Sen. Darrell Weaver

Maddy summarySB 433 requires Oklahoma municipally owned utilities to waive all fees, deposits, and monthly rates for widows of law enforcement, fire, or police officers killed in the line of duty. The bill directly affects widows of eligible officers who were employed by the municipality operating the utility. To qualify, widows must provide documentation like a death certificate to the utility. The waiver applies to all required payments and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 160 modifies Oklahoma's Uniform Building Code Commission structure and operations. It revises membership requirements to include specific contractor, engineer, and inspector roles (e.g., residential/commercial contractors, licensed electrical/mechanical engineers), adds a two-term limit for appointed members, and requires staggered four-year terms. The bill mandates free regional training for licensed building inspectors and authorizes fees for non-licensed participants to fund the Commission, while directing all collected fees into a dedicated state fund. It also requires the Commission to develop workforce plans to increase the number of qualified building code officials statewide.

Maddy summarySB 160 reorganizes Oklahoma's Uniform Building Code Commission by updating its membership structure, training requirements, and administrative procedures. It specifies that the 13-member Commission must include representatives from residential/commercial contractors, electrical/plumbing/heating contractors, licensed engineers, building officials, architects, insurance professionals, and local regulators. The bill also modifies term limits (capping two consecutive 4-year terms), updates fee assessment rules, and requires electronic reporting for certain documents. This procedural bill directly affects the Commission’s operations and the construction industry entities that must follow its adopted building codes.

Maddy summarySB 974 prohibits online auction marketplaces from charging a "buyer's premium" (an extra fee on top of winning bids) for property sold at sheriff's sales. It requires specific online notice details, including the auction website URL and bid times, and allows electronic payments like wire transfers for registered bidders. The bill directly affects sheriffs, court clerks, and online auction platforms handling property sales ordered through court judgments. It updates existing Oklahoma law to clarify notice requirements and payment methods for online sheriff's sales while banning certain individuals (like auction staff) from purchasing items themselves.

Maddy summarySB 974 prohibits charging a buyer's premium (a fee added to winning bids) in Oklahoma sheriff's sales of property conducted online. It requires specific notice for online auctions, including the internet address and bid times, and mandates a non-electronic bidding option for certain bidders. The bill authorizes sheriff's offices to use online auction marketplaces for property sales while updating statutory language to be gender-neutral. It directly affects sheriffs, online auction platforms, and bidders in debt-collection property sales, with an emergency designation to take effect immediately.

Maddy summarySB 609 allows Oklahoma police officers to count up to five years of service from certain out-of-state public retirement systems toward their Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System benefits, provided they aren’t already receiving retirement credit for that service elsewhere. The bill permits this service to be added through trustee transfers or member payments, without changing the officer’s normal retirement date or vesting requirements. It directly affects current and former Oklahoma police officers who previously worked in other states’ public safety or government retirement systems. The policy change simplifies pension portability for officers moving between jurisdictions.

Maddy summarySB 882 modifies bail rules for people arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), specifically targeting second or subsequent offenses under Oklahoma Statute 47 O.S. § 11-902. It requires courts to consider a defendant’s history of alcohol or drug dependence when setting bail, creating a rebuttable presumption that standard bail would not ensure public safety if dependence is proven. The bill also removes mandatory drug/alcohol testing requirements from accident reporting rules under § 47 O.S. § 10-104. These changes directly affect individuals with documented substance dependence facing repeat DUI charges.

Maddy summarySB 882 modifies Oklahoma's bail procedures for individuals arrested on second or subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) charges. It requires courts to consider alcohol or drug dependence when setting bail for these cases and establishes a rebuttable presumption that standard bail won't ensure public safety if dependence is proven. The bill also removes a requirement for drug and alcohol testing after traffic accidents (under Section 10-104) and updates timing rules for test administration (Section 11-902). These changes directly affect repeat DUI arrestees and aim to prioritize public safety in bail decisions.

Maddy summarySB 8 increases pension benefits by 5% for Oklahoma firefighters currently receiving payments as of June 30, 2025, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects firefighters and surviving spouses receiving benefits under the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension System. The bill includes an exception for firefighters who joined before January 1, 1981: their pension adjustments will mirror changes in local municipal firefighter salaries (defined as those at maximum salary without promotion), offsetting the 5% increase. All other eligible recipients will receive the standard 5% benefit increase without this adjustment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 5% benefit increase for current Oklahoma law enforcement retirees who are receiving benefits as of June 30, 2025, and continue to receive them after the bill's effective date. The increase applies to those already enrolled in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, but it is offset by any other benefit increases they would otherwise receive under existing law (Section 2-305). The offset mechanism ensures retirees do not receive duplicate or cumulative increases beyond what is already provided. The bill focuses solely on adjusting current benefit amounts without creating new eligibility categories or altering retirement contribution rules. It remains pending in committee review as of February 2025.