Sen. Dusty Deevers

Maddy summarySB 1121 creates a temporary Joint Interim Committee to study replacing local property taxes (ad valorem taxes) with alternative revenue sources. The committee, composed of five Senate and five House members, will examine potential tax methods, calculate equivalent rates for local governments, assess economic impacts, and evaluate revenue redistribution needs. It must submit a final report with recommendations to the Legislature by July 1, 2028, after which the committee will be abolished. The bill does not change current tax laws but directs a formal study of options for local governments that rely on property tax revenue.

Maddy summarySB 550 prohibits organizing adult cabaret performances harmful to minors on public property or hosting "story hours" (where drag performers read children's books to minors) in public spaces. Violators face felony charges (1-5 years in prison or $5,000-$20,000 fine) for performances, or misdemeanor charges (up to 1 year jail or $500-$1,000 fine) for story hours. The law preempts conflicting local ordinances and defines "harmful to minors" per existing Oklahoma law. It directly affects event organizers, venues, and performers hosting such public activities involving minors.

Maddy summarySB 550 prohibits public performances by drag performers deemed "harmful to minors" (as defined by existing law), including events like children's story hours where drag performers read books to minors. It makes organizing such performances on public property or in view of minors a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison or fines up to $20,000, while restricting story hours to misdemeanors with fines up to $1,000. The law directly affects performers, event organizers, and venues hosting public events involving drag performers near minors. It preempts local ordinances conflicting with these provisions, taking effect immediately under an emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 339 would freeze tuition and fees at Oklahoma public universities and colleges at 2024-2025 approved rates for the 2025-2026 academic year. It directly affects all institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education by prohibiting any rate increases beyond the previous academic year's approved levels. The key provision requires institutions to maintain tuition and fee rates no higher than those set for 2024-2025, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change aims to limit cost increases for students at public higher education institutions.

Maddy summarySB 829 updates Oklahoma's divorce laws by adding "incompatibility" as a permissible ground for divorce and requiring courts to consider the degree of fault when making certain orders, such as property division or support. It mandates that parents in divorce cases involving children must attend an educational program about the impact of divorce on children, covering topics like child well-being, co-parenting strategies, and available resources, with a fee that may be waived. Additionally, the bill requires courts to establish a trust fund in specific circumstances to protect children's financial interests, including rules for fund management, restrictions on access, and safeguards against unauthorized withdrawals. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Oklahoma Legislature but failed in committee in February 2025.

Maddy summarySB 456, the "Abolition of Abortion Act," would reclassify most abortion procedures as criminal homicide under Oklahoma law, defining "human being" to include unborn children and applying homicide statutes to abortion-related deaths. It exempts legal abortions with maternal consent, standard medical practices, life-saving procedures for the mother (with steps to save the fetus), and spontaneous miscarriages. The bill also modifies wrongful death claims to include unborn children and expands duress defenses for mothers who undergo abortions under threat. The bill failed in committee in February 2025 and would not take effect if passed, as it is currently pending legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 228 proposes creating "covenant marriage" in Oklahoma as a distinct legal option, requiring couples to sign a detailed Declaration of Intent affirming lifelong commitment, complete premarital counseling, and file this document with their marriage license application. It establishes stricter divorce rules, allowing dissolution only for abandonment, abuse, or adultery after mandatory counseling (except in abuse cases), and permits conversion of existing marriages to covenant marriages through similar steps. The bill also creates an annual tax credit of $2,500 for joint filers or $1,250 each for separate filers for couples entering covenant marriage, non-refundable but carry-forwardable for five years. The bill, introduced in 2025 but failed in committee, has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 829 amends Oklahoma's divorce laws by adding "incompatibility" as a permissible ground for divorce and updating other grounds like abandonment and insanity. It requires courts to consider the degree of fault when making property division decisions and mandates the creation of a trust fund for minor children in specific cases, with safeguards to prevent unauthorized withdrawals until the child reaches a certain age. The bill also updates the educational program requirement for divorcing parents with children, specifying topics like the impact of divorce on children and communication strategies, and sets a fee of $10-$60 for program attendance.

Maddy summarySB 339 freezes tuition and fees at Oklahoma public colleges and universities for the 2025-2026 academic year, preventing increases above the rates approved for 2024-2025. It directly affects all institutions within "The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education" by requiring their 2025-2026 rates to match the prior year's approved rates. The bill amends Oklahoma law to prohibit rate increases beyond the previous academic year's approved levels. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency.

Maddy summarySB 228 creates a new "covenant marriage" option in Oklahoma, requiring couples to sign a specific Declaration of Intent (affirming lifelong commitment), complete premarital counseling with a minister or counselor, and file the document with their marriage license application. Existing marriages can be converted to covenant marriages by following similar steps: signing the Declaration of Intent and completing counseling. The bill also provides a tax credit for couples in covenant marriages, which is non-refundable, can be carried forward, and must be claimed via a form filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. This affects couples choosing or converting to covenant marriages, with no changes to standard marriage requirements.