Sen. Casey Murdock

Maddy summarySB 1932 allows motor carriers organized as corporations, LLCs, LLPs, or partnerships to be represented by their own officers, members, managers, or partners - not attorneys - at Oklahoma Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Materials Transportation Act administrative hearings. This change directly affects businesses in the commercial transportation sector that choose not to hire legal counsel for these proceedings. The bill modifies the existing hearing process to provide this representation option, effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4346 modifies Oklahoma's sales tax exemption for agricultural purchases by requiring specific proof of eligibility. It establishes an agricultural exemption permit obtained through county assessors (verifying farming property and no tax delinquencies) or alternative documents like IRS Schedule F forms or Farm Service Agency paperwork. The bill also allows vendors to honor out-of-state permits from Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, or Missouri for qualifying agricultural purchases. Additionally, it requires permit holders to notify vendors of non-exempt purchases to maintain their exemption, with a $500 penalty for misuse on non-qualifying items.

Maddy summarySB 2134 requires wreckers responding to accidents involving livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, etc.) or poultry (chickens, turkeys, etc.) to immediately contact their county's emergency management organization. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture must provide guidance to these organizations on humane treatment and handling of animals involved in such accidents. The State Board of Agriculture must create rules for the humane care of livestock and poultry in vehicle collisions. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting wreckers, towing services, and county emergency management organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 3270 regulates the transport and release of feral swine (wild pigs) in Oklahoma. It requires anyone moving live feral swine to obtain a license from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and restricts transport only to licensed facilities, handling sites, or slaughterhouses. The bill also makes illegal release of feral swine a Class D3 felony with a $2,000 fine, with limited exceptions for licensed sporting facilities or releasing tagged pigs within 24 hours of capture. This directly affects ranchers, landowners, and hunters dealing with invasive feral swine populations. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3239 amends Oklahoma's veterinary practice law by clarifying definitions for veterinary professionals and practice standards. It updates terms like "veterinarian," "veterinary technician," "direct supervision," and "veterinarian-client-patient relationship" to ensure consistent application of regulations. The bill directly affects licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants, and the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners by defining their roles and practice boundaries. This is a definitional update to the existing Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, not a new fee or procedural change.

Maddy summarySB 1928 modifies Oklahoma's water rights law by removing mandatory metering requirements for most wells while introducing a new five-year flexible groundwater allocation system. It applies to existing and new groundwater permit holders in designated basins, requiring annual usage reports and fees to maintain their allocation. The bill allows permit holders to temporarily exceed their annual usage limit by up to 200% in any single year, as long as their total usage over five years stays within the basin's overall limit. Domestic wells are explicitly excluded from these provisions. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 2127 creates the Advisory Council on Product Classification within Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The council, composed of five members appointed by the State Board of Agriculture (representing affected interests), will advise the department on classifying agricultural and food products. Members serve five-year terms without salary but may claim travel expenses under standard state reimbursement rules. The bill establishes this council as an advisory body with no authority to make final classification decisions. It takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3404 establishes the Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Indemnity Fund to reimburse landowners for damages caused when prescribed fires spread beyond intended areas (excluding insurance-covered losses or damage to the landowner's own property). Landowners must develop approved burn plans with local conservation offices, notify adjacent landowners, pay a $250 fee, and file plans 30 days before burning to participate. The fund covers up to $1 million per fire event, with payments made pro-rata if insufficient funds exist, and claims must be filed within 60 days of the incident. This directly affects landowners conducting prescribed burns who meet the administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1770 requires Oklahoma State University's Veterinary Medicine Authority to conduct a comprehensive study of elk populations in Woodward, Dewey, Ellis counties, and a portion of Roger Mills County by November 1, 2025. The study must assess elk numbers, health, current management practices (like hunting), and habitat use to develop science-based management recommendations. It mandates the Authority to coordinate with state/federal agencies and may temporarily adjust hunting rules during the study. The resulting management plan will guide elk conservation and ecosystem health in the specified region.

Maddy summaryHB 3152 creates the "Oklahoma Public Safety Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. This procedural bill does not establish new public safety policies or regulations; it only names the act and specifies its implementation date. As a noncodified measure, it will not be added to Oklahoma's official statutes but will operate as a standalone law. The bill directly affects the state's public safety framework by formalizing this designation without altering existing laws or impacting specific groups.