Sen. Warren Hamilton

Maddy summarySB 994 prohibits the use of eminent domain to take private land for new wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen, or carbon capture facilities. It directly affects landowners by protecting their property from government seizure for these energy projects and energy developers by restricting their ability to use eminent domain for such construction. The bill amends Oklahoma's eminent domain law (27 O.S. §7) to specifically exclude these facility types from being built through government seizure. This applies only to new projects on private property, not existing facilities or other energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1451 establishes new setback requirements for utility-scale solar farms and modifies existing rules for wind energy facilities in Oklahoma. Solar farms must maintain at least 1.5 nautical miles from airports, schools, hospitals, and 3 nautical miles from nonparticipating property lines, while wind facilities face similar distance rules plus military airspace protections. Developers must attest to compliance in reports filed with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and disputes over setbacks fall under district court jurisdiction. Violations for wind projects affecting military airspace could trigger daily penalties up to $1,500, with enforcement handled through administrative courts. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 692 removes the term "metal knuckles" from Oklahoma's weapons statutes, specifically amending Sections 1272, 1277, and 1287 of Title 21. The bill updates outdated statutory language but does not change any existing prohibitions or penalties related to weapons. It affects no specific group differently, as it merely deletes a reference to an obsolete term from the law. This is a technical correction with no substantive policy impact on firearm or weapon regulations.

Maddy summarySB 29 requires licensed healthcare providers in Oklahoma to offer a pharmacogenomic test to patients before prescribing any psychotropic drug. This test analyzes how a patient's genes may affect their reaction to medications. Providers must inform patients about the test's benefits, FDA approval status, and costs (if known), and obtain their informed consent before proceeding. The law applies to all practitioners prescribing psychotropic medications and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 30 amends Oklahoma's Child Care Facilities Licensing Act to add a new exemption for family child care homes operating 30 or fewer hours per week. This directly affects small-scale caregivers who provide limited-hour care, allowing them to operate without full state licensing. The bill updates the existing exemption list (Section 403) by adding this specific 30-hour weekly threshold. The law becomes effective November 1, 2025. This change simplifies regulatory requirements for very low-volume family child care providers.

Maddy summarySB 415 (Second Amendment Sanctuary State Act) amends Oklahoma law to preempt state and local regulations that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. It bans any law requiring firearm buy-backs, confiscations, or surrenders from law-abiding citizens, specifically targeting provisions from the federal National Firearms Act (1934) and Gun Control Act (1968). The bill defines "infringement" as any law that reduces gun rights for legal firearm owners and requires courts and law enforcement to protect these rights. It applies to all Oklahoma residents who legally possess firearms, excluding undocumented immigrants. The law takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 504 (Oklahoma Senate Bill 504) sets 18 as the absolute minimum age for marriage in Oklahoma, removing all existing exceptions for minors. It eliminates previous pathways allowing marriage under 18 with parental consent, court approval, medical certification, military service documentation, or specific circumstances like pregnancy or paternity suits. The bill directly affects anyone under 18 seeking to marry, prohibiting licenses for this age group without any exceptions. This change takes effect November 1, 2025, updating Oklahoma's marriage eligibility law (43 O.S. 2021, Section 3).

Maddy summarySB 414 amends Oklahoma's Second Amendment Sanctuary State Act to authorize county sheriffs to arrest federal employees, contractors, or law enforcement officers who enforce gun regulations deemed infringing on constitutional rights. The law preempts local laws restricting firearms under federal statutes like the National Firearms Act (1934) and Gun Control Act (1968), defining "infringement" as any law reducing gun rights for law-abiding citizens. Sheriffs are empowered to enforce this by arresting those violating the act, with violators facing felony charges punishable by up to one year in jail or a $30,000 fine. The bill directly affects sheriffs (granting arrest authority), federal employees enforcing gun laws, and law-abiding citizens (protecting their firearm rights). It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryOklahoma's SB 316 requires voters to present photo identification meeting specific criteria (including a name match to voter records, photo, expiration date after the election, and issuance by a qualifying entity) when voting in person, effective January 1, 2026. The bill mandates county election boards to develop and provide free voter ID cards with photographs that satisfy these requirements, which can only be used for voting. Voters without acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot after signing an oath, but such ballots require verification against registration records (name, address, birth date, and driver's license/SSN digits). This bill directly affects all Oklahoma voters participating in in-person elections and updates voter identification standards under state election law.

Maddy summarySB 137 creates a dedicated revolving fund within Oklahoma's state treasury called the "Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo Revolving Fund" to support improvements at the prison's rodeo arena. The bill appropriates $8.3 million from the General Revenue Fund to this fund, which will be used by the Department of Corrections to construct, repair, and upgrade the arena. This funding aims to expand prisoner program opportunities and support local economic development through the rodeo facility. The fund is designed to be ongoing, with expenditures managed by the Department of Corrections using state treasury processes.