Sen. Mark Mann

Maddy summaryHB 3237 amends Oklahoma's motor vehicle excise tax law to create a new exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who were awarded Gold Star status (indicating the veteran died in military service). This exemption directly affects eligible surviving spouses who own vehicles, removing the requirement to pay the standard excise tax on those vehicles. The bill adds this exemption as a new provision (section 11) to the existing list of tax exemptions in the statute. The key mechanism is eliminating the tax obligation for qualifying vehicles owned by these surviving spouses, with the exemption applying to vehicles registered in Oklahoma. The bill does not change other existing exemptions or tax rates.

Maddy summarySB 260 creates the Oklahoma Infrastructure Long-Range Planning Commission within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The commission, composed of 12 members including state agency leaders, utility representatives, tribal leaders, and local officials, will assess the state's long-term infrastructure needs. It must submit its first report by November 2026 (and every five years after) detailing economic trends and future demands for roads, bridges, utilities, and water systems, broken down by congressional districts. The report will be published online and shared with state leaders to inform future planning. This is a planning and assessment body, not a funding measure.

Maddy summarySB 264 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create a free, voluntary online map-based tool for public works coordination, directly affecting utilities, municipalities, oil and gas operators, and other entities managing infrastructure projects. The tool will let these groups share project locations and timelines to avoid conflicts and improve efficiency. The bill mandates the Commission to seek public input from affected entities and contract with an outside vendor through competitive bidding. Rules for the program must be established by the Commission, with the law taking effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1207 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop a curriculum for public high school students (grades 9-12) on recognizing, preventing, and seeking help for domestic violence and human trafficking. The curriculum must cover warning signs of abusive behavior, healthy relationship skills, and be medically accurate for students' ages. School districts may integrate this into existing courses or teach it as a standalone unit, but must provide parents an opt-out option for their child. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with the curriculum to be ready before the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 3917 requires public utilities providing electricity to large data centers (defined as facilities using 50+ megawatts monthly) to file new tariff schedules with Oklahoma's Corporation Commission. These tariffs must include a peak-demand surcharge specifically for large data center customers. All surcharge revenue collected by utilities must be transferred to the newly created "Grid Modernization Revolving Fund" in the state treasury. The fund, managed by the Corporation Commission, will finance electric grid modernization projects, with the bill taking effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3884, the "Providers' Bill of Rights Act of 2026," requires all Oklahoma assisted living facilities to post a written bill of rights outlining specific protections for the facilities themselves. The bill grants providers key rights, including the ability to terminate resident contracts for just cause (with 30 days' notice) or immediately for health/safety reasons, file complaints without retaliation, and access confidential resident information for placement assessments. It also ensures facilities can refuse uncontracted services, maintain a safe environment free of weapons/drugs, and be informed about resident histories or external care arrangements. The law becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1650 requires all assisted living centers in Oklahoma to prominently display a "bill of rights" specific to the center and its staff. This bill of rights outlines 12 key provisions, including the center's right to be treated with respect, to terminate resident contracts under defined conditions (like health or safety risks), and to file grievances without fear of retaliation. The law applies to all assisted living facilities under Oklahoma’s Continuum of Care Act and takes effect on November 1, 2026. It focuses on clarifying operational rights for facilities, not altering resident protections.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 1967 regulates how health insurance companies use artificial intelligence (AI) in reviewing medical care requests. The bill prohibits AI tools from denying, delaying, or modifying care based on medical necessity - requiring licensed physicians or healthcare professionals to make these final decisions instead. It also mandates that AI tools must base reviews on individual patient records (not group data), be transparent to enrollees, and undergo regular accuracy checks. This directly affects health insurers using AI for coverage decisions and ensures patients receive human-reviewed care determinations.

Maddy summarySB 1202 expands paid leave options for Oklahoma education employees by adding paternity and adoption leave to existing maternity leave provisions. The bill directly affects teachers and full-time school staff, requiring school districts to provide up to 90 days of paid leave for new parents or adoptive parents during a child’s first year. Key mechanisms include updating retirement credit rules for leave-taking and establishing a leave-sharing program where colleagues can donate sick leave to support employees caring for newborns, newly adopted children, or facing serious health issues. The legislation modifies related statutes to replace "maternity" with inclusive terms like "parental" leave and updates fund names and purposes.

Maddy summarySB 1203 adds adoption leave to Oklahoma's existing paid leave policies for education employees, including teachers and school district staff. The bill allows eligible employees to take up to 90 days of paid leave for adoption, with continued credit toward salary and retirement benefits. It also establishes a leave sharing program where colleagues can donate sick leave to support adoption-related absences. The law updates multiple statutes to replace "maternity leave" with "maternity or adoption leave" and modifies revolving fund names and purposes to reflect this change. This applies directly to full-time education employees in Oklahoma public schools.