Rep. Mark Lawson

Maddy summarySB 1806 extends Oklahoma foster care services until age 21 for eligible young adults who were in state custody at 18 or achieved legal permanency (guardianship/adoption) at age 16 or older. To qualify, individuals must be enrolled in school, working 80+ hours monthly, in job training, or have a qualifying medical condition with a treatment plan. Participation is voluntary, and the Department of Human Services must establish rules and seek funding to implement the program. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration.

Maddy summarySB 1796 allows Oklahoma foster parents to temporarily arrange care for foster children through three specific options: approved "alternate caregivers" (for up to 14 consecutive days), "respite care" by other foster families, or short-term "informal care" (friends/relatives for up to 72 hours). Foster parents must identify and get Department approval for alternate caregivers, who must pass background checks and home evaluations. The bill requires foster parents to notify the Department before using any temporary care and prohibits unsafe informal caregivers. It directly affects foster parents and children in foster care by expanding temporary care options while adding safety requirements for caregivers. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1379 establishes a two-year pilot program through Oklahoma's Attorney General's Office to provide grants to private nonprofit organizations supporting victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The program funds specific services like emergency shelter, mental health counseling, legal assistance, job training, and medical care - directly benefiting trafficking victims through partner organizations. Eligible organizations must demonstrate experience serving trafficking victims, maintain confidentiality, and use grants primarily for direct services (not exceeding 15% for administrative costs). Recipients must submit quarterly reports on services provided and outcomes, with the Attorney General compiling annual program evaluations for state leaders. The bill expands allowable uses of the Victims of Human Trafficking Fund to support this initiative.

Maddy summarySB 2155 allows Oklahoma municipalities to consider the competitiveness of their development fee schedules when setting or raising fees for new construction or expansions. It clarifies that cities are not required to keep fees uniform across jurisdictions and mandates periodic reviews of these fee schedules. The bill requires that fees directly match the cost of new infrastructure capacity (like water, roads, or storm systems) generated by development, cannot fund maintenance of existing systems, and must be proportionate to the actual impact. This affects developers and local governments by changing how municipalities calculate and adjust fees tied to new growth.

Maddy summarySB 1645 establishes new rules for auditing long-term care providers (like nursing homes and Medicaid home-care agencies) under Oklahoma's Medicaid program. It requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to give providers 1 week's notice before audits, limits audits to 50 claims or 0.25% of annual claims, and prohibits holding providers liable for simple clerical errors (like typos) as fraud. Providers must be allowed 60 days to correct claims after an audit, and recoupments (recovery of overpaid funds) can only apply to corrected claims, not original billing errors. The bill also creates a two-step appeals process, allowing providers to challenge audit results through the Authority and then to an administrative law judge.

Maddy summaryHB 3622 appropriates $500,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for preparing for the 2030 Decennial Census. The funds are specifically designated for technology improvements to support census operations. This bill directly affects state agencies responsible for census coordination, ensuring Oklahoma is prepared for the nationwide count. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to expedite funding.

Maddy summarySB 1378 creates the "Olympics in Oklahoma Revolving Fund" within the State Treasury to manage all funding for Oklahoma's 2028 Olympic Games preparations. The fund, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, will include state appropriations, donations, and grants, with expenditures requiring approval by the Commerce Department. Crucially, the bill mandates that at least 5% of all funds disbursed must go to contracts fulfilled by Oklahoma-based businesses. The fund becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3624 repeals Section 36 of Title 19, Oklahoma Statutes (2021), which previously governed watercourse bounding counties and taxable situs of property. The bill has no new provisions - it only removes the existing statute. It will take effect on November 1, 2026. Since the bill text does not describe the content of the repealed section, its specific impacts or affected parties cannot be detailed from the provided context.

Maddy summarySB 1733 requires Oklahoma school employees (including teachers, coaches, and administrators) to report suspected student sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct to law enforcement within 24 hours. It prohibits school investigations or disciplinary actions before reporting and mandates annual attestation forms confirming staff understanding of these duties. The law applies to all public and charter school staff, with confidentiality protections for reporters. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1746 changes Oklahoma's juvenile code to require jury trials in specific parental rights termination cases. It mandates a jury trial when a court first determines a child is neglected (deprived) and simultaneously requests termination, or after a prior deprivation finding, the state or child files a termination request. The bill sets strict timelines: courts must schedule jury trials within 30 days and hold them within six months, unless justified exceptions exist. This directly affects parents facing termination, child welfare agencies, and courts handling these cases by altering the trial process.