Sen. Paul Rosino

Maddy summarySB 1572 reduces the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth membership from 18 to 17 members by removing the position of "one member appointed by the Governor who shall represent one of the metropolitan juvenile bureaus." The bill updates statutory language and clarifies the commission's composition, which includes state agency leaders, youth service organization representatives, and appointed members with child-focused experience. It does not change the commission's purpose or functions but adjusts who serves on it. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4431 requires Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma, or their employers, to carry malpractice insurance covering $1 million per incident and $3 million annually. This applies to APRNs practicing outside federal or state employment where coverage is already provided under federal insurance or Oklahoma's Governmental Tort Claims Act. The law exempts APRNs working for federal agencies (covered by federal insurance) or state agencies (covered under Tort Claims Act) during their official duties. It takes effect November 1, 2026, directly affecting APRNs who provide care outside these exempted employment settings.

Maddy summarySB 1557 transfers the licensing authority for behavior analysts from Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners. The bill requires all applicants to undergo a national criminal history background check and updates definitions to clarify that only professionals certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (and licensed by the State Board) may practice applied behavior analysis. It also specifies that supervisees must work under a licensed behavior analyst and maintains requirements for renewal and professional conduct standards. This changes who oversees licensure, adds background checks, and standardizes practice rules for behavior analysts.

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 summaryHB 3650 sets minimum reimbursement rates for healthcare providers treating Oklahoma Medicaid enrollees, requiring contracted entities to pay in-network providers 100% and out-of-network providers 90% of the 2021 fee schedule rates until 2035. It mandates value-based payment arrangements for providers (with quality-based incentives), requires 11% of contracted entities' healthcare spending to go toward primary care, and includes specific payment rules for rural health clinics, behavioral health centers, pharmacies, and ambulance services. The bill also establishes annual capitation rate updates and medical loss ratio penalties for non-compliant entities. It becomes effective November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 4298 amends Oklahoma's child care licensing rules to improve oversight and standards for licensed facilities. It requires the Department of Human Services to create specialized advisory committees (for residential care, child care centers, homes, and quality ratings) with specific representation from facility owners, parents, Native American advocates, and service providers. The bill also prohibits children from being left unsupervised with teens under 18, bans soft bedding/toys in infant sleeping areas, and mandates 60 days' electronic notice to licensees before rule changes take effect. These provisions directly affect all licensed child care centers, homes, and residential facilities in Oklahoma, with the law taking effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1687 establishes Oklahoma's "Uniform Health Care Decisions Act of 2025," creating a clear framework for advance health care directives. It defines key terms like "advance health care directive" (including mental health directives), "agent" (someone appointed to make decisions), and "default surrogate" (a family member or cohabitant who can act if no directive exists). The bill specifies how directives are created, updated, or revoked, outlines duties for health care professionals, and details procedures for resolving conflicts between directives. This directly affects Oklahomans planning for future medical decisions, their families, and health care providers across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 3148 amends Oklahoma's vehicle titling laws by removing a requirement that certain individuals inspect vehicles at the time of sale. The bill updates definitions for terms like "salvage vehicle" and "rebuilt vehicle" but focuses on eliminating the inspection step for specific sales transactions. This change directly affects vehicle owners, dealers, and inspectors who previously had to perform these checks. The policy simplifies the titling process for certain vehicles without altering the core ownership documentation requirements. The bill takes effect on the date specified in the legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 4430 changes Oklahoma's rules for physician assistants (PAs) by allowing those with 6,240+ hours of postgraduate clinical experience to practice without physician supervision. PAs meeting this threshold must report their hours to the State Board online (no fee), and the Board will maintain a public list of qualifying PAs. PAs with fewer hours or unreported experience must maintain practice agreements with physicians, including telecommunication requirements and regular reviews. The bill also clarifies prescription authority: experienced PAs can prescribe without delegation, while supervised PAs must follow their physician's delegated protocols, especially for controlled substances.

Maddy summarySB 1484 requires Oklahoma medical examiners to conduct standardized investigations for sudden infant or young deaths (including SIDS, SUID, SDY, and SADS), mandating autopsies when needed, review of medical records, and documentation of recent immunizations. It requires medical examiners to notify parents or legal guardians before investigations begin and grants them the right to refuse parts of the process unless a crime is suspected. The bill expands mandatory investigations to cover all sudden unexplained deaths in children under 20, requiring reporting to a national CDC/NIH registry and sharing findings with the State Department of Health. This directly affects medical examiners, parents/guardians of deceased children, and state health authorities through new procedural requirements.