Legislative Update

Gender reassignment bill

May 5, 2022

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed two floor substitutes to protect Oklahoma children from sexualization and unnecessary “gender reassignment” surgeries. House Bill 1074 is modeled after Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to in the media as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The legislation would prohibit school personnel for grades kindergarten through fifth…

Stillwater bathroom mess

May 5, 2022

Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, sent a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor on April 22 requesting that his office act regarding a resolution passed by the Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education expressing their intent to continue their controversial school restroom policy. The policy in question permits transgender students to use student restrooms that…

Pot growers restrictions

May 5, 2022

Senate Bill 1697, authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, in the Senate, and Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, in the House, passed. It would require applicants for a medical marijuana commercial grower license and commercial grower licensees to file with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) a bond in an amount of no less than $25,000…

Binary birth certificates?

May 5, 2022

Stitt signed Senate Bill 1100, approving the first of its kind ban that prohibits nonbinary classifications on state birth certificates. The legislation was authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair. Under the bill, the biological sex designation on Oklahoma birth certificates may only be male or female, outlawing the use of “X” or any other symbol…

Bill targets phone calls

May 5, 2022

Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, celebrated passage through the Senate of a pair of bills he authored in the House. “Both of these bills are critical to protect the privacy of Oklahomans and I’m pleased to see them overwhelmingly passed out of the Senate,” he said. “Technology brings advancement, which we encourage more of and love…

Turnpike transparency

May 5, 2022

Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, secured passage of legislation requiring the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to provide a detailed report on the planned turnpike through eastern Norman and give the Legislature authority to modify the authorization for construction or location of the turnpike. Senate Bill 1610, which was amended by floor substitute, requires the OTA to…

Energy boycotting bill

May 5, 2022

The Senate gave approval to a measure that would require the state to divest from any financial company that boycotts the energy industry. House Bill 2034 is authored by Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, and aims to support Oklahoma’s largest industry – oil and gas. “This legislation would ensure the state of Oklahoma is free from…

Dying policeman bill

May 5, 2022

Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, thanked Stitt after he signed Senate Bill 968 into law. The bill prohibits the release of a recording showing an officer dying in the line of duty unless the court rules the material should be released in specific cases. “This bill is about protecting the…

It looks like Gov. Stitt vs. Hofmeister

May 5, 2022

The race for Oklahoma governor, which will probably wind up with Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, versus State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, a Republican-turned-Democrat, highlights a heavy slate of candidates for statewide offices. Here is some information on those candidates. Governor In the race for governor on the Republican primary ticket, the candidates are incumbent…

OK rated No. 1 in gambling addiction

May 5, 2022

When it comes to gambling addiction, Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in the nation in number of casinos per capita, number of gambling machines per capita, the legality of daily fantasy sports and legality of sports gambling. That’s according to a national study by WalletHub.com’s study, “2022’s Most Gambling-Addicted States.” WalletHub compared the 50 states…