Sen. George Burns

Maddy summarySB 208 requires hunting guides in Oklahoma to obtain a license from the Department of Wildlife Conservation if they assist, accompany, or guide others for compensation. It sets fees ($1,000 annually for residents, $2,000 for nonresidents) and mandates requirements including age (18+), first aid/CPR certification, $1 million liability insurance, and landowner permission. The bill exempts landowners guiding on their own property, commercial hunting areas, and agricultural land lessees. Violations could result in fines (5-10x license fee) or license revocation for 1-10 years. This bill was vetoed by the Governor on May 14, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 2136 creates a special revolving fund in the Oklahoma State Treasury to provide supplemental retirement pay to qualifying Oklahoma National Guard members. It directly affects members with 25+ years of service who retired from the National Guard but were ineligible for full federal retirement benefits due to age before the bill's effective date. The fund calculates payments based on what members would have received at full retirement age plus annual cost-of-living adjustments, paid monthly until they begin receiving federal benefits. Payments stop once federal benefits start, and the fund becomes operational on November 1, 2027. The bill does not apply to those retiring with active-duty military pensions.

Maddy summarySB 353 prohibits railroad companies in Oklahoma from operating trains longer than 8,500 feet or exceeding the length of the shortest siding/track on any main or branch line, and limits how long trains can block intersections (no more than 10 minutes). It directly affects railroads operating in Oklahoma, particularly those using main lines or branch lines with specific track configurations. Violations incur fines starting at $500 per foot of excess length, with higher penalties up to $250,000 for repeated or grossly negligent violations causing harm. The Oklahoma Transportation Commission enforces these rules, and collected fines fund the state transportation budget.

Maddy summarySB 723 updates Oklahoma law to clarify which positions at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from standard civil service rules. It adds 11 specific healthcare and administrative roles - including physician assistants, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and Veterans Center administrators - to the list of exempt positions. The bill removes outdated references to previous exemption methods and confirms existing exempt positions remain unaffected. This change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 111 requires contractors installing more than 10 individual sewage disposal systems (for single homes or duplexes) annually to obtain certification from Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality. It updates rules for soil testing and system design, mandating certification for all such work and establishing annual fees, penalty procedures, and revocation processes. The bill directly affects residential sewage system installers, ensuring they meet state certification standards. It maintains the existing threshold of 10 systems per year for certification requirements but clarifies and modernizes the regulatory framework. The law became effective November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 allows Oklahoma state employees to opt out of the state's basic health and dental insurance plans if they have separate group coverage, while retaining life and disability benefits. To opt out, employees must provide proof of their separate coverage and sign an annual affidavit, and they receive $150 instead of the flexible benefit amount they would otherwise receive. The state retains any savings from employees opting out of health coverage. This bill directly affects eligible state employees who qualify for separate group insurance and takes effect November 1, 2025.

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 1375 directs Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy generation within 90 days, hiring a specialized consulting firm with a $375,000 budget. The study must examine economic, environmental, and technical factors - including job creation, site suitability near military bases, safety, and small reactor options - and assess how to maximize local workforce and supply chain benefits. State utilities and public agencies must provide relevant data while protecting confidential information. The Commission must deliver a final report to the Governor and legislature within nine months of the bill's effective date. This bill is procedural, establishing study parameters without implementing nuclear energy policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2829 prohibits the sale, distribution, or offering for sale of cultivated meat (meat grown from animal cells in a lab) within Oklahoma. It makes violating this ban a misdemeanor and allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health to suspend or revoke food sellers' licenses for violations. The law includes an exemption for research by government entities, universities, or their partners. It takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 41 designates a specific bridge over the Kiamichi River on U.S. Highway 259 (approximately 0.5 miles south of State Highway 63 in Le Flore County) as the "PFC Lewis Othel Branscum Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install permanent markers bearing this name on the bridge. This memorial honors PFC Lewis Othel Branscum, a military service member, and applies directly to the public using this location. The designation becomes effective November 1, 2025.