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OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 215 new state laws took effect on Wednesday that affect everything from state employee benefits and jury pay to oversight of medical marijuana grows.
The Oklahoma Legislature passed a slew of new laws this year. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
• Paid maternity leave: State employees now will be eligible to receive maternity leave. Full-time employees who have worked for the state for more than two years can request up to six weeks of paid maternity leave following the birth or adoption of their child.
The GOP-led Legislature also approved six weeks of paid maternity leave for teachers who have worked for a public school district for at least one year.
• Juror pay: Daily pay for jurors will increase from $20 to $50, marking the first pay hike in more than two decades.
Oklahoma juror pay at county courthouses will be tied with North Dakota for the highest in the nation, according to a 2022 report from the National Center for State Courts.
• Alerts for missing adults: The Department of Public Safety will develop a statewide alert system for missing adults between ages 18 and 59 who appear to have been abducted.
The Kasey Alert system is named after a Cherokee Nation citizen who went missing in 2016 while walking home from a casino.
The state already issues Silver Alerts for missing adults age 60 or older and Amber Alerts for missing children.
• Notifications about escaped inmates: The Oklahoma Department of...
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