Rep. Gabe Woolley

Maddy summaryHB 1165 requires public school districts in Oklahoma to collect proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status from parents/guardians at student enrollment. Acceptable documents include birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, or immigration documents like green cards. School districts must record this status for all students, submit an annual report to the state education department showing categorized enrollment (citizenship, legal status, or no proof provided), and exclude all personal identifying information. The law, effective July 2025, explicitly states it does not prevent any child from receiving education under state or federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 1164 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services (DHS) to return children to parents or guardians within 72 hours if criminal charges against them are dismissed, dropped, or result in a not-guilty verdict. It also mandates DHS to delete all related case records within 72 hours and prohibits keeping records of dismissed cases. Exceptions allowing continued separation are only permitted if DHS files an emergency court motion with clear evidence of an "imminent threat" to the child, requiring a court order within 72 hours. Noncompliance by DHS may trigger civil lawsuits, criminal penalties for staff, or funding audits.

Maddy summaryHB 1361 requires Oklahoma public school personnel and students to use pronouns or names consistent with a person's "assigned sex at birth" (defined by biological sex documented on a birth certificate) without written parental permission. It prohibits school staff from asking students about preferred pronouns or names, and students from requesting staff to use non-birth-sex pronouns or names, unless parents provide written consent. Violations must be reported to administrators within 24 hours, who then notify parents. The bill applies to all public K-12 schools and school employees, excluding students with certain medically documented conditions, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1941 requires all Oklahoma school district superintendents to be elected by voters instead of appointed by school boards, effective starting in 2028. It establishes specific election dates (general elections in November of even-numbered years, primaries in August if needed), mandates that candidates must have resided in the district for six months and be registered voters there, and sets rules for special elections to fill vacancies. The bill also clarifies voting requirements for districts sharing superintendents under multi-district agreements and updates procedures for candidate filings and election notices. These changes replace existing provisions allowing board-appointed superintendents and eliminate references to board-directed duties.

Maddy summaryHB 1361 restricts the use of pronouns or alternate names inconsistent with a student's or school personnel's "assigned sex at birth" (defined as gender on a birth certificate) in Oklahoma public schools. It prohibits school staff from asking students about preferred pronouns or using inconsistent pronouns without parental written consent, and similarly bars students from requesting such usage without parental permission. The bill requires school administrators to notify parents within 24 hours of any violation and allows disciplinary action against staff for violations, including license suspension. It excludes students with certain genetic conditions (e.g., disorders of sex development) and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1164 requires Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to return custody of children to parents or guardians within 72 hours if criminal charges against them are dismissed, dropped, or result in a not-guilty verdict. It mandates expunging all related investigation records within 72 hours and returning personal property taken during removal. Exceptions allowing continued separation require a court-approved emergency motion with clear evidence of imminent danger, documented with findings of fact. Noncompliance may trigger civil penalties under federal law, criminal charges for misconduct, or funding audits. The bill directly affects families involved in child welfare cases where criminal charges were resolved in their favor.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 amends Oklahoma's Children's Code to clarify definitions of child abuse, abandonment, and neglect, while adding specific court procedures for child safety. It requires courts to immediately release a child from custody if facts indicate they are in imminent danger of harm, and establishes a new felony charge for failing to comply with such court orders. The bill directly affects courts handling child welfare cases, parents or caregivers who disregard court directives, and children facing immediate safety threats. Key provisions include defining "imminent danger" for court decisions and specifying that non-compliance with release orders becomes a criminal offense. The changes aim to streamline child safety responses without altering existing abuse definitions or child welfare standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1941 would require all Oklahoma school district superintendents to be elected by voters instead of appointed by school boards, starting in 2028. The bill establishes specific election dates (general elections in November of even years, primaries in August), mandates candidate eligibility (6 months residency and voter registration in the district), and sets filing deadlines. It also requires school boards to publish election notices, clarifies voting rules for multi-district agreements, and eliminates current appointment procedures. This change directly affects every public school district in Oklahoma by shifting superintendent selection from board decisions to voter elections.

Maddy summaryHB 1094 requires Oklahoma public schools to teach about the "atrocities of communism" to students in grades six through twelve starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that the State Department of Education develop curriculum resources and teaching guidelines covering causes, human costs, societal impacts, and comparisons to U.S. constitutional principles. It also requires the department to create professional development for educators on this topic. The law defines "communism" as an ideology historically linked to authoritarian regimes and mass atrocities, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1165 requires all Oklahoma public school districts to collect proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status from parents/guardians at student enrollment. Acceptable documents include birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, or immigration cards. Schools must record each student's status, submit annual reports to the state education department (showing counts for citizenship, legal status, and unverified cases without personal details), and ensure no child is denied education. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and is declared an emergency.