Sen. Dave Rader

Maddy summaryHB 1305 regulates student athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) activities at Oklahoma postsecondary institutions. It requires schools to provide mandatory financial literacy education (either a 5-hour workshop or a credit course covering budgeting, taxes, contracts, and debt management) before athletes can engage in NIL deals, and prohibits institutions from charging athletes for related financial services. The bill also restricts athletes from signing NIL contracts that conflict with school policies or harm the institution's reputation, and bans promotional content in financial education. These requirements apply directly to student athletes participating in intercollegiate sports at Oklahoma colleges and universities.

Maddy summaryHB 1305 requires Oklahoma colleges and universities to implement financial literacy education for student athletes engaging in name, image, and likeness (NIL) activities. It mandates either five hours of workshops or a credit-bearing course covering budgeting, taxes, contracts, and debt management - excluding promotional content - within the first two semesters of NIL participation. The bill also restricts student athletes from signing NIL deals that conflict with school policies, harm institutional reputation, or extend beyond their athletic eligibility period. Additionally, institutions must provide free contract review and financial support services through third parties or staff, prohibiting fees or sales pitches for financial products.

Maddy summarySB 749 creates the "Oklahoma Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act" for public universities in Oklahoma. It prohibits institutions from showing bias in approving property use for student groups or speakers based on viewpoint, race, or political affiliation, and bans requiring unequal fees from specific student groups. The bill mandates that all courses publish syllabi online by the 7th business day of each semester, including course titles, instructors, required materials, and historical grading data. It also requires institutions to collect and report student outcome data (disaggregated by minority status) and submit it to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. These measures aim to increase transparency around curriculum content and ensure compliance with the defined restrictions on "divisive concepts" in teaching.

Maddy summarySB 81 modifies payment processes for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) related to handgun license renewals and firefighter background checks. It clarifies that renewal fees ($85) can now be paid via credit card, electronic transfer, or check (previously limited to checks), and specifies that digital renewal applications require one passport photo while paper applications need two. The bill also doubles renewal fees for 10-year licenses ($170) and removes fingerprint search requirements during license renewals. These changes directly affect handgun license holders renewing or applying for licenses and municipal fire departments conducting criminal history checks. The bill repeals obsolete petty cash fund provisions in the statutes.

Maddy summarySB 733 sets strict time limits for filing criminal charges in Oklahoma: prosecutors must file an indictment or information within 5 business days (or 10 days in counties over 500,000 population) after an arrest. If these deadlines pass without charges, arrested individuals held in custody can automatically request release without bail (on "own recognizance"). The state may request extensions for "good cause," but missing the deadline triggers mandatory release. This directly affects people detained after arrest who face delayed prosecution. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 972 prevents someone from gaining legal ownership of property through long-term, unauthorized use (known as "title by prescription") if the actual property owner has paid all taxes during that time. The bill amends state law to state that paying property taxes blocks any claim of adverse possession. This directly affects property owners who pay taxes and potential claimants attempting to gain ownership through prolonged use. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 276 modifies Oklahoma law to change how funds support county law libraries. It requires county boards of trustees in counties with over 500,000 residents to vote on whether to send excess law library funds to the state judicial fund, while smaller counties must automatically transfer fixed annual amounts based on population (e.g., $5,000 for counties under 10,000 residents). The bill also updates civil court filing fees, adding new assessments: $6 per case for counties under 500,000 residents and $12 for larger counties, both credited to law library funds. Additional small fees are directed to other court-related funds like interpreter services and courthouse security.

Maddy summarySB 700 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education and State Department of Health to jointly create public guidelines for preventing and managing exertional heat-related illnesses in school athletics. It mandates specific safety measures, including hourly WBGT (heat stress) monitoring during practices, an 18-day acclimatization period limiting football teams to 14 practices before scrimmages, and school districts to develop venue-specific emergency action plans. The bill directly affects all public high schools offering interscholastic sports by requiring updated safety protocols, cooling zones, hydration guidelines, and parent education meetings. Effective July 1, 2025, this emergency measure aims to reduce heat-related medical incidents during athletic activities.

Maddy summarySB 476 amends Oklahoma's limited liability company law to clarify when members or managers can be personally liable for company debts. It specifically states that members/managers are **not** personally liable for debts solely due to the company failing to file annual documents or pay fees - unless they knew or should have known the company was out of good standing and the company lacked sufficient assets to cover obligations at the time of the debt. The bill directly affects LLC members and managers by narrowing the circumstances under which personal liability applies. This change updates Section 2055.3 of Oklahoma law to provide clearer protections while maintaining accountability when negligence is involved. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 783 prohibits Oklahoma employers from requiring employees or job applicants to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) related to workplace sexual harassment as a condition of employment. It directly affects all employees in Oklahoma who experience or report sexual harassment, ensuring they can discuss such incidents without legal restrictions. The bill allows employees to sue violators in court within six months of the violation and defines sexual harassment broadly to include unwanted advances or requests for sexual favors. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.