Sen. Spencer Kern

Maddy summaryHB 3310 amends Oklahoma's state purchasing laws to strengthen oversight of agency acquisitions. It establishes specific spending limits ($25,000 for standard purchases, $250,000 for certified agencies), requires payments for valid invoices within 60 days, and mandates the State Purchasing Director to review agency compliance. The bill creates a public report tracking agencies failing to meet payment timelines or purchasing standards. It directly affects all Oklahoma state agencies and their procurement staff by requiring certification for certain purchasing authority and enforcing new compliance rules.

Maddy summarySB 2132 increases the maximum surcharge businesses in Oklahoma can charge for credit card payments from 2% to 3.5% of the transaction amount (or the actual processing fee, whichever is lower). It removes limits on discounts offered for cash, check, or debit card payments and allows businesses to apply these discounts without restriction. The bill applies to all sellers conducting transactions in Oklahoma, with specific exemptions for private schools, municipalities, and money transmitters, which may charge service fees only for processing costs, security measures, or bandwidth expenses. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 722 prohibits the use of electronic monitoring devices (such as GPS trackers) on cattle or bison younger than 18 months without the owner's consent. This bill directly affects livestock owners who raise young cattle or bison, requiring explicit permission before any electronic tracking can be applied. Key provisions ban the attachment or use of such devices on these animals without consent, ensuring owners maintain control over monitoring practices. The law applies only to young cattle and bison, not older animals or other livestock types.

Maddy summaryHB 3024 establishes a 10% annual cap on salary increases and bonuses for most state employees in executive branch agencies, requiring cabinet secretary approval for any increase exceeding this limit. It mandates that agencies set performance metrics for bonus eligibility and document salary adjustments above 10% due to role changes or performance reviews. The bill excludes executive directors, positions requiring advanced degrees or state licenses (like doctors and engineers), and employees of higher education systems or school districts from these limits. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services overseeing implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 4230 requires board members of Oklahoma's rural water districts and nonprofit rural water corporations to complete training. New members must attend six hours of workshop training within 12 months of election, while all members must complete six hours every three years thereafter. Training covers district financing, law, ethics, and board duties, organized by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with reimbursement for reasonable expenses. Sessions must be held within 75 miles of members' homes, often in the evenings, and failure to attend makes members ineligible starting at the next board meeting after 12 months. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3973 creates a "Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center Reestablishment Revolving Fund" in the state treasury to support the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) in restoring the Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Manitou. The fund allows OJA to use these monies, along with other available funds, to plan, develop, and improve the facility for providing secure care and specialty residential services to Oklahoma youth. It authorizes the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to accept properties (like the former facility) offered as gifts or at minimal cost to aid reestablishment. The bill repeals the prior governing section (10A O.S. 2021, Section 2-7-618) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4296 removes the requirement for applicants to provide their home address when applying for a notary commission in Oklahoma. This change affects all individuals seeking a notary commission in the state, including both Oklahoma residents and out-of-state applicants who work in Oklahoma. The bill amends the application form to delete the specific address fields previously mandated by law, streamlining the process while maintaining other application requirements like contact information and eligibility statements.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma bill bans the production, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat (meat grown from animal cells in laboratories) within the state. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors, and food businesses selling such products could face license suspension or revocation by the State Department of Health. The law exempts research on cultivated meat conducted by government agencies, universities, or their partners. It also updates labeling rules for plant-based and insect-based products to require clear terms like "lab-grown" or "plant-based" to avoid misleading terms such as "beef" or "chicken."

Maddy summarySB 1722 amends Oklahoma's public construction contracting law to clarify procedures for negotiating contracts when bids exceed budgets due to unforeseen market conditions. It requires state agencies to request negotiations with the lowest bidder within 10 days of bid opening, with final contracts approved within 120 days, provided the project was properly planned and delays would harm agency missions. The bill specifies that consultant fees for revisions must cover only construction costs - not interior design - and must be paid from the agency's existing funds. This affects all state agencies managing public construction projects, effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2152 modifies Oklahoma's wildlife hunting and fishing season dates and permits. It requires deer hunting seasons to begin after specific dates, creates two annual senior citizen hunting days for Oklahoma residents 64+ years old, and sets precise bowfishing dates on the Upper Illinois River (June 1-March 31 upstream from Horseshoe Bend, December 1-March 31 further upstream). The bill also establishes permit fees ($20 for residents, $75 for non-residents) with $5 per fee funding Oklahoma's Acres for Wildlife Program. These changes apply directly to hunters and anglers participating in regulated seasons across Oklahoma.