Sen. Kristen Thompson

Maddy summaryHB 3881, the "Alternative Nicotine Products Regulatory Act of 2026," regulates vape products and e-liquids in Oklahoma. It requires manufacturers and retailers to use child-resistant caps, tamper-evident packaging, and specific warning labels on all products. The bill bans marketing with candy-themed names, cartoon characters, or designs mimicking food/school items to reduce appeal to minors. Manufacturers must submit proof of FDA compliance to the state Attorney General and pay annual fees, with non-compliant products removed from sale by 2028. These rules directly affect vape product makers, sellers, and distributors operating in Oklahoma.

Maddy summaryHB 4119 requires defendants in real property title or boundary disputes to file a verified statement of facts before trial, rather than at the trial date. It mandates that defendants asserting title must post a bond (up to the property's market value) to secure the property during the case, ensuring the property remains protected until the court decides. This affects property owners, tenants, and landlords involved in disputes over land ownership or lease boundaries. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and modifies Oklahoma's civil procedure rules for such cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4329 modifies Oklahoma law to clarify dental insurance claim processes. It defines "covered services" as those reimbursable under a subscriber agreement, regardless of deductibles or waiting periods. The bill requires dental plans to establish appeal procedures for denied claims based on medical necessity and mandates that written denial notices include the reviewing dentist's license details and contact information. This directly affects dentists and dental insurance plans in Oklahoma by standardizing claim denial processes and improving transparency. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2102 prohibits large credit card issuers ($85 billion+ in assets) and payment networks from colluding to set credit card transaction fees or penalizing merchants who offer discounts for cash, debit, or gift card payments. It requires issuers to clearly disclose swipe fees (including interchange and assessment fees) to cardholders on monthly statements and payment networks to provide merchants with detailed fee breakdowns within 45 days of each transaction. The law empowers Oklahoma’s Attorney General to enforce these rules, impose civil penalties up to $30 million for violations, and file lawsuits against noncompliant entities. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting major financial institutions, payment networks, merchants, and cardholders in Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 1940 requires credit card payment networks in Oklahoma to exclude state/local taxes and separate gratuities from the total transaction amount when calculating credit card swipe fees. This directly affects merchants who accept credit cards, as networks must either deduct these excluded amounts at settlement or provide rebates within 90 days if merchants submit proof of collected taxes and tips. The bill mandates that payment networks cannot circumvent this by raising fees on non-tax portions of transactions. It becomes effective November 1, 2026, and defines key terms like "swipe fee" to include interchange and assessment fees.

Maddy summarySB 1931 increases the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission's membership from five to eight members, requiring specific representation: two employer representatives (one from counties under 50,000 population, one from larger counties), two employee representatives (one from businesses with <100 employees, one from businesses with >100 employees), a public representative who serves as Chair, and the Oklahoma Workforce Commission CEO. The bill repeals outdated provisions about removal procedures and quorum requirements, and takes effect November 1, 2026. This structural change directly affects how the Commission is composed and appointed, without altering its core functions.

Maddy summaryHB 2935 adds diapers to Oklahoma's list of sales tax-exempt items under the state's tax code. This change directly affects consumers purchasing diapers for personal use, exempting those sales from the state's 4.5% sales tax. The bill amends Section 1357.6 of Oklahoma's Sales Tax Code to include diapers as a qualifying exemption, aligning with existing exemptions for items like food, medicine, and baby supplies. The exemption applies to all diaper sales made after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1336 creates the Oklahoma Veterans Higher Education Access Act, providing tuition waivers for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or higher. It covers 50% to 100% of undergraduate tuition/fees at public universities or 50% to 100% of tuition at technology centers, based on disability rating (e.g., 60% disability = 50% waiver; 100% disability = 100% waiver). Veterans must first use all available federal education benefits, and waivers apply only to required courses (max 150 credits) or career programs (max 3 years), excluding textbooks or housing. The state must annually fund these waivers through legislative appropriations, subject to budget availability.

Maddy summarySB 2109 requires charitable organizations in Oklahoma that engage in lobbying or public policy advocacy to disclose contributions of $10,000 or more received in a year from "foreign principals" (including foreign governments, entities, or non-U.S. individuals). These organizations must report the foreign source's name, country, contribution amounts/dates, any conditions, and intended use of funds, filing annually by January 31 or within 30 days for single large contributions. The Ethics Commission will maintain a public online database of these disclosures, and non-compliance may result in fines up to $25,000 or suspension from lobbying activities. Exemptions apply to tribal contributions and religious organizations using funds solely for worship or religious instruction.

Maddy summarySB 1943 prohibits Oklahoma insurers from cutting payments for anesthesia services solely because a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provided the care. This directly affects CRNAs and insurance companies by preventing payment reductions based on the provider's role. The bill requires insurers to pay the same rate for anesthesia services whether a CRNA or another qualified provider administers them. It becomes effective November 1, 2026, and is codified in Oklahoma Statutes.