Legislative Update

Distracted Driving Bill passes out of Public Safety Committee to House

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House Public Safety Committee intended to help further curb distracted driving. House Bill 2228 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver is holding or using a handheld cellular telephone or other electronic device when the vehicle is…

Bill to protect children from lewd or obscene acts or materials in public

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was approved Thursday to prohibit municipalities from allowing or permitting public events that minors can attend like parades, shows or concerts that feature lewd acts or obscene material. The Senate General Government Committee passed Sen. David Bullard’s Senate Bill 503, which would make such displays a felony, subject to civil action…

Bill strengthening penalties for domestic violence against pregnant women

March 2, 2023

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

March 2, 2023

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

March 2, 2023

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

March 2, 2023

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

March 2, 2023

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

March 2, 2023

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

February 23, 2023

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

February 23, 2023

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…