Sen. John Haste

Maddy summarySB 1531 establishes the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics as a state clearinghouse for drone (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) technology. The bill authorizes the department to coordinate drone/AAM infrastructure development by maintaining registries for state agency drones and training programs, planning vertiport sites, creating detection systems, and partnering with cities, counties, and federal agencies. It directly affects state agencies using drones, educational institutions offering drone training, and local governments developing drone infrastructure. The law aims to streamline Oklahoma’s integration of drone/AAM technology into aviation systems through centralized planning and state-led coordination.

Maddy summarySB 563 allows Oklahoma county employees to take up to three paid workdays per year for election duties. It authorizes county boards of commissioners to create policies enabling qualified employees to use this leave to serve as precinct officials, absentee voting board members, or other election workers. The bill requires counties to develop these policies in coordination with the county election board. This change directly affects county employees who wish to participate in elections without losing pay, while ensuring election staffing needs are met.

Maddy summarySB 122 appropriates $9 million from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the Weigh Station Improvement Revolving Fund for the 2023 fiscal year. This funding directly supports the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) in upgrading weigh stations, which inspect commercial truck weights to ensure road safety and compliance with weight limits. The bill provides concrete financial resources for the DOT to carry out its legal duties related to weigh station maintenance and improvements. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon approval. The bill does not alter laws or create new regulations but allocates specific funds for existing DOT responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 258 creates a dedicated fund called the "Major Collector Routes Fund" in Oklahoma's state treasury to support county transportation projects. It directly affects Oklahoma counties, which can apply for grants to improve roads and bridges through a competitive program. The fund uses state budget money (not new taxes) to pay for projects evaluated on safety, innovation, necessity for public use, and features like traffic safety or school bus routes. Counties must contribute financially to projects to qualify, and funds are available continuously without annual budget limits.

Maddy summarySB 1534 modifies Oklahoma's rules for charitable organizations and fundraising. It requires charitable nonprofits to submit specific information to the Secretary of State, updates definitions of terms like "charitable organization" and "contribution," and prohibits certain actions by these organizations. The bill directly affects charitable groups soliciting donations in Oklahoma, professional fundraisers, and their solicitors by clarifying requirements and adding new restrictions. Key provisions include updated board membership rules and clearer boundaries for professional fundraising activities. The bill aims to strengthen oversight of charitable solicitations while aligning state law with current federal tax return requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 3831 formally designates Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1) as the state's official urban search and rescue team for emergency deployments, requiring it to be the first asset sent for out-of-state disaster responses under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Revenue Fund for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Revolving Fund, with $2 million specifically allocated to support OK-TF1's Oklahoma City and Tulsa teams. Funds must cover deployment costs, training, equipment, and operational expenses but cannot be used for routine fire department operations or facilities. This establishes clear funding and operational guidelines for OK-TF1's disaster response capabilities within Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 1653 would allow Oklahoma to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, enabling licensed occupational therapists and assistants from participating states to practice in Oklahoma without obtaining a separate Oklahoma license. This "Compact Privilege" applies when the patient is located in Oklahoma (the "Remote State"), preserving each state's regulatory authority while facilitating interstate practice. The bill establishes mutual recognition of licenses, supports military spouses relocating across states, and includes provisions for telehealth services and sharing disciplinary information between states. It directly affects occupational therapists seeking to practice across state lines and enhances access to services for patients in Oklahoma.

Maddy summarySB 1984 amends Oklahoma's Osteopathic Medicine Act to modernize regulations for osteopathic physicians and the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. It clarifies definitions (like "emergency" and "emergency suspension"), expands the Board's subpoena power and authority to design exams, and updates disciplinary procedures by adding/removing grounds for action. The bill also requires electronic license renewals, clarifies telemedicine practice rules (requiring a proper patient record for remote care), and specifies conditions for emergency license suspensions. These changes directly affect licensed osteopathic physicians in Oklahoma, the regulatory Board, and patients through updated oversight and licensing processes.

Maddy summarySB 1239 amends Oklahoma law governing how vehicle license fee funds are distributed. It locks the percentage of these funds going to school districts at 36.20% for fiscal years starting July 1, 2019, and beyond, with any excess above the 2015 apportionment amount redirected to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund. Similarly, it maintains the 0.31% allocation for the State Transportation Fund with the same cap on excess funds. The bill updates statutory language for clarity and declares an emergency, but does not change the core funding formulas or create new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 3944 consolidates four Oklahoma state agencies - Department of Central Services, Office of Personnel Management, Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council, and State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board - into a single Office of Management and Enterprise Services. It requires state agencies to submit detailed budget requests with performance metrics and track federal funds (like CARES and ARPA) through weekly and quarterly public reports. The bill also updates fund transfer procedures, eliminates outdated references in financial rules, and mandates clearer reporting on budget requests to the Legislature. These changes directly affect state agencies managing public funds and aim to modernize financial transparency.