Legislative Update

Senate approves bill prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors

February 23, 2023

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

February 23, 2023

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…

Senate approves VPO for child abuse victims

February 23, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, has won full Senate approval for his legislation to better protect child abuse victims. Senate Bill 291, approved on Monday, would enable children, with the help of an adult, to seek a victim protective order (VPO) against their abuser. “While adults can certainly file for a VPO to…

Bashore Passes Vehicle Excise Tax Savings Bill in Committee

February 23, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that would modify the formula for determining motor vehicle excise tax on vehicle purchases passed unanimously in the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee for Finance on Monday. House Bill 1389 is authored by Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, who ran similar legislation last session. “This is a pro-consumer bill that figures excise…

Workforce bill approved allows CareerTech students to qualify for OHLAP

February 23, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – More Oklahoma students wanting to continue their education through the state’s Career Technology system could soon be eligible for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) scholarship, also known as Oklahoma’s Promise, under legislation approved unanimously Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, authored Senate Bill 27 to boost…

SoonerCare to restart renewal process for members

February 23, 2023

Oklahoma City, OK – Due to federal regulation passed in December, SoonerCare will soon restart the renewal process for members as the public health emergency continuous coverage ends. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) will begin the eligibility redetermination process in early March. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily…

Hamilton’s bills assigned to Senate committees

February 16, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, has authored 14 bills that have been referred to their respective committees and will be up for consideration in the next few weeks. “I’ve filed these bills to protect our constitutional rights, protect Oklahoma children, and make improvements across the state in a variety of areas,” Hamilton said….

Bill would require vote of the people to redirect property taxes to TIF Districts

February 16, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed House Bill 1379, which would require a vote by citizens to redirect property tax through Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Districts. Gann explained that in Mayes County, Mid-America Industrial Park (MAIP) officers proposed redirecting county property tax through the implementation of a TIF district to benefit new…

Bill to Repeal LEAD Act

February 16, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed House Bill 1381 to Repeal the Large-Scale Economic Activity and Development (LEAD) Act of 2022. Last year, the Legislature passed House Bill 4455, the LEAD Act, which promised investment rebates for the cost of qualified capital expenditures for certain establishments based on creation of new direct…

Absentee ballots for SQ 820

February 16, 2023

The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail for the March 7, Special Election for State Question 820 is approaching. Applications must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, February 20. Tulsa County Election Board Secretary, Gwen Freeman, says absentee voting is available to all voters and can be…