Rep. John Kane

Maddy summarySB 514 expands Oklahoma's statewide alternative education system to explicitly include charter schools and virtual charter schools that are designated by the State Department of Education as offering alternative education programs. It requires school districts serving grades 7-12 to provide alternative education programs meeting specific standards (like smaller class sizes, certified teachers, and individualized plans) and allows districts to use full-time virtual or blended instruction. Designated charter and virtual charter schools must follow the same performance standards and attendance policies as district programs, while funding is based on student enrollment with 15% reserved for cooperative agreements between districts. The bill directly affects school districts, designated charter/virtual schools, and students at risk of not completing high school.

Maddy summarySB 1983 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to provide resource family partners (private agencies supporting foster homes) with specific, monthly foster care data to help improve outcomes for children and identify system needs. The data includes aggregated, de-identified information on daily placement gaps, demographic and geographic patterns of foster children and parents, high-need areas with few available placements, placement disruptions, sibling separations, and distance from home communities. This data must be shared at regular monthly intervals starting November 1, 2026. The bill directly affects foster care agencies and the children they serve by enabling data-driven decisions about placement and support. It does not change foster care eligibility or funding but mandates transparency in system performance metrics.

Maddy summaryHB 3941, titled the "Oklahoma Secretary-Bailiff Compensation Reform Act of 2026," establishes a framework for future changes to compensation for Oklahoma secretary-bailiffs (court staff positions). The bill creates a noncodified legal provision (meaning it won't be included in Oklahoma’s official statutes) and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026. It directly affects secretary-bailiffs working in Oklahoma courts by initiating a process for reforming their pay structure, though the bill itself does not specify new compensation rates or mechanisms. The legislation is procedural, focusing on naming the reform effort and its implementation timeline.

Maddy summaryHB 3944 consolidates four Oklahoma state agencies - Department of Central Services, Office of Personnel Management, Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council, and State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board - into a single Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It requires state agencies to submit detailed budget requests with performance metrics and track federal funds (like CARES and ARPA) through weekly and quarterly public reports. The bill also updates fund transfer procedures, eliminates outdated references in financial rules, and mandates clearer reporting on budget requests to the Legislature. These changes directly affect state agencies managing public funds and aim to modernize financial transparency.

Maddy summarySB 169 increases annual longevity pay for eligible Oklahoma state employees based on years of service, with payments rising from $250 to $3,000 per year for 20+ years of service. It directly affects most full-time and part-time state employees (excluding elected officials, school districts, and certain boards/commissions), including conservation district workers under the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. The bill updates payment schedules in the statute, clarifies eligibility rules for continuous service (allowing 30-day breaks), and specifies that part-time employees working over 150 hours monthly count toward eligibility. The changes apply to employees certified by their agency and take effect upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 1990 modifies how Oklahoma evaluates business incentive programs (like tax breaks or grants) by updating the criteria the Incentive Evaluation Commission must use. It requires the Commission to assess whether incentives actually change business behavior, measure their statewide economic impact (including effects on other businesses), and compare results to similar programs in Oklahoma and other states. The bill also mandates that the Commission submit annual reports by December 15 to state leaders, including specific recommendations on whether each incentive should be kept, changed, or eliminated. These reports must be publicly available online and include detailed analysis of each incentive’s cost, effectiveness, and alignment with Oklahoma’s economic goals. The bill directly affects state agencies administering incentives and the Commission, which must now follow these updated evaluation standards.

Maddy summarySB 1377 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide a duffel bag to foster children who lack a suitcase or adequate bag for personal belongings, with optional hygiene items or supplies if funds allow. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2027 to cover this cost, to be used as needed. It directly affects foster children in Oklahoma lacking proper luggage and DHS, which must implement the requirement through rules as necessary. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 3942 requires Oklahoma's Incentive Evaluation Commission to annually assess state economic incentives (like tax credits or grants) from 2024 onward. It mandates a schedule for evaluating all incentives based on fiscal impact and goals, with exemptions only for minimal-cost programs. Each evaluation must analyze the incentive's economic impact, effectiveness, alignment with state priorities, and recommendations for retention or changes. The Commission must report findings to lawmakers and the public by December 15 each year, including cost estimates, goal achievement, and suggestions for policy improvements. This directly affects state agencies administering incentives and lawmakers reviewing their value.

Maddy summaryHB 4491 prohibits full-time students enrolled in statewide virtual charter schools (sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board) from participating in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) sports and competitive extracurricular activities starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects these virtual charter students, who would instead be limited to intramural activities organized by their virtual school or external groups. It amends existing law to clarify that virtual charter students cannot join district-sponsored athletic associations, while allowing schools to offer their own non-competitive activities. The provision applies only to statewide virtual charter schools, not traditional public or brick-and-mortar charter schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2021 creates the Oklahoma Kids After-School Grant Program (OKAGP) under the Department of Human Services to fund community-based organizations running after-school programs for K-12 students. Eligible organizations must operate at least five locations across Oklahoma (either directly or through partnerships) and qualify for exemptions from child care licensing under Title 10. The bill establishes a revolving fund in the State Treasury for these grants, funded by state appropriations and donations, with no annual budget restrictions. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025, and will provide grants to support after-school programming for children.