Sen. Lonnie Paxton

Maddy summaryHB 2298 allows qualified Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma - such as nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives - to prescribe medications independently after meeting specific requirements. To qualify, APRNs must complete 6,240 supervised clinical hours, hold a valid license, and carry $1 million in malpractice insurance per incident. The bill also sets rules for APRN advertising (requiring clear disclosure of their role and scope) and defines supervision requirements for those not yet eligible for independent prescribing. It modifies Oklahoma’s Nursing Practice Act, Pharmacy Act, and Controlled Substances Act to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2584 allows physician assistants (PAs) in Oklahoma to prescribe and administer certain controlled substances under the supervision of a licensed physician, as specified in the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act and Physician Assistant Act. The bill clarifies that pharmacists may dispense these prescriptions only when written by a PA licensed in Oklahoma and supervised by an Oklahoma-licensed physician, and it modifies requirements for practice agreements between PAs and their supervising physicians. It also creates a 9-member Physician Assistant Committee with specific membership rules to oversee PA licensure and practice standards. The law directly affects PAs, supervising physicians, and pharmacists who dispense controlled substances. (Summary based on bill text amendments to Sections 353.1a, 519.2, and 519.3 of Oklahoma statutes.)

Maddy summaryThis procedural resolution authorizes Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore to manage Senate property and operations during the 2025 legislative interim. It allows hiring staff for protection, restricting access to Senate chambers/offices without consent, approving repairs/equipment purchases, appointing interim committees, and processing reimbursement claims for Senate business. The resolution applies solely to internal Senate operations and does not create new public policies or affect citizens.

Maddy summarySB 676 repeals nine existing Oklahoma statutes that established various advisory committees and commissions, including the Oklahoma Suicide Prevention Council, Tourism Promotion Advisory Committee, and Technology Accessibility Council. The bill removes these statutory references without creating new policies or affecting current operations. It becomes effective November 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the governor on May 29, 2025. This is a procedural bill eliminating specific legal provisions, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 632 creates specialized business court divisions in Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City) and Tulsa County, targeting counties with populations over 500,000. It establishes these courts to handle complex commercial disputes - like contract or intellectual property cases - while excluding routine matters. The bill sets business court judges' salaries equal to associate justices of the Supreme Court, requires the Supreme Court to create administrative rules, and specifies that only these courts can hear certain business claims. This directly affects businesses involved in intricate commercial litigation and court staff managing these specialized divisions.

Maddy summarySB 631 requires offenders convicted of 23 specific serious crimes - including child pornography, human trafficking, aggravated assault on a defender, and discharging firearms into buildings - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. It expands the existing 85% service requirement to include these new offenses, which were previously not subject to this rule. The bill also prohibits earned credits or other reductions that would lower the required service below 85% for these convictions. This applies to anyone convicted of these offenses in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 632 creates specialized business court divisions in Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City) and Tulsa County, designed to handle complex commercial disputes. It authorizes the Supreme Court to establish these courts, specifying they will handle cases involving highly technical business issues while excluding family law or similar matters. The bill sets salaries for business court judges at the associate justice level ($145,567 annually) and requires the Supreme Court to develop rules for their operation, including procedures for case filing, venue, and jury trials. Signed into law on May 29, 2025, this bill directly affects businesses, attorneys, and courts in Oklahoma's two most populous counties by providing a dedicated forum for complex commercial litigation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 22) grants the Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore authority to manage Senate property and operations during the legislative interim. It allows hiring staff for property protection, restricting facility use to authorized personnel only, approving repairs/equipment purchases, appointing interim committees, and reimbursing Senate members/employees for interim expenses. The resolution affects only Senate staff, facilities, and operations - not the public or existing laws. It is purely procedural, ensuring internal Senate continuity between legislative sessions.

Maddy summarySB 676 repeals nine specific Oklahoma statutes that established various boards and commissions, including the Oklahoma Suicide Prevention Council, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Council, and Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Advisory Committee. The bill eliminates these statutory provisions without creating new policies or affecting any ongoing programs. It takes effect on November 1, 2025, after being approved by the Governor on May 29, 2025. This is a procedural bill that removes outdated or redundant legal references.

Maddy summaryHB 2298 allows qualified Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma - specifically Certified Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Nurse-Midwives - to prescribe medications independently after meeting specific requirements. To qualify, APRNs must complete 6,240 supervised clinical hours with prescriptive authority and hold a current license. The bill also requires APRNs to carry $1 million per occurrence in malpractice insurance, mandates clear advertising that identifies them as APRNs (not physicians), and clarifies supervision rules for those not yet independent. These changes modify Oklahoma’s Nursing Practice Act, Pharmacy Act, and Controlled Substances Act to expand APRN practice authority while maintaining oversight standards.