Sen. Carri Hicks

Maddy summaryHB 1712 modifies Oklahoma's election rules for political party primaries. It requires political parties that hold "closed primaries" (limiting voting to registered party members) to cover the full cost of those elections. Parties must notify the State Election Board by November 30 each odd-numbered year if they want to allow independent voters to participate in their primaries; failure to notify blocks independent voting. New political parties must also provide this notification when seeking recognition. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 881 expands Oklahoma's Class B5 criminal offenses to include 36 specific crimes, such as repeated domestic violence, assault on law enforcement, gang-related activities, and certain sex offender violations. It directly affects individuals convicted of these offenses by increasing penalties under the Class B5 category. The bill also repeals outdated sections related to infectious disease spread (21 O.S. 1192-1192.1) and updates statutory references. Key provisions include adding new offenses to Class B5 and modifying sentencing and record-keeping requirements for these cases.

Maddy summarySB 876 amends Oklahoma's civil statute of limitations to extend the timeframe for filing civil lawsuits related to sexual assault. It allows victims to file such claims within four years after leaving the abuser's dependency or discovering both the injury and its connection to the abuse, whichever occurs later. This change directly affects individuals seeking civil damages for sexual assault injuries under Oklahoma Statutes §142.20. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025, and does not alter existing statutes for childhood sexual abuse cases or other civil actions.

Maddy summarySB 867 requires Oklahoma public schools to include specific new elements in their annual report cards for the Oklahoma School Testing Program. The bill mandates that each school's report card must feature at least five enrichment and support indicators (such as gifted programs, STEM courses, and mental health services) and three staffing indicators (like teacher retention rates). These requirements apply to all Oklahoma schools participating in the state's testing program, directly affecting parents, students, and school districts through updated transparency about school offerings and staff stability. The bill amends existing law to update reporting standards without changing the overall grading system or assessment requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2092 requires Oklahoma public, charter, and private schools with at least 25% of students qualifying for free meals through programs like SNAP or foster care (called "identified students") to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This allows schools to provide free meals to all students without individual applications, based on the school's overall student eligibility. School districts must group schools to meet the 25% threshold if individual schools fall short, though schools already offering free meals to all students are exempt. The law directly affects schools meeting the eligibility criteria and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 150 requires firearm owners in Oklahoma to store guns in locked containers or with security devices (not just the safety mechanism) to prevent minors from having unsupervised access. It creates a misdemeanor offense for violating this storage requirement, punishable by up to one year in jail or a $500 fine. If a minor accesses an improperly stored firearm and causes injury, death, or serious harm to anyone, the offense becomes a felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison or up to $5,000 in fines. The law directly affects gun owners with minors in their households or living areas.

Maddy summarySB 226 changes Oklahoma's Medicaid reimbursement rules to provide enhanced payments for specific hospitals. It requires higher reimbursement (125% of standard rates) for obstetrical care at hospitals certified as "Baby-Friendly" by Baby-Friendly USA, and directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek federal approval for this change. The bill also allows for enhanced reimbursement for emergency hospitals in rural areas, though specific methodology details are not defined. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency to expedite implementation.

Maddy summarySB 28 requires Oklahoma school districts to provide free meals to students from households with annual income below 250% of the federal poverty level during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. It updates existing school nutrition law to mandate this coverage for qualifying families, using state funds apportioned by the State Board of Education. The policy directly affects low-income students in Oklahoma public schools whose households meet the income threshold. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency declaration for immediate implementation.

Maddy summarySB 464 updates Oklahoma's child passenger safety law by requiring rear-facing car seats for children under age 4 until they reach age 2 or the seat's weight/height limit, whichever comes first. It also mandates booster seats or child restraints for children aged 4-8 who are under 4 feet 9 inches tall. The bill applies to drivers transporting children under 8 in vehicles on Oklahoma roads, with exceptions for medical reasons, certain vehicles (like school buses), and specific weight-based scenarios. The law takes effect November 1, 2025, and revenue from associated fines will fund highway safety programs.

Maddy summarySB 52 modifies Oklahoma's earned income tax credit (OETC) by setting a fixed 5% rate based on the federal credit amount under IRS Section 32, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2022, through 2025. It clarifies that the credit calculation must align with federal requirements for those years, prohibits advance payments of the credit, and ensures excess credit is refunded to taxpayers. The bill directly affects low-income Oklahoma residents who claim the OETC on their state tax returns. It also requires the credit amount to be prorated based on Oklahoma adjusted gross income relative to federal adjusted gross income. The changes take effect November 1, 2025.