Sen. Spencer Kern

Maddy summaryHB 2384 expands Oklahoma's Impaired Driving Prevention Advisory Committee by adding four new members: a representative from Safety Advocacy For Empowerment (SAFE), a victim advocacy group representative, and directors from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and State Board of Pharmacy. This increases the committee's total membership to 19, aiming to improve coordination among law enforcement, health, and advocacy stakeholders on impaired driving prevention. The committee must continue to annually develop and submit a strategic plan to reduce impaired driving crashes to state leaders, as required by existing law. The amendment becomes effective on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2384 expands the membership of Oklahoma's Impaired Driving Prevention Advisory Committee by adding 7 new positions, including a representative from Safety Advocacy For Empowerment (SAFE), a victim advocacy group representative, and directors from several state agencies (like the Medical Marijuana Authority and State Board of Pharmacy). The bill requires the expanded committee to annually develop a statewide strategic plan to reduce impaired driving crashes, which must be submitted to the Governor and legislature by December 31 each year. This change affects state agencies, law enforcement, victim advocacy groups, and community organizations by formally including them in the committee's structure. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 720 limits the daily harvest of quail to seven birds for licensed hunters in Oklahoma. It directly affects individuals hunting quail for sport, while exempting commercial hunting areas that operate under specific licenses. The bill requires the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission to enforce this daily limit, codifying it into state law under Title 29, Section 5-401.1. The rule takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 668 caps fees that health care staffing agencies can charge when placing workers who previously worked at a hospital or nursing facility. Specifically, the fee cannot exceed 105% of the worker’s highest hourly wage paid by that facility within the past two years. Covered facilities (hospitals or licensed nursing/specialized facilities) can sue agencies for violations if they fail to correct excessive fees after being notified with payroll records. If found liable, agencies must pay damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 661 amends Oklahoma statutes to adjust which counties can nominate and elect district court judges in Judicial Districts 5 and 21. For District 5, it specifies that judges for positions 1 and 4 must reside in Comanche or Cotton County, while positions 2 and 3 require residency in Stephens or Jefferson County. For District 21, it updates the residency rules for judges, requiring positions 1, 3, 4, and 5 to be filled by residents of Cleveland County, while position 2 must be filled by a resident of Garvin or McClain County. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and directly affects candidates seeking these judicial positions in the specified counties.

Maddy summarySB 720 sets a daily limit of seven quail for licensed hunters in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025. The bill directly affects individuals with hunting licenses who harvest quail, requiring them to not exceed this limit per day. It exempts hunters in commercial hunting areas from this daily cap. The legislation codifies this limit into Oklahoma Statutes (Section 5-401.1) without creating new rules, updating existing practice. The change applies statewide to non-commercial quail hunting.

Maddy summarySB 668 prohibits health care staffing agencies from charging facilities fees exceeding 105% of a nurse's or direct care worker's previous hourly wage at that facility (if employed within the last two years). It directly affects staffing agencies placing temporary nurses at Oklahoma hospitals or licensed nursing facilities, and gives those facilities legal recourse if agencies violate the fee cap. Covered facilities can sue for actual damages, attorney fees, and other relief after providing the agency written notice of the overcharge with pay records. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 661 modifies Oklahoma's judicial district boundaries for two court districts. It removes Jefferson County from District No. 5 (previously including Comanche, Stephens, Cotton, and Jefferson) and updates residency requirements for judges: positions 1 and 4 must be residents of Comanche or Cotton County, while position 2 requires residency in Stephens or Jefferson County. For District No. 21 (Garvin, McClain, Cleveland), it clarifies that all judge positions except #2 require residency in Cleveland County, with position #2 requiring residency in Garvin or McClain County. The changes apply to future elections starting with the 2025 effective date.