Sen. Tom Woods

Maddy summaryHB 2832 allows Oklahoma state highways, bridges, and facilities to be dedicated in honor of individuals who provided outstanding service to the nation, state, or community - particularly military veterans and active-duty personnel. It requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and maintain a public digital map showing all such dedications, including specific details about the honorees, locations, and reasons for naming, with a dedicated "Veterans Military Trail Segment" for military honors. The map will eventually include interactive features to share historical context, and ODOT must link it to the Oklahoma Department of Tourism for public promotion. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2832 amends existing law regarding the dedication of Oklahoma's state highway properties to honor individuals, with a specific focus on military and veteran individuals. The bill mandates the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and maintain a digital, publicly accessible map of all memorial highway and bridge designations. This map will display honoree names, locations, and reasons for designation, with plans for interactive multimedia upgrades when funding is available. All military members and groups honored in the program will be specifically identified within a "Veterans Military Trail Segment" on this interactive map. This aims to enhance public access to information about those honored on the state's transportation infrastructure, particularly veterans.

Maddy summarySB 469 amends Oklahoma's Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program by modifying eligibility requirements for businesses seeking rebates. The bill changes the application process, requiring applicants to submit documentation within six months after fiscal year-end (with an additional deadline tied to program cessation) and clarifies proof of tax compliance and insurance coverage ($1 million general liability + workers' comp). It directly affects businesses implementing emission reduction projects in Oklahoma that spend funds on qualifying technology. The rebate remains up to 25% of documented project costs, administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and Oklahoma Tax Commission, with payments drawn from specific incentive funds.

Maddy summarySB 1114 creates a property tax credit for Oklahoma homeowners with qualifying homesteads who meet the existing "limitation on growth of fair cash value" under state law. The credit equals the difference between a homeowner's current year property tax and the prior year's tax, but only if the current tax is lower. County assessors must deduct this credit from the tax bill by October 1 annually, though the credit cannot reduce taxes below zero. The credit applies starting tax year 2026 and is codified in Oklahoma Statutes. It directly affects qualifying homestead property owners by potentially lowering their annual property tax burden.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1114 establishes a new ad valorem (property) tax credit for owners of homestead properties in Oklahoma. This credit applies to properties that qualify for a state constitutional limitation on the growth of their fair cash value. The credit amount is calculated as the difference between the prior year's tax liability and the tax liability in the first year the owner qualified for the growth limitation. Property owners must claim this credit annually by October 1st, and it cannot reduce their tax liability below zero. This measure will apply to tax years 2026 and subsequent years, taking effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1035 limits penalties for construction licensing violations in Oklahoma. It caps fines at $2,000 per violation for home inspectors and $1,000 per day for noncompliance with board orders. The bill requires educational materials for first-time offenders and mandates non-adversarial meetings to help them comply with licensing rules, rather than immediately imposing fines. These changes apply to licensed contractors, inspectors, and roofing professionals who violate construction licensing laws. The bill aims to reduce financial penalties while emphasizing education and compliance support for initial violations.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 makes it a crime for non-U.S. citizens (defined as "aliens") to enter or remain in Oklahoma without legal authorization to be in the United States. First offenses are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $500 fine; second offenses or offenses committed during other crimes are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison or a $1,000 fine. The law requires convicted individuals to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours and mandates law enforcement to collect biometric data and check federal databases. It also preempts local governments from enacting conflicting immigration policies and creates an alternative to prison: if conditions are met (no prior violent crime, not charged with another felony), courts can order deportation instead of incarceration.

Maddy summaryHB 1098 prohibits requiring volunteer or rural firefighters to attend mandatory training outside their local district or county. The bill directs all rural firefighter training to be managed solely by Rural Fire Coordinators, though joint training with other entities remains allowed. It directly affects volunteer and rural firefighters by limiting mandatory training to locally offered programs. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 criminalizes non-citizens entering Oklahoma without legal U.S. authorization, directly affecting individuals lacking valid immigration status. It classifies first offenses as misdemeanors (up to 1 year jail or $500 fine) and second offenses or those occurring during other crimes as felonies (up to 2 years jail or $1,000 fine), requiring convicted individuals to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours. The bill mandates a $35,000 cash bond for arrest, prohibits probation for violations, and allows dismissal only if the person agrees to return to their home country and meets specific conditions (no violent felony history, not charged with another felony). It also preemptively blocks local governments from enacting conflicting immigration policies and lists defenses like DACA approval (2012-2021) or federal asylum status.

Maddy summaryHB 2834 requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to 96% of what Medicare pays. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients who rely on these therapy services, ensuring providers receive higher payments for covered treatments. The bill establishes a specific reimbursement rate (96% of Medicare) as the new standard for these therapies under Oklahoma's Medicaid programs. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not expand eligibility or add new therapy benefits to the program.