Sen. George Burns

Maddy summarySB 133 requires medical marijuana grow facilities in Oklahoma to present a valid commercial grower license from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority when applying for groundwater permits. This bill directly affects medical marijuana businesses seeking to use groundwater for operations by adding a licensing verification step to the permit process. The key provision mandates that applicants must submit proof of their license to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board before receiving a groundwater permit. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1584 modifies Oklahoma law regarding sexual assault evidence kits by reducing the deadline for law enforcement to submit kits to crime labs from 20 to 10 days after a sexual assault report is filed, unless the victim requests no testing. It requires crime labs to test kits within 30 days of receipt and mandates that medical providers inform victims of their right to request future testing. The bill also maintains a 50-year retention requirement for untested kits and requires law enforcement to coordinate with the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Task Force (SAFE) on processing guidelines. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and sexual assault victims in Oklahoma. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 124 prevents federal regulation of firearm suppressors (noise-reducing devices) manufactured in Oklahoma. It states that suppressors made in the state, along with basic materials like unmachined steel, cannot be regulated under federal law, and requires all Oklahoma-made suppressors to have "Made in Oklahoma" clearly marked. The bill also prohibits local governments or agencies from enforcing any regulations on suppressors that exceed Oklahoma’s state laws. This directly affects suppressor manufacturers in Oklahoma and local authorities attempting to impose additional restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2834 requires Oklahoma's Medicaid program to cover 96% of Medicare's payment rates for in-home physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. This directly affects Oklahoma Medicaid recipients needing these specific therapies by ensuring providers receive a standardized reimbursement rate. The bill sets a new reimbursement standard for these services, effective July 1, 2025, rather than expanding eligibility. It passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives with 64-25 support but did not secure emergency status.

Maddy summarySB 1663 requires all health insurance plans in Oklahoma to cover specific cooling systems (like scalp or hand cooling devices) used during chemotherapy to prevent side effects such as hair loss or nerve issues. This directly affects chemotherapy patients who use these devices and insurers who must provide coverage without applying annual deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance. The bill also ensures this coverage isn’t subject to standard plan limits and includes limited exceptions for health savings accounts related to preventive care. It aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for a specific, medically necessary treatment. The bill is designated as an emergency, meaning it takes effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summarySB 1918 requires applicants for Oklahoma groundwater permits to include proof of a valid Oklahoma driver's license or U.S. passport with their application. This applies directly to individuals or entities seeking new permits or renewing existing ones for groundwater use. The bill amends Oklahoma law to mandate this identification documentation as part of the standard permit application process. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and is designated as an emergency measure. The change focuses solely on verifying applicant identity for permit processing, with no other policy modifications.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 130 requires the Corporation Commission to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy generation within 90 days, exempting the hiring process from standard state procurement rules. The study must evaluate economic, environmental, safety, and workforce impacts - including site selection near military bases, small modular reactor potential, and tax base effects - and include recommendations for federal funding. The Commission must complete the study within nine months and deliver findings to the Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, and House Speaker. This bill directly affects the Corporation Commission and future energy planning in Oklahoma, without mandating nuclear development.

Maddy summaryHB 1678 establishes a standardized procedure for breaking tie votes in Oklahoma runoff primaries, general elections, and primary elections. If a tie is certified, the election board must hold a public meeting within 10 days to select the winner by random drawing: names of tied candidates are written on identical paper, folded, placed in opaque containers, and drawn from a transparent container. Candidates receive written notice of the meeting, can send a witness, and the process must occur during business hours on a weekday. This law does not apply to state officer elections (e.g., governor, senator) and took effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 132 requires oil and gas operators in Oklahoma to plug or resume production from idle gas wells that have not produced gas for 10 or more consecutive years. Operators with wells idle for 20+ years must reduce idle wells by 25% by 2028, 50% by 2031, and fully plug all remaining by 2035. Newer idle wells (less than 20 years idle) have a 10-year window from the law's effective date to plug or produce. Operators may request exceptions for future uses like carbon storage or geothermal energy, but must prove "good cause" to the Corporation Commission. The bill defines "idle gas wells" as non-producing wells with no commercial gas sales for 10+ years and no valid future use plan.

Maddy summaryHB 2837 requires employees of Oklahoma medical marijuana businesses to obtain a credential starting January 1, 2024. To qualify, employees must complete an educational training course covering state laws, patient privacy, and safe handling/storage of medical marijuana, and pass a background check conducted by a third-party vendor contracted by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Employees must submit proof of training completion as part of their credential application. Starting January 1, 2026, employees must complete annual training to maintain their credential, with the Authority overseeing applications and renewals.