Sen. Dave Rader

Maddy summaryHB 1129 would have increased the fee for filing small claims court cases in Oklahoma, excluding cases involving "forcible entry and detainer" (eviction-related disputes). The bill directly affected individuals and small businesses filing lawsuits for minor financial claims, such as unpaid debts or property damage. It amended existing law to raise the standard filing fee while specifically removing eviction cases from the fee increase. The bill failed to pass on March 12, 2025, with 50 votes against it.

Maddy summarySB 601, the Death Penalty Moratorium Act, immediately halts all executions in Oklahoma by staying all death penalty judgments, vacating current execution dates, and prohibiting courts or the governor from setting new dates. It suspends all death penalty statutes until the bill is repealed, while leaving individual death sentences intact. The bill creates a Death Penalty Reform Task Force (appointed by legislative leaders and the governor) to study implementation of past reforms and report to the legislature by November 2026, with meetings subject to open meeting laws. The moratorium and task force remain in effect until the bill is repealed or the task force concludes its work by November 2029.

Maddy summarySB 1036, the "Oklahoma Triage, Treat, and Transport to Alternative Destination Act," requires health insurers in Oklahoma to cover specific ambulance services starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for ambulance providers treating patients in place, triaging/treating/transporting to lower-acuity facilities (like urgent care or mental health centers), or for encounters resulting in no transport. This affects insurers, ambulance services, and people covered by health insurance plans. The law excludes hospitals, dialysis centers, and residential settings from "alternative destinations" and sets minimum reimbursement rates for ambulance services. It applies to all new or renewed health insurance contracts on or after the effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1036 requires Oklahoma health insurers to cover ambulance services that involve triage, treatment, or transport to alternative destinations (like urgent care centers, mental health facilities, or Federally Qualified Health Centers) instead of hospitals, starting January 1, 2026. It applies to all people covered by health insurance plans in Oklahoma and mandates that insurers cover these services when initiated via a documented 9-1-1 call. The bill specifies that coverage must not reduce existing benefits and sets minimum reimbursement rates for ambulance providers using this alternative transport model. This law takes effect November 1, 2025, with coverage requirements beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 554 would require Oklahoma school districts to provide stipends (one-time payments) instead of regular salary increases to teachers holding specific certifications, such as out-of-state, international, or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards credentials. The bill prohibits these stipends from being counted toward future salary calculations or raises. It amends existing teacher certification laws to clarify that compensation for these certified teachers must follow this stipend structure rather than standard salary progression. This change directly affects teachers with the specified certifications who currently qualify for salary-based increases under Oklahoma law.

Maddy summarySB 60 updates Oklahoma's rules for calculating taxable income for corporations and individuals. It modifies how income from different sources - like property, business activities, and net operating losses - is allocated to determine state tax liability. Specifically, it adjusts rules for deducting federal net operating losses and allocates income from intangible property or manufacturing sales based on specific factors. This bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers who file state income tax returns, ensuring alignment with federal tax code references.

Maddy summarySB 554 changes how Oklahoma compensates teachers with advanced, lead, or master certification levels. Instead of receiving salary increases, these teachers would be paid stipends (separate payments), and these stipends cannot be counted toward future salary calculations. The bill amends existing teacher certification law to direct school districts to provide stipends rather than salary adjustments for these specific certification tiers. This policy affects teachers holding those advanced certifications and modifies their compensation structure under Oklahoma law.

Maddy summarySB 60 modifies how Oklahoma calculates taxable income for businesses and individuals by updating rules for allocating income and handling net operating losses. It specifically adjusts how businesses can carry forward or back losses for tax years beginning after 2007, aligning Oklahoma's rules more closely with federal tax code while keeping state-specific terms. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers with income from multiple states, particularly those with cross-state operations or net operating losses. Key changes include clarifying how income from property (real or intangible) is allocated and updating loss carryover rules to match federal timelines. These adjustments ensure Oklahoma's tax calculations remain consistent with current federal standards.

Maddy summarySB 44 extends Oklahoma's sales tax exemption to contractors and subcontractors working on projects for tax-exempt entities like government agencies, schools, or nonprofits. It allows these contractors to present the exempt entity's tax exemption documentation to vendors, so the vendors can legally charge no sales tax on necessary purchases (e.g., materials or services). This clarifies and updates existing law to ensure contractors performing work for exempt organizations are not incorrectly charged sales tax. The bill directly affects contractors and vendors involved in projects for qualifying exempt entities.

Maddy summarySB 49 creates a new exemption in Oklahoma's sales tax law for nonprofits that provide services to abused and neglected children, allowing these organizations to avoid paying sales tax on their purchases of goods and services. To qualify, nonprofits must submit specific documentation to the state proving they meet the eligibility criteria. This change updates Oklahoma's existing tax code, which previously exempted other entities like churches, schools, and government agencies. The exemption applies to purchases directly supporting services for abused and neglected children and takes effect on a date specified in the bill.