Maddy summarySB 1235 prohibits Oklahoma municipalities, counties, and the state from seizing personal property on public property without specific legal justification, such as the property being abandoned, a threat to safety, evidence of a crime, or contraband. It requires written notices 48 hours in advance for abandoned property and two verbal warnings (48 and 24 hours prior) for unclaimed property, plus 90 days of secure storage before disposal. The bill specifically protects birth certificates, state/national IDs (like driver licenses), and unexpired prescription medications from disposal, even after the 90-day period. This law directly affects property owners who leave items unattended in public spaces, ensuring due process before removal or disposal.
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Maddy summarySB 1267 updates Oklahoma's criminal discovery rules to require both prosecutors and defense attorneys to disclose specific evidence earlier in the legal process. Prosecutors must share witness information, physical evidence in usable formats, expert reports with underlying data, and details about "jailhouse informants" (people who get testimony from incarcerated individuals in exchange for deals). Defense attorneys must disclose their own witnesses and mental health expert information. The bill also mandates electronic submission of certain reports and creates a confidential statewide database for tracking informant-related cases, while requiring prosecutors to provide defense with all evidence favorable to the defendant.
Maddy summarySB 1370 creates a Conviction Integrity Unit within Oklahoma's Attorney General's Office to review felony convictions for claims of factual innocence - where a person provides new, credible evidence proving they did not commit the crime they were convicted of. The unit will accept applications from individuals who have completed direct appeals and submit new evidence of innocence, then recommend postconviction actions to district attorneys. It will also analyze cases where actual innocence was later recognized (e.g., through court rulings or pardons) to identify systemic issues in the criminal justice system. The bill establishes a revolving fund, financed by the state legislature, to cover the unit's operational costs.
Maddy summarySB 1401 modifies Oklahoma's insurance premium tax rates, reducing the rate from 2.25% to 1.96% effective July 1, 2026, for most insurers. It excludes annuity contract payments and Medicaid-related fees from taxable premiums, clarifying these are no longer subject to the tax. The bill also specifies that life insurance policies covering employees (up to $100,000) will be taxed at the reduced rate starting July 2026, with a small additional tax on amounts exceeding that threshold. Proceeds from these taxes for Medicaid-related policies must be deposited into the Medicaid Health Improvement Revolving Fund, bypassing standard state fund apportionment rules.
Maddy summaryHB 1282 renames Oklahoma's scholarship program to the "Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program" and updates eligibility criteria to include top Oklahoma students (top 0.5% test scores, National Merit Scholars, and institutional nominees), as well as students demonstrating exceptional promise through academic achievements or overcoming obstacles. The program provides funding covering tuition, fees, room, board, and required textbooks for up to five years at Oklahoma colleges, with public institutions capped at their annual tuition costs and private institutions receiving funding equivalent to the highest public tuition rates. It requires institutions to administer scholarships, mandates full-time enrollment, and establishes separate funding levels based on student eligibility categories. The bill, signed into law on May 30, 2025, directly affects Oklahoma students meeting these academic criteria who attend public or private accredited colleges within the state.
Maddy summaryHB 2104 reclassifies specific existing criminal offenses as felonies under Oklahoma law. It amends multiple statutes to establish felony classification for crimes including murder (first/second degree), kidnapping, child abuse, robbery, assault with a weapon, drug trafficking, and certain sex offenses. The bill does not create new crimes but changes the legal classification of these specific offenses from lower-level violations to felonies. This reclassification affects the severity of penalties for these offenses under Oklahoma's criminal code, with the law taking effect on June 10, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 2610 increases Oklahoma's tax credit for nonrecurring adoption expenses from 10% to 15% of eligible costs, raising the maximum annual credit to $3,000 for single filers or married individuals filing separately, and $6,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit applies to Oklahoma resident taxpayers who pay for adoption-related expenses such as fees, court costs, medical expenses, and travel, but excludes attorney fees in contested adoptions and home renovations. The Oklahoma Tax Commission will establish rules for verifying qualifying expenses. This change takes effect January 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 1282 renames Oklahoma's scholarship program to the "Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program" and updates its eligibility rules. It directly affects Oklahoma students meeting specific academic criteria, including National Merit Scholars, top-ranked in-state students, and institutional nominees with exceptional academic achievement. The bill clarifies funding mechanisms: public university students receive full tuition waivers up to state system costs, while private university students get tuition assistance capped at comparable public institution rates. It also adds provisions for waiver portability between institutions and maintains the program's goal of retaining Oklahoma students and attracting high-achieving out-of-state students to Oklahoma colleges.
Maddy summaryHB 2610 increases Oklahoma's tax credit for adoption expenses. It raises the credit from 10% to 15% of qualifying one-time adoption costs (like fees, medical expenses, and travel), with higher annual limits: $3,000 for single filers and $6,000 for married couples filing jointly. The bill affects Oklahoma resident taxpayers who paid adoption-related expenses for a minor child or a proposed adoption that didn't result in a final decree. The credit becomes effective January 1, 2026, and the Oklahoma Tax Commission will establish rules for verifying eligible expenses.
Maddy summaryHB 2104 reclassifies specific existing criminal offenses from misdemeanors to felonies or adjusts their felony classification levels under Oklahoma law. It directly affects individuals convicted of offenses like certain types of murder, kidnapping, child abuse, assault, robbery, and drug trafficking by increasing their legal classification. The bill amends multiple sections of Oklahoma law (21 O.S. 2021) to establish these new felony classifications for defined offenses. This change impacts sentencing outcomes, as felony convictions carry harsher penalties than misdemeanors. The bill was enacted by the governor on June 10, 2025.