Sen. Carri Hicks

Maddy summarySB 225 establishes the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council within the State Department of Health. The council directly serves Oklahomans with rare diseases, their caregivers, and healthcare providers by providing guidance on public education, legislative recommendations, and policy improvements. Key provisions require the council to conduct public hearings, develop recommendations on healthcare access and emergency planning, and submit annual reports to the Governor and legislative leaders. Membership includes 13 appointed members representing patients, medical professionals, healthcare agencies, industry, and research experts. The bill creates a formal structure to address unmet needs in rare disease care through state-level coordination.

Maddy summarySB 34, the "Access to Lifesaving Medicines Act," prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to pay more than the actual cost of prescription drugs under health benefit plans. It mandates that PBMs offer point-of-sale rebates directly to plan enrollees and sets cost-sharing limits at the lesser of: the drug’s actual cost to insurers, the maximum allowable cost for the drug, or what the patient would pay without insurance. This directly affects Oklahoma patients covered by health benefit plans who fill prescriptions, ensuring they pay no more than the drug’s true cost after rebates and discounts. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 51 creates a $200 one-time income tax credit for Oklahoma taxpayers who purchase an e-bike in tax years 2026 and later. The credit applies to qualifying e-bikes defined as two- or three-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles (excluding standing scooters) capable of exceeding 15 mph. If the credit amount exceeds a taxpayer's income tax liability, the excess is refunded. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and is codified in Oklahoma tax law. This directly affects residents purchasing eligible e-bikes, providing a financial incentive through the state tax system.

Maddy summarySB 35 amends Oklahoma's minimum wage law to set the state's hourly minimum wage at $15.00, or the current federal rate, whichever is higher. This change directly affects all hourly workers covered by Oklahoma's minimum wage law across all industries in the state. The bill updates the existing statute (40 O.S. 2021, Section 197.2) to reflect this increase, replacing the previous minimum wage rate. The new rate becomes effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 360 increases the authorized full-time-equivalent staff limit for Oklahoma's State Board of Licensed Social Workers from 1 to 2 employees. This procedural bill amends Oklahoma Statutes (74 O.S. 2021, Section 3601.1) to adjust the staffing cap for this specific regulatory board. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated as an emergency measure. It directly affects the State Board of Licensed Social Workers' staffing capacity without altering their regulatory duties or public impact.

Maddy summarySB 337 amends Oklahoma's smoking and vaping regulations to allow local governments (cities and towns) to adopt stricter rules than state law, while preventing them from enacting weaker restrictions. It specifically broadens the law to cover vapor products (like e-cigarettes) alongside traditional smoking and clarifies that local ordinances must align with state standards but can impose additional restrictions. The bill eliminates prior preemption that limited local authority, ensuring cities can regulate smoking/vaping on public properties they own without conflicting with state law. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 142 updates Oklahoma's minimum salary requirements for certified public school personnel, including teachers and administrators, effective for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill amends Section 18-114.15 of the Oklahoma Statutes to establish new minimum salary schedules based on years of experience and educational attainment, with all salary tiers increasing across the board (e.g., a bachelor's degree holder with 0 experience moves from $39,601 to $42,601 annually). It specifies that "fringe benefits" for salary calculations exclude certain retirement contributions and flexible benefit allowances. The changes directly affect all Oklahoma public school certified staff under the updated pay structure.

Maddy summarySJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma's Article V, Section 23. It would remove the current prohibition preventing legislators from becoming certified public school teachers after completing their elected term. The amendment specifically allows former legislators to be hired as teachers by public school districts in Oklahoma following their service in the Legislature. This change makes the existing language gender-neutral but does not alter other restrictions on post-legislative employment.

Maddy summarySB 145 requires Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities to provide lactating inmates with clean, safe accommodations for pumping, storing, and delivering breast milk. This includes equipment for pumping, storage bags, refrigeration/freezing options, and safe handling procedures for breast milk delivery to a designated individual. The bill directly affects incarcerated women who are lactating and mandates the Department of Corrections to create implementing rules. The policy change takes effect November 1, 2025.