Sen. Julie Daniels

Maddy summarySB 70 requires Oklahoma courts and administrative hearing officers to interpret state laws, rules, and documents "de novo" (from scratch), without deferring to agency interpretations. If interpretation is unclear after standard analysis, courts must favor versions that limit agency power and protect individual liberty. This applies to all state statutes, administrative rules, and subregulatory documents in legal challenges involving agencies. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1120 amends Oklahoma's Pleading Code to clarify requirements for legal claims and defenses in civil lawsuits. It requires plaintiffs to state material facts with particularity to support their claims and simplifies how damages are reported - requiring only that amounts exceed federal diversity jurisdiction thresholds (without specifying exact figures) in most cases. The bill also updates language to be gender-neutral and defines key terms. This affects all parties filing or responding to civil lawsuits in Oklahoma courts, streamlining procedural requirements without changing substantive legal rights.

Maddy summarySB 509 repeals the law that created a board of trustees for McCurtain County's higher education program. This eliminates the governing body for that specific program without establishing new structures or altering funding. The repeal takes effect on July 1, 2025, as declared in the bill. The change directly affects McCurtain County's administrative structure for its higher education program.

Maddy summarySB 1038 amends Oklahoma law to remove a requirement that the Governor appoint podiatric physician members of the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners from a list of at least five people submitted annually by the Oklahoma Podiatric Medical Association. Instead, the Governor may now consider recommendations from a broader range of groups, including statewide or national podiatric organizations, without being bound to the Association's submitted list. This change updates the appointment process for the Board, which regulates podiatric medicine practice in Oklahoma. The bill takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 960 creates the Oklahoma Foreign Agents Registration Act, requiring individuals or entities acting on behalf of foreign governments or political parties within Oklahoma to register with the state. It mandates disclosure of activities, labeling of materials, and record-keeping for those engaging in political activities for foreign principals - such as lobbying state officials or influencing policy - while exempting bona fide news organizations meeting specific US ownership criteria. The law prescribes penalties for non-compliance and assigns enforcement to the Attorney General. Its goal is to increase transparency about foreign influence in Oklahoma’s political sphere.

Maddy summarySB 1037 amends Oklahoma law to remove a requirement that the Governor appoint pharmacists to the State Board of Pharmacy exclusively from a list of 10 names submitted annually by the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association. Instead, the Governor may now consider recommendations from pharmacy organizations (like the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association) when selecting board members. This change affects the Governor’s appointment process for pharmacy board positions and the organizations that previously provided the mandatory list. The bill does not alter the board’s composition (6 members, 5 pharmacists, 1 public member) or the qualifications for members. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Secure Telecommunications Act of 2025, requires telecommunications providers operating in Oklahoma to remove and replace certain network equipment that is banned at the federal level or manufactured by companies from countries designated as foreign adversaries. The law defines critical telecommunications infrastructure as any broadband system that connects users to public networks and prohibits the use of equipment from federally banned corporations or foreign adversaries. To enforce these requirements, the bill mandates that providers register with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by September 1, 2025, and pay an annual fee of up to $50 while submitting contact information and yearly certifications confirming compliance with equipment restrictions. Non-compliance with registration or equipment removal requirements could result in administrative fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per day, and the bill includes provisions to streamline permit processes when replacing prohibited equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement for Oklahoma municipalities to physically deposit copies of their compiled penal ordinances in county law libraries. It affects city governments that publish these ordinance compilations, eliminating the need to deliver physical copies to law librarians and obtain written receipts. The key change modifies Section 14-110 to delete the deposit and receipt provisions, while keeping other requirements like filing resolutions with county clerks and making ordinances available for public purchase. This simplifies administrative steps for municipalities without altering public access to ordinances. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 812 amends Oklahoma law to create a new exception for law enforcement officers transporting individuals needing mental health assessment. It allows sheriffs and peace officers to arrange on-site assessments via telemedicine (using mobile devices) or mobile crisis teams instead of immediately transporting people to facilities for initial evaluation. The bill clarifies that transport duties are considered fulfilled once officers transfer individuals to facility staff who confirm no immediate safety threat, except for unaccompanied minors under 18. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, mental health facilities, and individuals requiring emergency mental health services.

Maddy summaryOklahoma Senate Bill 954 prohibits discrimination against students and employees in public schools and higher education institutions based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, disability, national origin, or marital status. It specifically defines "antisemitism" to include actions like supporting Hamas, participating in certain protests (e.g., encampments targeting Jewish students), or boycotts of Israeli entities, while clarifying that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. The bill requires schools to integrate this definition into conduct codes, treat antisemitic harassment identically to racist harassment, and provide equal access to programs and services. It directly affects all Oklahoma public schools, colleges, and their students, staff, and faculty by mandating policy changes to address discrimination.