Sen. Darcy Jech

Maddy summarySB 837 updates Oklahoma's rules for special license plates, affecting anyone applying for or displaying these plates. It requires Service Oklahoma to receive 100 prepaid applications within 180 days before issuing new plate types (like Firefighter or Wildlife Conservation plates), and mandates annual renewal with specific fee handling procedures. Funds collected from these plates will continue to support designated causes, such as the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum, Wildlife Diversity Fund, and Child Abuse Prevention Fund. The bill also repeals outdated provisions and clarifies plate transfer rules, ensuring plates remain tied to the vehicle registration.

Maddy summaryHB 1819 increases the maximum annual license fee for optometrists in Oklahoma from $300 to $500, requiring all licensed optometrists to pay this fee by June 30 each year. The bill establishes a revolving fund called the "Optometry Board Revolving Fund" for all collected fees, allowing the Board of Examiners to manage and spend these funds without legislative approval for regulatory purposes. If an optometrist fails to pay the fee, their license may be revoked after 15 days of written notice. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 713 requires new Oklahoma wind energy facilities starting operations after January 1, 2026, to apply for and install FAA- and FCC-compliant light-mitigating technology systems (like aircraft detection lighting) within 24 months of approval. Existing facilities operating before the law must apply when repowering or signing new power offtake agreements. The bill mandates that facility owners/operators cover all installation, operation, and maintenance costs, with public utilities able to seek cost recovery through the Corporation Commission. Counties may issue revenue bonds to help cover these costs for pre-law facilities.

Maddy summarySB 837 modifies rules for Oklahoma's special license plates, including University Supporter, Firefighter, Environmental Awareness, and Wildlife Conservation plates. It requires 100 prepaid applications before new plate designs can be issued (within 180 days of authorization), updates renewal procedures for existing plates, and directs specific fees to designated funds like the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum Fund. Existing plate holders can renew until their registration expires, while new applications must meet the 100-application threshold to avoid cancellation. The bill affects anyone seeking or renewing these specialty plates, with fees collected through licensed operators.

Maddy summaryHB 1819 increases the annual license fee cap for optometrists in Oklahoma from $300 to $500 per year. It requires all licensed optometrists to pay this fee by June 30 each year, with a 15-day grace period after written notice for late payments before license revocation. The bill establishes a dedicated "Optometry Board Revolving Fund" to manage collected fees, which must be deposited monthly into the state treasury and used solely for board-related expenses without legislative approval. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, directly impacting all optometry license holders in Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 713 requires new wind energy facilities in Oklahoma to apply for FAA- and FCC-approved light-mitigating technology systems (like aircraft detection lighting) before operations begin on or after January 1, 2026. Existing facilities without such systems must apply during repowering or when entering a new power offtake agreement, with installation required within 24 months of approval. Costs for installation, operation, and maintenance are the responsibility of facility owners/operators, though public utilities may seek rate recovery for these costs through the Corporation Commission. The bill also allows counties to issue revenue bonds to help cover these costs for pre-2026 facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1807 requires all Oklahoma groundwater permit holders to install approved metering systems (like telemetry devices) to track water usage, starting November 1, 2025. It creates a "five-year flex allocation" system beginning January 1, 2026, allowing permit holders to adjust annual usage within a basin's total limit - without needing new permits - but capping yearly excess at 200% of their annual allocation over the five-year period. The bill directly affects agricultural and commercial water users with groundwater permits, excluding domestic wells. It aims to standardize usage reporting and encourage conservation through structured, measurable water allocation.

Maddy summaryHB 1807 requires all Oklahoma groundwater permit holders (including agricultural and commercial users) to install approved measurement systems, like telemetry devices, to track water usage starting November 2025. It creates a five-year flexible allocation system allowing permit holders to exceed annual limits in individual years (up to 200% of the annual cap) while staying within a basin-wide total over five years. The bill applies to all existing and new permit holders in basins with established or pending water yield limits, excluding domestic wells. This system aims to improve water conservation through better data collection and flexible usage management.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 61) is a ceremonial naming act that designates specific Oklahoma bridges and highways as memorials to honor individuals. It designates seven locations, including the "ABLE Agent Lori Thomas Memorial Bridge" on U.S. Highway 70 in Durant and the "Donald Ray Ward Memorial Bridge" on I-40 in Oklahoma County. The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers at these locations. It does not create new policies or affect residents' rights, as it is purely a symbolic naming procedure. The bill became law on May 21, 2025, with an effective date of November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 61 designates the bridge on U.S. Highway 70 crossing South 9th Avenue in Durant, Bryan County, as the "ABLE Agent Lori Thomas Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers bearing this name on the bridge. This is a commemorative resolution honoring ABLE Agent Lori Thomas, with no substantive policy changes or new obligations beyond the naming designation. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.