least one-half mile away from the business, ensuring the new location is not within one-quarter mile of any other business. This bill directly affects businesses seeking to address perceived disruptions, individuals potentially relocated under the policy, and law enforcement officers carrying out the procedure. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1003 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create rules ensuring electricity grid affordability and reliability. It mandates that the grid maintain 115% guaranteed power capacity (sufficient backup power) to prevent outages, requires new wind/solar projects to include backup power costs in their total expense calculations, and directs the Commission to select new power sources based on the lowest total cost to ratepayers. These rules directly affect electric utilities and the Corporation Commission, with specific requirements including preventing premature retirement of existing power plants unless cost-effective and ensuring power sources meet continuous operating needs during extreme weather. The bill aims to prevent power shortages through measurable reliability standards, effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 739 prohibits specific public entities from withholding retainage (hold-back payments) on certain construction contracts in Oklahoma. It directly affects contractors working with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT), Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and railroads on privately owned rail property. The bill bans DOT and the Turnpike Authority from withholding retainage on their projects, and also prohibits retainage on contracts requiring bonds. This takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1005 requires Oklahoma hospitals to provide patients with a detailed, itemized billing statement within 30 business days after discharge. The statement must include specific details like service dates, medical procedure codes, charges, insurance payments, patient payments, and final payment amounts. Hospitals must also provide similar itemized statements to insurance companies upon request within one year of receiving a claim. The Oklahoma State Department of Health can enforce this by imposing fines or suspending hospital licenses for noncompliance.

Maddy summarySB 606 raises Oklahoma's population threshold for counties required to establish a public defender office from 300,000 to 400,000 residents, affecting only large counties (over 400,000) under the latest federal census. It updates statutes to require public defenders in these counties to provide training on mental health and substance abuse treatment, and clarifies conflict resolution for appeals between county public defenders and the state Indigent Defense System. The bill also specifies that public defenders are deemed state employees under tort law. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 790 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to develop and implement programs teaching 10 specific character traits (such as respect, integrity, responsibility, and courage) as part of their curriculum for grades pre-K through 12. The State Department of Education must create a website with resources including approved programs, an honor roll for schools with successful implementations, and a reading list of character-focused books. Schools must consult committees of parents, teachers, and community members before adopting the program, and the State Board of Education may award limited grants ($1,000 each to 10 districts) for pilot projects aligning character education with core subjects. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Oklahoma's economic development tax credit program by adjusting location requirements to prioritize projects in counties with populations under 100,000 (pre-2026) or 400,000 (2026 onward). It increases the credit rate to 50% for rail infrastructure projects (e.g., new tracks, spurs) versus 10% for other construction, with a $6 million maximum credit per project. Businesses building in qualifying rural areas or adjacent to rail lines can claim these credits for eligible construction costs. Unused credits may be assigned to partners like vendors or investors, and unclaimed credits carry over for up to five years. The changes take effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 458 allows Oklahoma county commissioners to hold private discussions about administrative matters during meetings without triggering public notice requirements under the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. It specifically permits conversations on scheduling, staffing, internal processes, and employee reports when a quorum is present, as long as no decisions about county funds are made. The bill exempts these discussions from public meeting rules but requires commissioners to avoid official action during such talks. It directly affects county commissioners and their staff by clarifying internal meeting protocols for operational efficiency.

Maddy summarySB 507 requires Oklahoma school districts to electronically submit quarterly reports on federal funding received starting January 31, 2026. The reports must detail the funding source, intended purpose, and actual expenditures for each quarter. School districts must post these reports on their websites within 10 days of submission. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration. It directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts receiving federal funds.