Sen. Lonnie Paxton

Maddy summarySB 784 creates Oklahoma's Motor Vehicle Consumer Protection Act to regulate auto repair shops. It requires shops to get written or documented verbal consent before work begins and provide detailed written estimates for all services, including itemized fees. The bill caps tear-down evaluations (for total loss vehicles) at $65 per hour (max 4 hours) and limits administrative fees like diagnostics or communication charges to the same hourly rate. It also sets specific daily storage fees for vehicles held by shops (e.g., $39-$55/day for first 10 days) and directs the Insurance Department to adjust the hourly rate every five years.

Maddy summarySB 643 updates Oklahoma's medical marijuana licensing rules by requiring all owners and key employees of dispensaries and commercial growers to be Oklahoma residents. It limits non-resident ownership to 25% or less for both dispensary and grower licenses, while maintaining existing restrictions on applicants with recent felony convictions. The bill clarifies that commercial growers may only sell wholesale to dispensaries or processors, not directly to patients. These changes apply to all new license applications and renewals under Oklahoma's medical marijuana program.

Maddy summarySB 654 defines "absentee ballot harvesting" as collecting, submitting, or obtaining another person's absentee ballot without authorization, including false promises or completing applications without consent. It creates a misdemeanor offense for notaries who exceed a 20-ballot limit per election, fail to maintain logs, or violate other specified restrictions. The bill also requires county election boards to notify prosecutors if more than 10 ballots are requested for a single address, with exemptions for family members, military assistance, and nursing home support. Effective November 1, 2025, it applies to Oklahoma county and state elections.

Maddy summarySB 645 removes the requirement for state agencies to obtain approval from the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services before purchasing motor vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. This change directly affects state agencies that need to buy trucks or pickups for official duties, streamlining their procurement process. The bill amends Oklahoma Statute 47 O.S. 2021, Section 156.3 to eliminate the prior approval step, while maintaining existing rules about vehicle color and marking for Department of Transportation vehicles. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 686 amends Oklahoma's parental choice tax credit program to allow taxpayers to apply unused portions of their annual credit toward future tax years. Specifically, it increases the annual credit limit by the amount of unused credit from prior years, replacing a previous provision that permitted reallocating unused credits. This change directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with eligible students attending accredited private schools or using approved educational services, such as tutoring or curriculum materials. The bill does not alter existing credit amounts or income thresholds but adjusts how unused credits are handled. It takes effect for tax year 2024 and subsequent years.

Maddy summarySB 719 modifies Oklahoma's State Travel Reimbursement Act to streamline expense claims for state employees. It requires specific verification details (like airline ticket numbers and employee names) for direct airline purchases, updates approval authority for certain claims, and grants the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services discretion in rejecting claims. The bill directly affects state employees submitting travel reimbursements and agency staff processing those claims. Key changes simplify documentation for airline tickets, clarify approval roles, and update statutory references without altering reimbursement rates or eligibility rules. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency within existing travel reimbursement procedures.

Maddy summarySB 685 creates a state income tax credit for Oklahoma taxpayers covering qualified education expenses for eligible students. It allows credits up to $7,500 annually (based on family income) for private school tuition and fees, or up to $1,000 for other educational expenses like tutoring, textbooks, or standardized test fees. Credit amounts decrease as household income rises, with specific thresholds ($75k, $150k, $225k, $250k). The bill also establishes rules for private schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students to qualify for higher credit amounts.

Maddy summarySB 683 creates an Oklahoma income tax credit for parents or guardians covering qualified education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children enrolled in state-accredited private schools or specific educational programs, based on household income. The credit amount ranges from $5,000 to $7,500 annually (depending on income) for private school tuition/fees, or $1,000 for other educational expenses like tutoring or materials. Special provisions apply for schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students. The bill amends existing tax law to define terms and establish these credit tiers for 2024 and future tax years.

Maddy summarySB 1016 amends Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to strengthen verification processes for the program. It requires the Department of Human Services and Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify certain applicant claims upon request, and mandates participating private schools to submit income documentation directly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. These changes apply to taxpayers claiming credits for private school tuition (up to $7,500 annually) or other educational expenses like tutoring and materials. The bill does not alter credit amounts or eligibility rules but adds administrative checks to ensure proper verification of income and expenses. This verification requirement applies to all eligible students using the tax credit program.

Maddy summarySB 712 amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act (75 O.S. 2021, Section 318) to require courts to interpret statutes and agency rules de novo - meaning courts must independently review the law without deferring to an agency's own interpretation. This change directly affects individuals, businesses, or organizations challenging agency decisions in court, as it shifts authority from agencies to judges in interpreting rules. The key provision (Section 318.A.4) eliminates judicial deference to agency interpretations during review proceedings. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not create new regulations but alters the judicial review process for administrative actions.