The Oklahoma House of Representatives adopted a resolution to emphasize the critical role public lands play in the state’s economy, heritage and quality of life. State and federally-owned public land constitutes just over 6% of the land in Oklahoma. Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, authored House Resolution 1002 to draw attention to Oklahoma’s public lands. He…
House Resolutions 1009 and 1010 sponsored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, were adopted in the House. The two resolutions assert Oklahoma’s state sovereignty in the face of multiple attempts by the federal government to usurp states’ rights. In particular, the resolutions are meant to combat H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2021” and…
A bill aimed at expanding the state Rainy Day Fund passed out of the House on with unanimous approval. House Joint Resolution 1001, by Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, provides Oklahoma voters the opportunity to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to allow more money to be saved in the Constitutional Reserve Fund, better known as the…
The Senate approved to a measure that would require insurers to provide a detailed notice to both the patient and health care provider when denying a claim. Authored by Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, Senate Bill 550 would require the notification to include the reason for denial and instructions on where a person or entity could…
The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Act, which would establish regulations for health care providers wishing to participate in Medicaid within Oklahoma passed out of the House. House Bill 1091 specifies how claims are to be processed, ensures payments made to providers are timely and that rates are following the fee schedules in effect at the…
A bill that would prohibit the courts from extending the terms of tenancy failed the House on a vote of 26-51. House Bill 1564 by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, would have allowed a landlord to immediately apply to a sheriff for enforcement of the right to possession upon the entry of a judgment. The measure…
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to protect churches as essential in the state of Oklahoma. Senate Bill 368, by David Bullard, R-Durant, creates the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, prohibiting declaration of religious institutions as nonessential. SB 368 prohibits any governmental entity from declaring or deeming a religious institution and any activity directly related to the institution’s…
A bill that modernizes the state employee human resources system passed unanimously in the House. House Bill 1146, or the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act, is authored by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond. Osburn said the bill updates human resources processes for about 36,000 state employees. It creates better flexibility for state agencies in…
The full Senate approved legislation by Sen. Rob Standridge allowing social media users to sue for damages against any social media website that censors a user’s political or religious speech. Standridge, R-Norman, authored Senate Bill 383 to eliminate selective censorship of opinion on social media and to ensure free speech is treated fairly. “Oklahomans…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As legislatures in Washington, D.C. and across the country discuss issues surrounding individuals who identify as a gender different from their biological sex, a clear majority of U.S. Protestant pastors see such gender fluidity as morally wrong. In a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, around 3 in 4 Protestant pastors say identifying…