Sen. Casey Murdock

Maddy summarySB 222 creates Oklahoma's Maternity Care Pilot Program, which awards a one-time $5 million grant to a single eligible hospital to add labor and delivery services. To qualify, a hospital must be a critical access facility, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, owned by a local government or public trust, not currently offering maternity care, and meet specific financial and staffing requirements. The grant funds may only cover obstetrics staffing costs, essential equipment, and maternal/infant health education - excluding construction or renovations. This program directly targets hospitals in underserved areas seeking to expand maternity care access.

Maddy summaryHB 2032 establishes Oklahoma's participation in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, providing food benefits to eligible children during summer months when school is not in session. Starting June 1, 2026, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will administer the program in collaboration with the State Department of Education to determine eligibility and reduce paperwork for qualifying families. The bill requires OKDHS and the State Department of Education to share necessary data to implement the program statewide. It takes effect July 1, 2025, with the program beginning in summer 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2032 establishes Oklahoma's participation in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, providing summer food assistance to eligible children when school is not in session starting June 1, 2026. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will administer the program in collaboration with the State Department of Education to determine eligibility and streamline access for qualifying families. Key provisions require OKDHS and the State Department of Education to share necessary data to implement the program statewide. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1544 requires the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to create regional rules for spacing commercial water wells across the state’s nine designated regions. These rules must consider local geology, groundwater availability, impacts on existing wells, and regional water needs (agricultural, industrial, municipal). The bill mandates one Board staff member per region to oversee compliance with these new spacing requirements, effective November 1, 2025. This directly affects commercial well operators who will need to follow the new regional spacing standards.

Maddy summarySB 376 removes a requirement that students must have attended a public school in the prior year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. This change expands eligibility to more students with disabilities, including those who transferred from out of state or were in foster care, without needing prior public school enrollment. The bill also updates other program details, such as the process for securing private school admission and notifying the State Department of Education. It directly affects Oklahoma families seeking to use this scholarship to enroll children with disabilities in participating private schools.

Maddy summarySB 238 exempts the sale of ammunition from Oklahoma's state sales tax. This directly affects individuals and businesses purchasing ammunition within the state. The bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to add ammunition as a specific exempt item under existing tax exemption provisions. This change means ammunition sales will no longer be subject to the state's 4.5% sales tax.

Maddy summarySB 1079 requires licensed food establishments in Oklahoma (like restaurants and grocery stores) to disclose when products contain cell-cultured meat (lab-grown meat developed from animal cells). The bill mandates that the State Commissioner of Health create rules for this disclosure, specifying how businesses must inform customers about cell-cultured meat content in their food. It explicitly excludes plant-based meat alternatives from this requirement. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and does not ban cell-cultured meat but ensures transparency for consumers.

Maddy summarySB 1072 prohibits unauthorized drone flights over specific properties in Oklahoma, directly affecting residential homeowners (defined as "homesteads") and agricultural operations ("secure farmstead areas" including livestock facilities). The bill bans drone use within 400 feet of these properties without permission, with stricter rules for drones equipped with cameras or surveillance devices. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 for first offenses and $10,000 for repeat offenses, plus potential jail time. Property owners can seek court-ordered injunctions to stop drone harassment and require destruction of illegally recorded data.

Maddy summaryHB 1135 updates Oklahoma's weigh station operations to require the Corporation Commission to operate all ports of entry and weigh stations 18-20 hours daily, seven days a week (when funding and staff are available). It limits roadside enforcement to specific zones around fixed facilities - 7 miles for standard weigh stations and 25 miles for ports of entry - and mandates that inspections be conducted only by certified personnel. The law directly affects commercial motor vehicle drivers, trucking companies, and enforcement agencies like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Corporation Commission. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 892 requires Oklahoma ambulance service districts to operate under a sole-provider system, meaning only one ambulance provider can serve each district. This provider must be selected through public competitive bidding, with contracts made public before signing. Ambulance companies must obtain written authorization from the district to operate within its boundaries, and districts can seek court enforcement against unauthorized operators. The law exempts government-owned ambulances, hospital transports within facilities, and certain routine or interstate patient moves, effective November 2025.