Maddy summaryHB 2162 creates the "Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Water Restoration Act" to address invasive plant species harming Oklahoma's North Canadian River watershed. It establishes a revolving fund to support a pilot program administered by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, focusing on removing invasive plants like juniper trees and salt cedar that reduce water flow, increase wildfire risks, and damage grazing lands. The program allows cost-sharing with landowners for removal methods like prescribed burns and herbicides, requires collaboration with local agencies, and mandates two active project areas. The bill directly affects landowners in the North Canadian Watershed and aims to improve water resources through targeted ecosystem management. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee before becoming law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1822 requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a program managing invasive woody species - like Eastern Redcedar and salt cedar - in areas along state roads (rights-of-way). The program must include surveys to identify these plants, prioritize removal, use eco-friendly methods to protect native vegetation, monitor for regrowth, and partner with other agencies. This directly affects ODOT’s operations and landowners near state road corridors where these species threaten ecosystems or infrastructure. The bill died in committee on May 30, 2025, and is not law.
Maddy summaryHB 1378 would have expanded Oklahoma's agricultural tax exemptions to include timber products by amending the definition of "agricultural products" in state tax law. This change would have exempted sales of timber (such as from timber harvesting and processing) from the state sales tax, directly affecting timber producers, landowners, and businesses involved in timber sales. The bill amended Section 1358 of Oklahoma's tax code to explicitly include timber within the existing exemptions for farm products, livestock, feed, equipment, and other agricultural inputs. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 10, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 263 expands the Terry Peach Water Restoration Act to include new requirements for managing invasive species in state waterways. It would require water management agencies to implement specific control strategies and monitor invasive species impacts, directly affecting state water authorities and ecosystems vulnerable to species like zebra mussels. Key provisions include updated reporting rules and funding allocations for early detection efforts. However, the bill died in conference committee on May 30, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 951 restricts fees for agricultural land irrigation leases managed by Oklahoma's Land Office Commissioners. It prohibits charging lessees (farmers or agricultural businesses renting land) additional fees beyond the originally accepted bid amount for irrigation, specifically when the water source is not owned or managed by the Commissioners. The bill directly affects agricultural lessees using irrigation systems not supplied by the Commissioners' land. Key provisions require that irrigation fees remain fixed at the bid price, preventing extra charges for water sourced externally. This change applies to commercial and agricultural leases involving irrigation improvements.
Maddy summarySB 146 expands mental wellness services provided by Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety to include retirees of public safety personnel (such as police and firefighters), in addition to current employees. It creates a dedicated revolving fund (Section 9102) to finance these services and strengthens privacy protections by prohibiting the sharing of individual mental health data without consent, while allowing aggregate data use for policy improvements (Section 9101). The bill also mandates that all Mental Wellness Division resources operate separately from other department divisions. These changes took effect November 1, 2025, after becoming law without the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 951 modifies Oklahoma law governing leases for agricultural and commercial land managed by the Commissioners of the Land Office. It prohibits charging lessees additional fees for irrigation beyond the original bid amount when the water source is not owned or managed by the Commissioners. This rule directly affects agricultural lessees who use irrigation from external water sources and prevents unexpected cost increases. The bill was passed by the Oklahoma legislature and is now effective.
Maddy summarySB 146 expands eligibility for mental wellness services provided through the Department of Public Safety's Mental Wellness Division. The bill changes who can access these services, though specific new eligibility groups aren't detailed in the provided context. It became law on May 29, 2025, without requiring the Governor's signature. This policy change directly affects individuals seeking mental health support through this specific state division.
Maddy summarySB 999 updates Oklahoma's definitions and procedures under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. It clarifies terms like "apparent owner," "claimant," and "holder," and specifies how unclaimed property in safe deposit boxes must be handled (including providing wills/trust copies upon request). The bill also establishes the "Unclaimed Property Fund" in the State Treasury for managing claims. This procedural update affects property holders, claimants, and the State Treasurer’s office, but does not change abandonment periods or claim eligibility.
Maddy summarySB 999 amends Oklahoma's Unclaimed Property Act to clarify definitions and update procedures for handling unclaimed funds. It sets a 5-year abandonment period for safe deposit box contents (Section 657.3), requires the State Treasurer to provide copies of wills or trusts upon request, and establishes the "Unclaimed Property Fund" as a dedicated trust fund (Section 668). The bill directly affects businesses holding unclaimed property (holders), individuals claiming funds (claimants), and the State Treasurer's office. Key changes include defining "mineral proceeds" more specifically and requiring electronic recordkeeping for claim submissions. The bill became law on May 28, 2025, without gubernatorial action.