Sen. Casey Murdock

Maddy summarySB 1911 amends Oklahoma's Youthful Offender Act to prohibit certification as a youthful offender for minors (ages 15-17) charged with specific sex offenses, including rape by instrumentation, forcible sodomy, and lewd acts involving children under 16. This change means individuals facing these charges will be held accountable as adults from the outset, rather than having the option to be treated as youthful offenders. The bill directly affects minors charged with the listed offenses by removing their eligibility for youthful offender status under Oklahoma law. It updates existing statutory language to clarify that these cases will proceed under adult criminal procedures. The bill became effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 1964 amends Oklahoma's driver license law to prohibit Service Oklahoma from requiring certain individuals to apply for commercial learner permits under specific circumstances. The bill updates Section 6-101 to clarify that Service Oklahoma cannot mandate such applications for Class A, B, or C commercial licenses in certain scenarios. This change affects commercial driver license applicants who previously might have been required to obtain a learner permit before applying for a full license. The policy modifies the existing process by removing a requirement that could have delayed licensing for some commercial drivers. The bill does not specify which persons or circumstances are exempt, only that the prohibition is now codified in law.

Maddy summarySB 1574 increases Oklahoma's annual cap for affordable housing tax credits from $4 million to $8 million for allocation years beginning on or after July 1, 2026. It directly affects developers of low-income housing projects that qualify under federal tax credit rules and investors claiming these state tax credits. The bill maintains that state credits cannot exceed federal credits for a project and must be used for projects placed in service after July 2015. The change provides more funding for affordable housing initiatives without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma bill (SB 2176) clarifies the legal definition of "real or immovable property" in state law by updating Section 5 of Title 60. It specifies that real property includes land (surface, subsurface, and airspace), improvements/fixtures attached to land, incidental rights (like easements), and property legally declared immovable. The change primarily refines existing terminology for precision in property law, without creating new rules or directly affecting specific groups. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2142 allows Oklahoma counties to publish voter questions online (via county websites or social media) instead of, or in addition to, traditional newspaper publication. This amendment to Oklahoma statute 19 O.S. 2021, Section 383 updates the required publication method for ballot questions, ensuring counties must still publish questions for at least four weeks before voting. The bill directly affects counties handling local ballot measures and election notices, streamlining how they inform voters. It takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2150 amends Oklahoma's Commercial Pet Breeders and Animal Shelter Licensing Act to update licensing requirements for commercial breeders and animal shelters. It lowers the age threshold for "adult animals" and "kittens/puppies" from 12 to 9 months, clarifies definitions (like "commercial breeder" requiring 11+ intact females), and strengthens inspection protocols. The bill mandates prelicense and annual facility inspections by authorized inspectors, requires written inspection reports, and prohibits humane societies from conducting these inspections. These changes directly affect commercial breeders (operating with 11+ intact females) and animal shelters (maintaining 10+ dogs/cats), with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture administering the updated rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1822 requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a program for identifying, removing, and managing invasive woody species (like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar) within transportation rights-of-way. The program mandates surveys, prioritized removal plans, eco-friendly removal methods to protect native plants and soil, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration with other agencies. This directly affects ODOT’s operations and land adjacent to state roads. The bill would have taken effect November 1, 2025, but died in conference on May 30, 2025. (Note: The bill’s title references transportation but focuses on environmental management within road corridors.)

Maddy summaryHB 1378 would have expanded Oklahoma's sales tax exemptions for agriculture by adding timber to the definition of "agricultural products." This change would have exempted sales of timber (including timber products used in farming) from sales tax, directly affecting Oklahoma agricultural businesses, farmers, and timber producers. The bill amended existing tax code provisions that already exempted farm products, livestock, feed, fertilizer, machinery, and other agricultural supplies. However, the bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 10, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 263 expands Oklahoma's Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Water Restoration Act to address harmful woody species like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar. It creates a revolving fund for water restoration, allowing cost-sharing with landowners, state agencies, and nonprofits for removal methods such as prescribed burns and herbicides. The bill mandates the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to manage the program across at least three project areas in the North Canadian Watershed, focusing on improving water flow, reducing wildfire risks, and restoring grazing lands. It updates definitions, expands eligible participants, and requires studies comparing treated and untreated watersheds. The policy directly affects landowners and local entities managing watersheds in the North Canadian River basin.

Maddy summaryHB 2162 creates the "Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Water Restoration Act" to establish a pilot program for removing harmful woody species like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar in Oklahoma's North Canadian Watershed. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission will administer the program using a new revolving fund, which can receive state, federal, and private funds, to cost-share with landowners for removal methods like prescribed burns and herbicides. The program aims to improve water flow into the North Canadian River, reduce wildfire risks, protect grazing lands, and restore wildlife habitat by targeting specific invasive plant species. The bill also designates two active project areas (above and below Canton Lake) and requires the Commission to measure species density, create comparison studies, and develop grant programs with local groups. The fund becomes effective November 1, 2025, but the bill died in conference committee on May 30, 2025.