Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader

Maddy summaryHB 1409 amends Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act to require all public bodies (including state, county, municipal, and school district boards) to establish a free email distribution system for meeting notices. Public bodies must send 24-hour advance email notices containing meeting date, time, location, and agenda to subscribers, with individuals needing annual confirmation to stay on the list. This complements existing requirements for physical posting and website notices but adds a new digital notification method. The bill directly affects how public entities notify citizens about meetings, aiming to improve accessibility to meeting information.

Maddy summaryHB 1168 makes it a felony to knowingly deliver or possess abortion-inducing drugs (like misoprostol or methotrexate) with the intent of causing an abortion, punishable by up to $100,000 in fines or 10 years in prison. It directly affects individuals who provide such drugs for non-exceptional purposes, including off-label use for abortion. Key exceptions include pharmacists, manufacturers, and distributors acting within lawful medical practices, as well as preventive contraception used as directed by manufacturers. The law does not restrict treatment for ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, or medical uses of drugs like chemotherapy.

Maddy summarySB 1287 amends Oklahoma's Abstractors Act to update license qualification standards for abstractors. It directly affects individuals applying for abstractor licenses by requiring applicants to have legal U.S. work authorization, reside in or be physically present in the United States, and not have certain criminal convictions that pose a threat to public safety or relate to abstracting duties. The bill clarifies that the Oklahoma Abstractors Board may deny licenses based on these criteria, defining "poses a reasonable threat" as criminal conduct involving harm to others and "substantially relates" as direct bearing on abstracting duties. Licenses remain valid for one year with a maximum $150 renewal fee. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1460 expands Oklahoma's felony classification system by adding 35 specific offenses to Class B5 felonies, including repeat domestic violence convictions (like second assaults on intimate partners), stalking, and second or subsequent "peeping tom" offenses (using hidden cameras to capture private areas without consent). It also creates new felony penalties for gang-related activities, assaults on police officers or police animals, and certain animal cruelty crimes like dogfighting. The bill updates sex offender registration requirements to include these newly classified offenses. These changes apply to individuals convicted of these specific acts, effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3704 directs Oklahoma to participate in a federal income tax credit program allowing individuals to claim a credit for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Governor to certify Oklahoma's participation to the U.S. Treasury and designates the Oklahoma Tax Commission to register SGOs, maintain their lists, and handle federal reporting. This enables Oklahoma taxpayers to claim the federal credit for qualifying donations, while coordinating with Oklahoma's existing state tax credit for SGO contributions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and remains in place until changed by law or federal policy.

Maddy summaryHB 3194 protects Oklahoma pregnancy centers from state mandates requiring them to provide abortion services, contraception, or referrals. The bill prohibits state agencies from forcing centers to offer abortion-inducing drugs, post promotional materials for abortion, restrict services based on their pro-life stance, or interfere with their staffing decisions. It also allows centers to sue for triple damages (minimum $10,000) if state agencies violate these provisions. The law directly affects pregnancy centers - both general and medical - and state agencies that might attempt to impose such requirements. It focuses on preventing government compulsion, not restricting abortion access.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma House resolution recognizes April 2026 as National Donate Life Month to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. The bill highlights the critical need for donors by noting that over 100,000 people are currently waiting for transplants and that 13 people die daily due to organ shortages. It encourages all residents to register as donors through the Oklahoma registry or when renewing their driver's license. The resolution serves as an official statement of support for the campaign rather than creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3722 requires Oklahoma voter registration applicants to explicitly select a recognized political party or "Independent" status on their form. Previously, voters who skipped this step were automatically registered as Independents; this bill changes that by mandating applicants choose a party affiliation or Independent designation to complete registration. The bill does not alter which parties are recognized but ensures all applicants actively affirm their political preference during registration. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new and updated voter registrations.

Maddy summarySB 2153, the "Judea and Samaria Act," prohibits Oklahoma state agencies from using the term "West Bank" to describe territories controlled by Israel since 1967 (defined as "Judea and Samaria" in the bill) in any official government materials. The law requires state agencies to refer to these territories as "Judea and Samaria" instead, with a waiver process allowing agency heads to bypass the rule if they provide written justification to the Governor and legislature. It applies to all state agency communications, including rules, press releases, and briefings, but does not affect materials created with federal funds. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026, and codifies these requirements in Oklahoma law.

Maddy summarySB 884, the "Oklahoma Right to Life Act," bans nearly all abortions in Oklahoma by prohibiting anyone from performing, attempting, or aiding in an abortion. It defines "abortion" broadly as any action to terminate a pregnancy (except for specific cases like preserving the life of the unborn person after live birth or removing a dead unborn person from a miscarriage or trauma), and defines "unborn person" as beginning at conception. The law imposes criminal penalties, including first-degree murder charges for violations, though it requires health care providers to attempt a live birth during life-threatening medical emergencies involving the pregnant person. It explicitly excludes contraceptives used before pregnancy is detectable. The bill is classified as an emergency measure.