Sen. Casey Murdock

Maddy summarySB 1079 requires licensed food establishments in Oklahoma (like restaurants and grocery stores) to disclose if any food product contains cell-cultured meat (lab-grown meat developed from animal cells, excluding plant-based alternatives). The bill mandates that the State Commissioner of Health create rules for clear customer disclosure about cell-cultured meat content, with possible different requirements for different types of food businesses. This applies to any food sold for human consumption containing cell-cultured meat, effective November 1, 2025. The law does not affect plant-based meat products.

Maddy summarySB 1081 allows Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry to form public or private partnerships specifically to develop veterinary medicine businesses in rural communities and other areas with shortages of local veterinary services. This bill directly affects rural communities lacking veterinary care and the Department itself by enabling new partnership opportunities. The key provision authorizes the Department to enter these partnerships to address veterinary service gaps, without creating new regulations or funding. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1093 requires judges who handle domestic violence cases in Oklahoma to complete 8 hours of annual training focused on domestic violence dynamics, victim trauma, batterer behavior, and victim protection. The training must cover specific topics like trauma neurobiology, identifying aggressors, and evidence-based treatment for substance abuse or mental health needs. This bill directly affects judges presiding over domestic violence cases statewide, mandating annual education under the Administrative Office of the Courts. The requirement becomes effective November 1, 2025, subject to available funding.

Maddy summarySB 1080 amends Oklahoma's Milk and Milk Products Act to specifically exclude small-scale donkey milk sales from most regulatory requirements. The bill defines "donkey milk" and clarifies that incidental sales (averaging under 100 gallons monthly) are not subject to the Act's permitting, processing, or distribution rules. Producers making such small-scale sales do not need permits but must still comply with basic inspection provisions. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 843 modifies Oklahoma law to adjust exceptions allowing school board members to have close family members (within second degree of consanguinity or affinity) working as employees in their school district. It updates the size thresholds for small districts: the exception now applies to districts with fewer than 550 average daily students (instead of the prior 400) if the board adopts a policy permitting such employment. The bill also clarifies that board members related to employees must recuse themselves from decisions about those employees' personnel matters. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all Oklahoma school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 902, amends Oklahoma's Protection from Domestic Abuse Act to strengthen how protective orders are served and processed. It requires courts to schedule full hearings within 14 days of filing a petition, or within 72 hours if a minor child has been removed from the victim's home, and allows petitions to be renewed every 14 days until the defendant is served. The law also mandates that protective orders include a confidential safety plan, prohibits terms that could compromise victim safety such as mandatory mediation or joint counseling, and allows courts to order defendants to pay for required treatment or counseling services. These changes apply to individuals seeking protective orders against domestic abuse or stalking in Oklahoma and aim to improve response times and safety protections for victims.

Maddy summarySB 330 authorizes the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medicine Authority to study elk populations in Woodward, Dewey, Ellis counties, and part of Roger Mills County. The study must assess elk numbers, health, genetic diversity, and current management strategies like hunting, leading to a conservation management plan. It appropriates $2 million from the General Revenue Fund for this work, requiring the plan to be published online by November 1, 2025. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SJR 16) proposes to change Oklahoma's property tax rules by limiting annual valuation increases for most real property to 3% per year. It specifically prohibits adding the value of home improvements (like renovations) to the tax bill for seniors aged 65+ who qualify based on income (below HUD's county median income threshold). The amendment would apply to homestead properties (primary residences) owned by qualifying seniors, preventing future tax increases from new improvements while maintaining the existing 3% cap on overall property value growth. If approved by voters, it would replace current provisions in Sections 8B and 8C of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Maddy summarySB 376 removes a requirement that students with disabilities must have attended a public school in the previous year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. This change directly affects families seeking private school options for children with disabilities who previously needed public school enrollment history. The bill amends Section 13-101.2 of Oklahoma law to eliminate this eligibility barrier while updating other procedural requirements like private school admission and State Department of Education notification. The policy change simplifies access to private school scholarships for eligible students without altering the core scholarship structure or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 238 exempts the sale of ammunition from Oklahoma's state sales tax. This bill amends Oklahoma's sales tax code to add ammunition as a specific tax-exempt item, directly affecting ammunition sellers and buyers. The key provision removes the 4.5% state sales tax from ammunition purchases, making it the same as other exempt items like food or certain medical supplies. The exemption becomes effective upon the bill's enactment.