Sen. Darcy Jech

Maddy summarySB 1500 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and other payors to pay pharmacies within 30 days for "clean claims" (properly submitted claims without issues). It prohibits PBMs from conditioning payments on post-transaction reconciliations or shifting payment delays to pharmacies, and mandates transparent accounting for payments. The bill also authorizes Oklahoma’s Attorney General to impose fines for violations and voids contracts that violate these rules. These changes directly affect pharmacies (as providers) and PBMs/insurers (as payors) by standardizing payment timelines and reducing financial risk for pharmacies.

Maddy summarySB 1255 requires Oklahoma's Department of Corrections medical director to certify qualifying medical conditions and request the Pardon and Parole Board to place eligible inmates on a special docket for compassionate parole consideration. It directly affects inmates with specific terminal or debilitating conditions like dementia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or conditions causing near-death (six-month life expectancy), or those unable to perform basic self-care. The bill bypasses the standard two-step parole hearing process for these inmates and mandates that at least three Board members must concur to consider medical parole. The Board must document concurrence in meeting minutes, and parolees may face revocation if their medical condition poses public safety risks.

Maddy summarySB 1309 modifies Oklahoma's funding for road and bridge projects by increasing annual allocations to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund (ROADS Fund). It sets specific annual amounts: $100 million starting in fiscal year 2026 (up from $80 million), rising to $575 million for 2021, $590 million for 2022, and $610 million for 2025 onward. The bill requires the full annual amount to be allocated by July 30 each year and directs $2 million annually to the Heartland Flyer rail project and $3 million to public transit. These funds are exclusively for state highway construction, maintenance, debt service, and specific infrastructure projects managed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Maddy summarySB 1327 transfers most operational duties of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission to the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, making the Commission primarily advisory. The bill modifies Commission membership rules (requiring appointments by congressional district), eliminates the Commission's non-advisory powers, and changes how the Executive Director is appointed and compensated. It also adds new powers for the Commission, such as the ability to sue and create bylaws, while requiring meetings to follow open meeting laws. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and directly affects the Commission's structure, the Executive Director's role, and the department's operational management.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for how the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency administers federal HOME housing funds, primarily affecting nonprofit organizations, local governments, and other eligible entities that receive these grants. It requires the agency to follow federal guidelines without adding stricter state requirements unless specifically authorized, mandates a 30-day public comment period for any new program rules, and prohibits retroactive rule changes. The legislation also guarantees nonprofit participants a minimum 15% developer fee, ensures CHDOs retain program proceeds, and requires the agency to remove penalties if monitoring issues are resolved within 30 days.

Maddy summaryHB 3173, the Well Repurposing Act, allows Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to authorize converting existing oil and gas wells into facilities for energy storage or geothermal energy development. It defines key terms like "geothermal resources" (excluding oil/hydrocarbons) and requires the Commission to set fees and financial requirements for these repurposed wells. The bill states that wells actively used for energy storage are not considered abandoned, but must be sealed if operations stop for 12+ months. This directly affects oil/gas well operators seeking to repurpose infrastructure under Commission approval.

Maddy summaryHB 4457 prohibits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from owning or controlling pharmacy licenses in Oklahoma. The State Board of Pharmacy must revoke licenses of violators after November 2026, though it may issue temporary licenses for rare, orphan, or limited-distribution drugs until September 2028. Pharmacies must notify patients of service changes by January 2027, and the Board must provide lists of compliant pharmacies. This law prevents conflicts of interest by restricting PBMs from owning pharmacies.

Maddy summarySB 1501 requires medical marijuana commercial growers in Oklahoma to post a $50,000 bond (or higher based on reclamation needs) for each license, ensuring funds are available for property cleanup if violations occur. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority can recall these bonds if a property is abandoned, a license is revoked, or a violation necessitates remedial action, using the funds for restoration like removing equipment or addressing environmental hazards. The bill also mandates the Authority to notify local law enforcement when a business license expires and to maintain bond records for two years. This amendment updates existing bond requirements and takes effect on November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1330 increases compensation for Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board members. The Chair's annual pay rises from $24,800 to $46,000, and regular members' pay increases from $22,800 to $42,000, with specific monthly allotments for meeting preparation and attendance. The bill also requires members to attend meetings, stating that missing one meeting without a valid excuse forfeits that month's pay, and missing two meetings could lead to removal for "official misconduct" under state law. The changes take effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3519 removes a requirement for medical marijuana licensees to post a bond, simplifying licensing for businesses. The bill amends Oklahoma's medical marijuana licensing fee structure (63 O.S. § 427.14) by deleting the bond posting obligation that previously applied to certain licensees. This change directly affects medical marijuana businesses seeking or renewing licenses for cultivation, processing, dispensing, or transportation, streamlining their initial application process without altering fee amounts based on facility size or output. The bill codifies these modifications to the licensing framework while repealing the outdated bond requirement.