Sen. Julie Daniels

Maddy summarySB 78 requires individuals convicted of 22 specific serious offenses - including first-degree murder, rape, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, and aggravated assault - to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. This applies to all sentences imposed after the bill's effective date (November 1, 2025). The bill prohibits earned credits or other sentence reductions that would allow parole eligibility before completing 85% of the sentence. It updates statutory references and language in Oklahoma law related to these sentencing requirements.

Maddy summarySB 78 requires individuals convicted of 22 specific serious offenses to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. These offenses include first-degree murder, rape, child sexual abuse (such as child pornography and trafficking), aggravated assault, and human trafficking. The bill prohibits these offenders from earning credits that would reduce their sentence below the 85% requirement. It amends Oklahoma's criminal code and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 229 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, allowing taxpayers to claim credits for qualified education expenses for eligible students. It adjusts income-based credit limits (e.g., reducing the maximum credit from $7,500 to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000) and adds requirements for private schools serving disadvantaged students (requiring 90% of admissions to be based on income below 250% of the federal poverty level). The bill also mandates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to reallocate unused credits and removes certain notification requirements. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children enrolled in accredited private schools, homeschooling programs, or nonpublic educational settings.

Maddy summarySB 1013 expands workers' compensation rights in Oklahoma by clarifying when injured workers can sue employers outside the standard compensation system. It allows workers to pursue court claims if their employer fails to pay required compensation or if the injury results from an intentional tort (defined as deliberate harm with specific intent, not just negligence). The bill also clarifies contractor responsibilities, specifying that general contractors must provide workers' compensation coverage for subcontractors and defining terms like "general contractor" and "subcontractor" to prevent disputes over insurance coverage. This directly affects injured workers, employers (particularly in construction), and contractors who must now meet clearer insurance requirements. The changes aim to balance employer liability while ensuring workers have legal recourse in specific, documented cases of non-payment or intentional harm.

Maddy summarySB 1041 modifies Oklahoma's process for appointing members to the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. It removes a requirement that the Governor must appoint osteopathic physician members solely from a list provided by the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, allowing the Governor to also consider recommendations from other groups representing osteopathic physicians. This change affects how the board, which regulates the practice of osteopathic medicine in Oklahoma, is staffed. The board will continue to consist of eight members, including two lay persons and six licensed osteopathic physicians with at least five years of practice.

Maddy summarySB 18 repeals three specific sections of Oklahoma law (70 O.S. 2021, Sections 1210.451-1210.453) that previously governed the Oklahoma School for the Visual and Performing Arts. This bill removes existing legal language related to the school's operations but does not create new requirements or funding. The repeal takes effect on November 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the legal framework governing the school but does not change student programs or services.

Maddy summarySB 989 creates the "Wrongful Death Protection Act of 2025," holding manufacturers, distributors, and providers of abortion-inducing drugs strictly liable for the death or injury of an unborn child or pregnant woman resulting from those drugs. It specifically targets drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol (excluding emergency contraception like Plan B), and applies to anyone involved in their supply chain. The law prohibits common defenses (e.g., ignorance of the law, consent, or negligence claims) and voids any waiver of this liability, with a 6-year statute of limitations for lawsuits. It explicitly excludes cases where abortion was performed to save a pregnant woman’s life or treat medical conditions like ectopic pregnancy.

Maddy summarySB 976 would allow Oklahoma counties with populations over 500,000 (per the latest federal census) to hire a county manager with approval from the county budget board. The county manager would handle operations, human resources, information technology, and budget planning while serving as an ex officio member of the county budget board. This bill amends existing law to add the county manager role to the budget board structure and update language to be gender-neutral. The change is optional for qualifying counties and would take effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 811 requires Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to implement a community-based competency restoration pilot program for defendants found incompetent to stand trial but capable of regaining competence with treatment. The bill directly affects individuals in the criminal justice system who are deemed incompetent due to mental health needs but not intellectually disabled or dangerous. Key provisions mandate the department to provide treatment in community settings (instead of solely in forensic facilities), make regular court reports on defendants' progress, and establish clear pathways for resuming trials or transitioning to civil commitment if competence isn't restored. The pilot program specifically aligns with a court-ordered consent decree from the Briggs v. Friesen case. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 267 establishes the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma to educate students on American political principles, leadership, and civic engagement through courses in American history, government, and free-market economics. The school, planned for the Norman campus, will operate as an academic unit with an appointed advisory board and a director responsible for curriculum development and reporting to the university provost. It receives a $5 million state appropriation for operations, requiring annual reports to state leadership by 2027. The bill aims to enhance civic education for OU students and the public, with implementation effective July 1, 2025.