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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

Bill strengthening penalties for domestic violence against pregnant women

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Domestic violence against a pregnant woman would become a felony on the first offense under legislation by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.  Senate Bill 1046 was approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The measure was previously approved by the Public Safety Committee. Weaver said he met with domestic violence victims’ advocates this…

Bill to put LOFT in charge of determining savings from criminal justice reform

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a measure to better determine the amount of savings from a state question enacting criminal justice reform. Senate Bill 844, by Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, was first approved by the Health and Human Services Committee last week. Thompson, R-Okemah, said his legislation revisits the criminal…

Farm Freedom Bills in Committee

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Carl Newton advanced two pieces of legislation out of House Committees on Tuesday that would expand freedoms and protections for state farmers and ranchers. House Bill 1962 would allow any person age 14 to 16 who lives or is employed on a farm to apply for a farm permit authorizing them…

Misleading information from prescription drug programs

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY -The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) has become aware of inaccurate and misleading communications affecting Oklahoma consumers. Several large employers have sent letters to their employees with erroneous information regarding changes to their CVS/Caremark prescription program. One of the most troubling inaccuracies is the claim that the law in Oklahoma no longer allows for…

Voter registration deadline March 10

Tulsa Beacon

Friday, March 10, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the April 4, Board of Education General Elections for ISD-1 Tulsa Public Schools District 1, ISD-10 Berryhill Public Schools Office 3, ISD-3 Bixby Public Schools Office 3 and ISD-2 Sand Springs Public Schools Office 3;…

Election Day Laws and Reminders

Tulsa Beacon

Voters in Tulsa County are reminded to keep the integrity of the election system in mind, when going to the polls next week. While ballot “selfies” or taking photographs of a marked ballot are legal, voters may not share or distribute the image through social media or by any other means while inside the election…

Bill to increase fines/prison time for stealing firearms clears first hurdle

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Public Safety Committee has given its approval to a measure to increase the penalties for firearm thefts in Oklahoma.  Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, is the author of Senate Bill 859, which was approved by the panel on Thursday. Weaver is a former head of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and…

Hamilton’s bill to increase poll worker pay passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday and unanimously passed Senate Bill 290, which would increase pay for election day poll workers. “This is a much needed and much deserved pay raise for our dedicated poll workers who often work over 13 hours on election day,” Hamilton said, “I am so appreciative…

Senate approves bill prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has approved a measure prohibiting gender transition procedures for children under the age of 18.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the author of Senate Bill 613, which bans the use of any medications or surgical procedures for the purpose of gender transition.  Behavioral and mental health counseling and medications…

McBride/Baker Bills Would Revise State Education Board

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Common Education Committee on Tuesday passed two bills that would change the composition of the State Board of Education. House Bill 2562 would increase the size of the board from 7 members to 11, authorizing the speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate to appoint…