Legislative Update

SCOTUS rejects only a part of Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates

January 20, 2022

Oklahoma lawmakers praised the decision of the U.S, Supreme Court to strike down President Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employers but criticized the decision to keep it for healthcare workers. Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, said, “I am pleased that today the Supreme Court has made the right decision in striking down the Biden Administration’s policy…

More abortion requirements

January 20, 2022

Sen. George Burns has filed Senate Bill 1167, the “Every Mother Matters Act,” also known as EMMA. The legislation is aimed at ensuring that any woman seeking an abortion is given access to resources and programs she may not realize are available. Burns, R-Pollard, said the goal is to give women the support they need…

Bill to secure the southern border

January 20, 2022

As lawbreaking foreigners continue to pour across the open southern border, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed two bills to help secure the border. “As the feds continue to leave the border wide open, either due to utter incompetence or done intentionally to cause disruption in our nation, it has become obvious we as the…

No citizenship for anchor babies

January 20, 2022

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed Senate Bill 1226 to prohibit illegal alien anchor babies from receiving citizenship in Oklahoma. “Birthright citizenship was never the intent of the 14th Amendment,” Dahm said. “We remain one of the last western civilized nations that grants citizenship to anchor babies.” The bill requires each birth certificate for a…

Bill would legalize sports betting

January 20, 2022

Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, announced that he has filed House Bill 3008, a bill that would add in-person sports betting to the Oklahoma state-tribal gaming compact. “I have had conversations with our gaming tribes during the interim to gauge their interest on this topic,” Luttrell said. “I feel the time is right for Oklahoma…

Altering medical marijuana law

January 20, 2022

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, will file legislation modifying the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Waste Management Act. “When medical marijuana was legalized in Oklahoma, it basically created a ‘Wild West’ situation as we did not have enough legal structure in place to address all future issues that could…

Resolution on right to bear arms

January 20, 2022

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, has announced today that he plans to file a House Joint Resolution that would direct the Secretary of State to refer to the people for their approval a proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution that deals with the right to bear arms. “This section of the State Constitution has never been…

At-home COVID tests are being paid for

January 20, 2022

The Oklahoma Insurance Department issued a special notice regarding coverage of at-home, over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests. Beginning January 15, group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage must cover OTC COVID-19 tests. Under the new guidelines, the tests may either be free or reimbursed by the insurer. Health plans…

How have public schools spent $2 billion to safely open?

January 20, 2022 Ray Carter

More than $2 billion in federal COVID-bailout funds have been provided to Oklahoma school districts since 2020 to cover the costs to safely open amidst the pandemic. But despite that lavish infusion of cash, numerous schools are now closing again amidst the rise of the Omicron variant. That has left many parents—and students—with an unsettling…

Legislators file bills to help county sheriffs defend rights

January 13, 2022

In response to the growing concerns over federal violations of constitutionally-protected rights, Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed a trio of bills to strengthen the power of county sheriffs. Senate Bill 1199 would prohibit federal officers from carrying out any gun confiscation measures in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1200 would require federal agents to notify the…