Sen. Mary Boren

Maddy summarySB 1472 requires oil and gas operators to provide surface landowners with 30 days' written notice before lease or well transfers affecting their property, along with specific documents like environmental reports, plugging cost estimates, and financial assurances. Surface owners gain legal standing to file petitions with Oklahoma's Corporation Commission regarding due diligence, financial assurance, or notice violations, and can seek court enforcement for rights under the bill. The law prohibits operators from retaliating against landowners who exercise these rights, and authorizes the Corporation Commission to investigate violations, impose penalties, and require additional financial safeguards. This bill directly affects landowners and oil/gas operators by increasing transparency and legal recourse during operational changes.

Maddy summarySB 1474 requires oil and gas operators in Oklahoma to pay two annual fees: $25 per acre for surface disturbance on agricultural land (until reclamation is certified) and $0.01 per barrel for produced water. Operators can earn credits - up to 100% of the surface fee or 75% of the water fee - by implementing specific environmental practices like reduced well pads, water recycling, or pollinator-friendly reclamation. The collected fees fund the new Water and Agricultural Protection Revolving Fund, which will finance groundwater testing, land restoration, abandoned well plugging, and water recycling research. The bill applies directly to oil and gas operators working on agricultural land or handling produced water, with fees effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2113 requires government entities (condemning authorities) to provide a detailed, written justification proving a public need before seizing private property through eminent domain. Property owners can request a court hearing within 30 days to challenge the necessity, and authorities must submit evidence supporting their claim within 20 days. Courts must independently review whether the taking is truly necessary, narrowly tailored, and considers reasonable alternatives, with the government bearing the burden of proof. If the requirements aren’t met, the case is dismissed with prejudice, and property owners may recover attorney fees. This bill directly affects property owners facing condemnation and government agencies seeking to acquire land.

Maddy summarySB 1440 requires the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to hold a public election before approving certain new turnpike routes, directly affecting property owners in those areas. It removes the Authority's power to take private property through eminent domain (condemnation) for new turnpike projects, replacing that with a voter approval process. The bill mandates specific notice to affected property owners before elections and allows the Authority to redesign routes based on election results. This changes how new turnpike expansions are authorized, shifting decision-making from the Authority to local voters for specific projects.

Maddy summarySB 1419 requires oil and gas operators in Oklahoma to post a $25,000 bond or equivalent security with the Secretary of State to cover potential damages and reclamation costs from drilling operations. It mandates that operators must first negotiate compensation for surface damages with landowners (surface owners) before drilling, or petition the court for appointed appraisers if agreement isn't reached, providing 10 days' notice to surface owners via personal service, mail, or publication. The court-appointed appraisers - required to be state-certified real estate appraisers - will assess damages and reclamation costs within 30 days, with both the operator and surface owner sharing the appraisal costs equally. This bill directly affects oil and gas operators and surface owners by clarifying financial responsibilities and establishing a standardized process for resolving disputes over drilling impacts.

Maddy summarySB 1311 creates Oklahoma's "Railroad Crossing Transparency and Safety Accountability Act," requiring the Department of Transportation's Rail Programs Division to annually analyze statewide railroad crossing safety data. This includes collision history, train/traffic patterns, sight distances, and risk assessments. The Division must submit a detailed public report by February 1 each year to legislative leaders and committees, listing priority improvement projects, high-risk crossings, funding sources, and expenditures. The report must be publicly accessible online within 30 days, and the Division must present findings to transportation committees during legislative sessions. This bill directly affects state DOT operations and ensures transparency for the public and local governments regarding railroad safety efforts.

Maddy summarySB 1313 amends Oklahoma's vehicle registration law to clarify and update requirements for license plates and decals. It specifies that all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, and motorcycles used exclusively off roads must display a visible decal instead of a license plate, with decals marked by expiration year. The bill also establishes a temporary tag for out-of-state owners of street-legal utility vehicles (valid for five days with proof of insurance) and mandates distinctive license plates for military surplus vehicles. These changes directly affect vehicle owners registering these specific vehicle types in Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 1384 creates Oklahoma’s In-Person Absentee Voting Expansion Grant Program, providing counties with $25,000 per additional in-person absentee voting location for statewide November elections in even-numbered years. Counties qualify based on voter registration size (e.g., those with 400,000+ voters may receive up to six grants), with funds covering staffing, facility costs, equipment, and security. The program, effective January 2027, requires counties to apply with location justification and plans, managed by the State Election Board through a dedicated revolving fund. It directly supports county election boards in expanding voting access, not voters or political outcomes.

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.