Sen. Brent Howard

Maddy summarySB 213 increases liability caps for certain claims under Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. It raises the maximum payout for property damage claims from $25,000 to $75,000 per claimant, and for nuisance claims in large counties (150,000+ population) from $85,000 to $140,000. The bill also raises medical negligence liability limits for state hospitals to $300,000 (from $200,000) and establishes a new $175,000 cap for wrongful conviction claims resulting in imprisonment. These changes apply to claims arising from single incidents or occurrences involving state agencies, local governments, or public hospitals.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases liability limits for government entities under Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. It raises caps from $25,000 to $75,000 for property damage claims arising from a single incident, and increases limits for nuisance claims (e.g., $85,000 to $140,000 in smaller counties) and general claims (e.g., $125,000 to $250,000). Medical negligence claims against state hospitals also see higher limits ($200,000 to $300,000). These changes affect how much governments can be sued for in claims involving property loss, nuisance disputes, or medical negligence, directly impacting both claimants and public entities.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 937 establishes the "Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act of 2025," creating a legal framework for advance health care planning. It defines when an individual has the capacity to make health care decisions (including understanding risks/benefits), presumes capacity unless rebutted by a qualified health professional, and allows individuals to create health care instructions or appoint agents. The bill requires health care providers to document these instructions in medical records, prohibits certain family members from serving as agents, and specifies that conflicting instructions revoke prior ones. This directly affects Oklahomans planning future health care, their providers, and those acting as surrogates when capacity is disputed.

Maddy summarySB 937 creates Oklahoma's "Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act of 2025," establishing clear rules for when adults can make their own health care decisions. It presumes capacity unless rebutted by a qualified professional's finding (e.g., a physician or psychologist), and requires documentation for advance directives like living wills or health care powers of attorney. The bill disqualifies facility employees (unless family) from serving as health care agents and specifies how conflicting directives are resolved. This directly affects all Oklahomans planning for future medical decisions, standardizing the process for advance care planning.

Maddy summaryHB 2119 creates a court process for property owners to request relocating certain easements, primarily affecting landowners (servient estate owners) who want to move an easement burdening their property. The bill allows such requests only if relocation won't materially lessen the easement's utility, increase burden on the easement holder, impair its original purpose, or compromise safety. It explicitly excludes public utility easements (like power lines), conservation easements (for farmland or wildlife protection), and negative easements from this process. The law applies only to easements established by grant, reservation, or other legal means, not those moved by mutual agreement.

Maddy summaryHB 2119 creates a standardized process for property owners (servient estate owners) to request relocation of certain existing easements on their land. The bill allows relocation only if it does not materially lessen the easement's utility, increase burden on the easement holder, impair the easement's purpose, or affect safety. It specifically excludes public utility easements, conservation easements, negative easements, and relocations agreed upon by parties. The law applies to easements established by grant, reservation, or other methods, but requires courts to enforce these restrictions when reviewing relocation requests.

Maddy summaryHB 2219, the "Crossroads Sound and Screen Act," creates tax rebates for music production companies that create content in Oklahoma. It offers tiered rebates (10-25% of facility costs, plus up to 14% more for Oklahoma-based talent or local work) with a $500,000 maximum per project and a $10 million annual spending cap. To qualify, companies must meet requirements like paying Oklahoma crews, carrying insurance, and participating in promotional activities. The program is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tax Commission using a dedicated revolving fund.

Maddy summarySB 118 creates a Judicial Performance Evaluation Council (JPEC) and an Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation (OJPE) within Oklahoma's Supreme Court to formally assess the performance of intermediate appellate and district court judges. The bill requires judges to undergo annual evaluations using surveys, self-assessments, and confidential reviews, with results compiled into reports for the Supreme Court. Judges who fail two consecutive evaluations or skip required improvement programs lose confidentiality, making their deficiencies public on the Supreme Court website. The Supreme Court must also publish an annual report detailing evaluation results, response rates, and actions taken to address performance issues, starting December 2026. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma judges serving in intermediate appellate and district courts.

Maddy summarySB 98 modifies Oklahoma's individual income tax rates for the 2024 tax year. It lowers the top marginal tax rate to 4.75% for single filers and similar rates for married couples filing jointly, replacing previous rates of 5.25% or 5.50%. The bill affects all Oklahoma residents and nonresidents filing individual income tax returns for 2024. Key provisions define new tax brackets with reduced rates across income levels, specifically targeting the 2024 tax year. The change applies to taxable income calculated under Oklahoma law for that year.

Maddy summarySB 98 modifies Oklahoma's individual income tax rates, deductions, and exemptions for specific tax years. It lowers the top tax rate on income above certain thresholds from 7% to 6.65% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2004, while maintaining a 7% rate for 2002-2003. The bill also adjusts standard deduction amounts and limits certain personal exemptions for these tax years. These changes apply to Oklahoma residents filing individual income tax returns under the state's tax code.