Rep. Danny Sterling

Maddy summaryHB 3578 is a procedural bill that creates the "Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Modernization Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. It does not establish new policies or alter the Turnpike Authority's operations - only formally naming the act and its implementation timeline. The bill directly affects the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority by providing its official designation. As a naming resolution with no substantive provisions, it requires no further action beyond its scheduled effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally names the "Oklahoma Public Health and Safety Reform Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. It specifies that the act will not be codified into the Oklahoma Statutes. The bill contains no substantive policy provisions or mechanisms affecting public health, safety, or any specific group. As a procedural naming and effective date measure, it does not directly change laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 3579 is a procedural bill that creates the name "Oklahoma Eminent Domain Act of 2026" for future eminent domain legislation without changing existing law. It specifies the act will not be codified in Oklahoma Statutes and takes effect on November 1, 2026. The bill does not alter eminent domain procedures or directly affect property owners, government entities, or developers. It serves solely as a naming and administrative measure for future legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 3754 makes it a felony for staff members at certified Oklahoma juvenile facilities (like the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center) to knowingly bring prohibited items into secure areas. It bans weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, cell phones, unauthorized money, and other contraband, with penalties including 1-5 years in prison or fines up to $1,000. The bill directly affects facility staff, not residents, and applies to all certified secure juvenile facilities statewide. It amends Oklahoma law to clarify these restrictions and strengthen security protocols within juvenile detention settings. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3752 establishes the Oklahoma Education Reform Act of 2026 as a formal title for future education legislation. The bill does not create new policies or change existing laws but instead sets the official name for upcoming education reforms. It specifies that the act becomes effective on November 1, 2026, providing a clear implementation timeline for subsequent legislative actions. This procedural measure prepares the legal framework for future education-related bills without altering current educational practices or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3753 is a procedural bill that names itself the "Oklahoma Education Reform Act of 2026" and sets an effective date of November 1, 2026. It contains no substantive policy provisions or mechanisms for educational reform. The bill solely establishes the act's title and effective date without altering any existing laws or affecting specific groups. This is a naming and procedural measure, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 447 permits residents to collect nuts, edible plants, and fungi on state-owned or state-managed properties like parks and forests. The law, effective May 21, 2025, allows this activity without requiring permits or restricting quantities. It directly affects residents who use public lands for foraging. The bill does not include additional restrictions or exemptions. This policy change makes foraging legal on specified state properties.

Maddy summarySB 447 allows Oklahoma residents to forage for nuts and edible plants on state-owned or state-managed property for personal use (not resale), effective November 1, 2025. It directly affects residents who gather wild food sources, with four key exceptions: crops certified by Oklahoma State University, test/research farms, legally restricted property, and threatened/endangered plants. The bill defines "edible plant" as wild plants safe to eat (sometimes requiring cooking) and "nut" as a hard-shelled fruit with a single seed. This policy change clarifies foraging rights while protecting agricultural research, conservation areas, and regulated resources.

Maddy summarySB 553 amends Oklahoma law to add "knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect" as a specific reason for revoking teaching licenses or certifications. It directly affects school employees (including teachers, administrators, and support staff) who hold teaching credentials. The bill requires these employees to annually sign an attestation confirming they understand reporting obligations under Oklahoma law, and establishes that the State Board of Education must follow strict notice procedures (certified mail and email within 3 days) before revoking a license for this violation. This law strengthens accountability for mandatory child abuse reporting in schools by creating clear, enforceable consequences for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 1940 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to establish a new annual limit: the Statewide Charter School Board may sponsor no more than five new charter schools per year in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. This directly affects the Statewide Charter School Board's authority and charter school expansion in smaller counties, while maintaining existing sponsorship rules for other areas. The rule applies to all new charter school applications approved after July 1, 2025, when the bill takes effect. The bill does not change sponsorship requirements for schools in larger counties or other sponsor types.