Sen. John Haste

Maddy summarySB 962 increases the cash deposit required to request an election recount in Oklahoma. For manual recounts, it raises the cost to $600-$1,000 per 3,000 ballots (or fraction) in affected counties, and for electronic recounts, it sets a base of $600-$800 for the first 3,000 ballots plus $300-$500 for each additional 5,000 ballots. The bill also adds an extra deposit for recounts in races where the margin between top candidates is 10% or more, and requires petitioners to gather signatures from 150 voters (or 1% of votes) for ballot measure recounts. These changes directly affect candidates seeking recounts in races and voters petitioning for recounts on ballot issues.

Maddy summarySB 962 increases the financial deposit required to request an election recount in Oklahoma. For manual recounts, petitioners must now pay $600-$1,000 per 3,000 ballots (or fraction), and for electronic recounts, $600-$800 for the first 3,000 ballots plus $300-$500 for each additional 5,000 ballots. The bill also adds an extra deposit if the election margin between candidates is 10% or greater. These changes apply to candidates and voters seeking recounts, modifying existing requirements under Oklahoma Statutes §8-111. The bill aims to clarify and adjust petition costs for recounts, with an effective date to be determined.

Maddy summarySB 576 amends Oklahoma law to allow the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority to hold virtual meetings under specific conditions. The bill directly affects the Authority’s eight-member board, which oversees Oklahoma State University’s health sciences operations. Key provisions require all virtual meetings to be recorded, include advance public notice of video locations and member participation, and maintain full transparency per open meeting laws. This update modernizes the Authority’s meeting procedures while preserving public access and accountability.

Maddy summarySB 236 provides a tax credit to Oklahoma employers in the aerospace and defense sector that must achieve U.S. Department of Defense cybersecurity certification (CMMC) by 2026. It covers 50% of eligible compensation and expenses paid to reach initial CMMC compliance, with a lifetime maximum credit of $50,000 per employer. The credit applies to businesses with 5-200 employees that have DoD contracts requiring CMMC but are not yet compliant as of January 1, 2026. Credits cannot be used to reduce tax below zero, must be claimed within five years, and total credits across all employers are capped at $10 million annually. The credit is only for initial compliance costs, not ongoing maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates agreements between vision care plans and eye care providers in Oklahoma to prevent plans from dictating specific fees or limiting provider choices. It establishes rules that prohibit plans from setting maximum reimbursement rates, requiring participation with certain entities, or imposing unfair trade practices on providers. The legislation also defines key terms like covered services and materials, mandates inflation adjustments for reimbursement, and allows for civil penalties if these new standards are violated.

Maddy summaryThis document is a committee amendment to Senate Bill 1429, which proposes deleting a specific section of the bill and renumbering the remaining parts to align with changes made by Representative Nicole Miller. The text provided does not contain the full bill, so it is impossible to describe the original policy, the fund involved, or the specific authority being granted to the Department of Transportation. Consequently, no summary of the bill's substantive effects can be generated from the available information.

Maddy summaryThis bill amendment restricts private security firms from transporting prisoners to or from outside medical facilities. It mandates that only county sheriffs or deputy sheriffs can handle the transportation of inmates during these temporary medical stays. The change directly affects how county jails manage prisoner logistics when inmates require treatment outside the main facility. By limiting who can move prisoners, the provision aims to maintain direct control over inmate transport within the sheriff's office.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definition of the Oklahoma aerospace industry income tax credit to clarify which workers and businesses qualify for the benefit. It expands eligibility to include employees who have earned an ABET-accredited engineering degree or are licensed professional engineers, while also allowing individuals who change aerospace employers to claim the credit again, provided they have not used it for the maximum of five years. The law maintains a credit limit of $5,000 per year for up to five years, which can be carried forward to future tax years if not fully utilized. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008, and ending before January 1, 2026, with the bill itself taking effect on November 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two revolving funds to support mental health workforce development at the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority and the University Hospitals Authority. The funds will finance a pilot program aimed at recruiting and retaining behavioral health professionals through initiatives such as creating new treatment beds, renovating facilities, offering scholarships for social work and nursing students, and providing relocation assistance for out-of-state staff. Additionally, the legislation requires these organizations to submit a report to the legislature after the first year detailing the number of professionals recruited or retained and the program's overall benefits.