Sen. Kristen Thompson

Maddy summaryHCR 1005 is a concurrent resolution designating February 13, 2025, as "Oklahoma Museum Day." It recognizes Oklahoma's 518 museums for promoting lifelong learning, contributing nearly $500 million annually to the state economy, and hosting over six million visitors yearly. The resolution has no binding legal effect but formally declares the date to highlight museums' cultural and economic value. It directly affects Oklahoma's museum community and public awareness of their contributions. The resolution was adopted and enrolled on February 19-20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 664 creates a new "Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund" funded by transferring administrative fines from plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and roofing licensing revolving funds. It allows the Construction Industries Board to contract with Oklahoma vocational, technical, and accredited educational institutions offering trade coursework to develop curriculum about state trade laws and promote skilled trade careers through public outreach. The fund supports developing instructional materials, workforce programs, and curriculum for these four trades, with contracts requiring Board approval and post-completion reporting. This directly affects educational institutions providing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing training and aims to advance workforce development in Oklahoma's construction trades. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 664 allows Oklahoma's Construction Industries Board to contract with accredited vocational and technical schools (including those receiving state funding) to develop trade-specific coursework and workforce development programs for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and roofing careers. It creates a new "Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund" funded by transferring fines collected from licensing violations in these trades. The fund will pay for developing curriculum materials, equipment, and outreach programs to promote these skilled trades, with contracts requiring detailed reporting on outcomes. This directly affects vocational schools offering relevant programs and aims to strengthen workforce pipelines for these specific construction trades.

Maddy summarySB 1060 requires Oklahoma dental benefit plans to spend a minimum percentage of premium revenue on actual dental care (80% for large groups, 75% for individuals/small groups) instead of administrative costs. If plans fail to meet these thresholds, they must issue annual rebates to enrollees by August 1st of the following year. The bill mandates annual reporting to the Insurance Department, including detailed MLR calculations, and exempts Medicaid and state-sponsored plans. It establishes specific formulas for calculating "earned premium" and "medical loss ratio" to ensure transparency and accountability in dental plan spending.

Maddy summarySB 203 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to reimburse hospitals 100% of the statewide average nursing facility per diem rate for Medicaid patients who no longer need acute hospital care but require nursing facility-level care upon discharge. This applies specifically when patients cannot be transferred to a nursing facility due to bed shortages or because a court-appointed guardian is pending. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority must seek federal approval to implement this reimbursement, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects Medicaid-enrolled patients needing nursing care transitions and the hospitals treating them.

Maddy summarySB 986 prohibits Oklahoma businesses from hiding fees on covered goods or services like live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to display the total price (including all mandatory fees) prominently before payment, clearly explain any excluded fees (such as government charges), and ensure disclosures are easily noticeable and understandable. The law applies to all businesses selling these items through physical locations, online, or mobile apps, effective November 1, 2025. It makes misleading fee disclosures an unfair practice under Oklahoma's Consumer Protection Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two income tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers. Employers can claim a 30% credit (up to $30,000 annually) for qualifying child care expenses paid for employees, including costs for on-site facilities or contracted care. Additionally, qualified child care workers who meet specific criteria (like working 8+ months, providing classroom services, and completing 12+ credit hours) receive a $1,000 refundable credit (meaning it can be paid as cash if tax owed is low). The credits apply to tax years 2026-2030, with annual limits of $5 million for employer credits and $14 million for all credits combined, adjusted yearly by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Maddy summarySB 913 requires Oklahoma public school districts to provide emergency opioid antagonists (like naloxone) to designated school staff and ensure they receive training on recognizing opioid overdoses and administering the medication. It directly affects school personnel - including nurses, health staff, and other authorized employees - and students or individuals at school sites or events. Key provisions mandate that boards of education equip trained staff with naloxone doses for immediate use during suspected overdoses, while the Department of Mental Health provides required training on overdose response and administration. The law also includes Good Samaritan protections, shielding schools and staff from liability when administering naloxone in good faith during an overdose emergency.

Maddy summarySB 913 requires Oklahoma public school districts to provide designated school personnel - such as nurses, staff trained in CPR, and others authorized to respond to overdoses - with access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) and mandatory training. The training covers recognizing overdose symptoms, administering naloxone per medical guidelines, using basic life-saving techniques, and contacting emergency services. School boards must ensure these staff members have naloxone available on their person or in their workspaces, and anyone administering naloxone in good faith is protected under Oklahoma’s Good Samaritan law. This bill directly affects public school staff, students, and individuals at school sites or events during opioid emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 986 prohibits businesses from hiding fees when selling event tickets or short-term lodging (like hotels or vacation rentals). It requires businesses to display the total price upfront - more prominently than other prices - and clearly explain any excluded fees (such as shipping or government charges) before payment. Misrepresenting fees, including their amount or purpose, becomes an unfair practice under Oklahoma's consumer protection law. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, applying specifically to covered goods and services.