Sen. Casey Murdock

Maddy summarySB 864 modifies Oklahoma's Sex Offenders Registration Act to clarify who must register and strengthen requirements. It requires registration for individuals convicted of specific sex offenses (including child exploitation, sexual assault, and trafficking) who live, work, or attend school in Oklahoma, including those with out-of-state convictions. The bill explicitly prohibits plea agreements that allow offenders to avoid registration and clarifies that deferred convictions still mandate registration. It also states that sealing a criminal record does not remove the obligation to register, applying to both Oklahoma and certain out-of-state convictions.

Maddy summarySB 864 modifies Oklahoma's Sex Offenders Registration Act by clarifying who must register (individuals convicted of specific sex offenses after 1989, including those from other jurisdictions) and prohibiting plea agreements that allow offenders to avoid registration. It explicitly states that sealing a criminal record does not remove the requirement to register as a sex offender. The bill also updates statutory references and specifies an effective date. This affects current and future sex offenders required to register under Oklahoma law, as well as prosecutors and courts handling related cases. The changes aim to ensure consistent application of registration requirements without altering the core obligations for registrants.

Maddy summarySB 164 authorizes Oklahoma's lottery commission to implement sports betting pools under the Education Lottery Act, directly affecting retailers seeking to offer this service. It requires the commission to establish licensing criteria for retailers, collect licensing fees, and create a dedicated "Sports Pools Fund" to channel these fees toward education programs. The bill mandates annual reporting, internal audits, and rulemaking for this new program while repealing a prior prohibition on sports-contest-based gaming. This legislation expands the state's lottery offerings to include regulated sports betting, with revenue flowing to educational initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 1109 expands Oklahoma's Youthful Offender Act by adding specific violent and serious offenses to the list where 15- to 17-year-olds may be tried as adults instead of juveniles. It includes crimes like second-degree murder, kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, and certain drug offenses. Prosecutors gain discretion to file these cases as adult charges or under the Youthful Offender Act, with mandatory notification to juvenile authorities when adult charges are filed. The bill directly affects juveniles charged with these offenses, changing their potential legal pathway.

Maddy summarySB 1109 expands Oklahoma's Youthful Offender Act by adding 14 serious offenses that automatically require adult sentencing for juveniles aged 13-17. These include murder in the second degree, kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, and certain drug trafficking crimes. The bill allows district attorneys to file charges as adult for these offenses, bypassing juvenile court proceedings for those specific cases. Juveniles charged under these provisions may still be certified as juveniles or adults per existing law, but the automatic adult sentencing applies to the listed crimes. This affects young people charged with these specific violent or severe offenses, not all juvenile cases.

Maddy summarySB 1012 establishes a formal process for wind energy developers to request waivers from setback distance rules near airports, schools, and hospitals in Oklahoma. The bill requires written waivers approved by school boards or hospital governing bodies to be submitted to the state energy agency (Corporation Commission) before construction begins. Developers who fail to provide required waivers or military airspace clearances (via FAA Form 7460-1) face daily penalties of up to $1,500 per violation. The law, effective July 1, 2025, updates existing rules to clarify compliance requirements for wind energy facilities while maintaining distance standards. It directly affects wind energy project developers and local school/hospital boards responsible for granting waivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill orders a legislative referendum to be voted on by Oklahoma voters at the next general election. The proposed law would create a new felony offense for individuals who possess both a controlled dangerous substance and a firearm at the same time. If approved, anyone convicted of this offense could face up to five years in state prison. The bill does not take effect until the referendum is passed by voters and the measure is codified into state law.

Maddy summarySB 222 creates Oklahoma's Maternity Care Pilot Program, providing a one-time $5 million grant to a single hospital to add labor and delivery services. The program targets hospitals meeting strict criteria: they must be critical access facilities, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations owned by public entities, profitable for two years, not currently offering such services, and staffed with at least one Certified Nurse-Midwife. Grant funds can only cover staffing, essential equipment/supplies, and maternal/infant health education - not construction. The State Department of Health will select the highest-scoring eligible hospital and develop application rules, with the program effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1012 modifies Oklahoma's wind energy setback rules by creating a formal waiver process for the 1.5-nautical-mile distance requirements near public schools and hospitals. Wind energy developers can now seek written waivers from school boards or hospital governing bodies instead of always complying with the fixed setback distance. The bill also updates military and FAA clearance procedures for wind projects near military installations, requiring documentation of no hazard and resolved defense impacts before construction. These changes directly affect wind energy developers, school districts, hospital authorities, and military installations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma bill orders a legislative referendum to be voted on by the public at the next General Election. If approved, it would create a new felony offense for anyone who possesses both a controlled dangerous substance and a firearm at the same time. The proposed law would carry a penalty of up to five years in state prison upon conviction. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on by the state legislature.