Rep. Danny Sterling

Maddy summarySB 1437 requires Oklahoma school districts to administer the Presidential Fitness Test starting in the 2026-2027 school year, using guidelines established by the State Department of Education. These guidelines must include staff training, exemptions for students with disabilities or medical conditions, and a parent opt-out option. School districts must use test results to promote physical activity, adjust fitness programs, and encourage participation in exercise both at school and in the community. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directs the guidelines to align with recommendations from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Maddy summaryHB 3755 amends Oklahoma's juvenile detention system to establish certification standards for detention facilities and set reimbursement rates for transportation services. It requires counties to operate or contract for detention facilities meeting Office of Juvenile Affairs standards, with private contractors needing insurance and financial qualifications. The bill specifies exact reimbursement amounts: $17 per hour for personnel, mileage per state rates, and $10 per meal for both staff and juveniles. These changes directly affect counties, private contractors, and the Office of Juvenile Affairs in managing juvenile detention operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1933 prohibits the recreational use and sale of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for intoxication, directly affecting individuals under 21 and sellers to minors. It makes possessing nitrous oxide for intoxication a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $5,000 fine, with harsher penalties for possessing over 16 grams. Key exceptions include medical/dental use, food propellants (like whipped cream chargers), and industrial applications, ensuring the law doesn’t impact legitimate commercial or healthcare uses. The bill also prohibits selling nitrous oxide paraphernalia to those under 18 and allows business license suspension for repeat violations. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1939 authorizes the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to construct, maintain, and operate toll turnpikes at 25 specific locations and segments across the state, such as the Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa and extensions of the Muskogee Turnpike. The bill directly affects the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (a state agency) and drivers using these designated routes. Key provisions include explicitly listing authorized locations (e.g., the Tulsa south bypass and Oklahoma City Outer Loop) and modifying prior restrictions on where turnpikes may be built. The bill does not create new tolls but formalizes existing or planned infrastructure projects under the Authority’s jurisdiction.

Maddy summarySB 1927 creates a new Class D2 felony offense for individuals who board a school bus without permission from a school district employee or refuse to exit a school bus when commanded. This law directly affects anyone who unlawfully enters or remains on a school bus, such as students, visitors, or others without authorization. The bill amends Oklahoma's criminal code to include this specific violation as a punishable felony, with penalties including potential imprisonment (up to 2 years for a first offense) under existing sentencing rules for Class D2 offenses. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3751 expands Oklahoma's homestead property tax exemption to include mobile homes and site-built homes (whether on owned or rented/leased land) when occupied as a primary residence. It clarifies that owners must actually reside there to qualify, with special provisions for tornado victims (2013+ disasters with federal disaster declarations). The bill defines rural homesteads as up to 160 acres and urban homesteads as no more than 1 acre. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 3757 amends Oklahoma Statute 69 O.S. § 1705 to update the list of specific turnpike routes the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is authorized to construct, operate, and maintain. It explicitly lists 26 existing or planned turnpike segments (e.g., the Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the Muskogee Turnpike extension, and the Oklahoma City Outer Loop) that the Authority may develop using available funds. The bill clarifies which projects remain authorized under current law and specifies the effective date for these provisions. This affects the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority directly, ensuring legal clarity for its toll road projects without creating new policy or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3758 increases compensation for Oklahoma property owners facing government eminent domain takings. It requires either 150% of the property's fair market value or the cost to purchase a comparable replacement property in the same community (defined by size, location, use, and other factors). The bill prohibits reducing compensation due to "project influence" or pre-taking activity, and bans agencies from requiring owners to waive these protections. These changes apply to all public use takings and become effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3756 modifies Oklahoma's bail procedures for defendants charged with domestic violence, substance offenses, or repeat crimes. It requires courts to consider specific risk factors (like domestic violence history, substance dependence, or weapon access) when setting bail conditions, particularly in felony cases involving domestic abuse or stalking. The bill also creates a new provision: defendants admitted to bail must sign an advance waiver of extradition if they flee the state, automatically waiving their right to contest extradition upon apprehension in another jurisdiction. These changes apply to felony cases where bail is granted, directly affecting defendants in these specific criminal categories.

Maddy summaryHB 3577 is a procedural bill that creates the "Transportation Modernization Act of 2026" as a named legislative act. It does not establish any new transportation policies, funding, or regulations. The bill only specifies that the act shall take effect on November 1, 2026, and is to be cited by that title. As a naming resolution without substantive provisions, it directly affects no specific entities or individuals through policy changes. The bill is currently in early committee referral stages with no policy content provided in its text.