OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, has filed three pieces of legislation related to state parks and their operations. Under Senate Bill 673, entrance fees could only be charged for travel trailers and recreational vehicles and could not exceed $8. Those fees would be used by the state parks where they are collected. “The…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julie Daniels has filed Senate Bill 379 to require eight hours of mental and behavioral health wellness training as part of peace officer certification. Daniels, R-Bartlesville, also proposes including such training as part of an officer’s annual continuing education requirement. “Municipal, county and state taxpayers invest significant resources in our first…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, this week filed a bill to prohibit the abuse of non-disclosure agreements, providing greater transparency in government. House Bill 1378 would require businesses of any kind seeking state or local incentives to fully disclose who they are and what they do and also would prevent government officials from…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, has authored legislation to give municipalities more control over allowing marijuana grow operations within their city limits. Senate Bill 801 would allow cities and towns to modify their standard planning and zoning procedures to determine or forbid certain zones or districts for the operation of new marijuana-licensed…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Wednesday, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed a resolution to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Oklahoma. “Last week we were made aware of an escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine with the training of Ukrainian troops in Oklahoma,” Dahm said. “While Oklahoma’s leaders should be making sure…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, has filed two measures for the 2023 session aimed at strengthening Oklahoma’s election processes. Senate Bill 120 repeals a statute authorizing the state to enter into one or more multistate voter list maintenance organizations, including the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). “Our state is not currently a member…
Legislators who told the Oklahoma Governor’s Water Conference in December they would tackle invasive cedar trees as a serious water quality issue have introduced two bills. SB 454, by Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, calls for all state land management agencies to tackle the invasive trees on lands that they own or manage within five years….
Tulsa attorney D. Ken Williams Jr. took an oath Jan. 20 to serve as the 2023 Oklahoma Bar Association vice president. Also sworn in were James R. Hicks, immediate past president, one-year term; Caroline M. Shaffer Siex, Young Lawyers Division chairperson, one-year term; and member at large Timothy L. Rogers, three-year term. They were among…
Recruit / Retain / Reward / Reform Recruit SB 529 – $15 million- Create Oklahoma Teacher Corps – provide scholarships to students who enter Oklahoma Colleges of Education, graduate and receive teaching certificate. Those who pass their program must commit four years of service in a Title I school or pay scholarship amount back…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 814, the Oklahoma Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibiting credit card companies from sharing information about lawful firearm and ammunition purchases. His legislation would allow citizens and merchants to file lawsuits and seek damages against those who violate SB 814’s provisions. Bergstrom said he’s…