Legislative Update

State asset protection bill is filed

January 28, 2021

State Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, filed legislation to create accountability and transparency regarding the movement of state assets. Martinez’s House proposal will directly specify that no state asset is to be moved farther than 10 miles from wherever it was located on July 1, 2020, without the approval of the Oklahoma State Legislature. Martinez said…

Bill vs. transplant discrimination

January 28, 2021

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to prohibit discrimination against a potential organ transplant recipient based solely on the person’s physical or mental disability. Rosino said Senate Bill 378, creating Everett’s Law, was requested by Edmond parents Rhys and Neely Gay. Their middle child, Everett, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome shortly after he…

Getting a diploma doesn’t prove students really learned

January 28, 2021 Ray Carter

In a court filing, an Oklahoma school district has declared the issuance of either a passing grade or a high school diploma is not—“and never has been”—an indicator that a student mastered state-mandated core courses. Lone Grove Public Schools also stated that any court order tethering a high-school diploma to mastery of high-school core course…

‘Stay in School’ helps students

January 28, 2021

The Stay in School Fund tuition assistance program, launched by Gov. Kevin Stitt in July of 2020, has exceeded expectations in ensuring low-income families who suffered a COVID-19-related job loss or demonstrated financial challenges could maintain consistency in their child’s learning environment. “Our Stay in School program has successfully supported more low-income children and their…

Republicans want students back in school

January 21, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the House Republican Caucus issued a statement in support of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for students to return to in-person learning in schools amid updated safety protocols. “The majority of Oklahoma parents and guardians have chosen in-person learning as the best option for their child, and many have told us…

Stitt loosens rules on quarantines

January 21, 2021

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that Oklahoma schools following safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, will be permitted to forgo the mandatory two-week quarantine period for potential COVID-19 exposures. Stitt and Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye emphasized the new Oklahoma State Department of Health policy is intended to keep students and teachers safe in…

Save Women’s Sports Act is filed

January 21, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom filed Senate Bill 331 which would protect female athletes from competing against males who identify as females in school-sponsored athletic events. Also known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, the measure expressly designates that athletic teams sponsored by a public or private school would be based on biological…

Redistricting meeting in Owasso

January 21, 2021

Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso, and Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, are inviting citizens to attend an upcoming town hall meeting on redistricting. The town hall will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 28, at the Tulsa Technology Center’s Sycamore Room, 10800 North 140 East Avenue in Owasso. Every ten years, following completion of the U.S….

Bill targets how federal funds spent

January 21, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to increase transparency when state agencies receive federal dollars, state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed a measure requiring the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to make a “Coercive Federal Funds Report” available online. Senate Bill 296 would require the report to include a detailed description of…

Fairness for home-based businesses

January 21, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to promote the creation of small businesses across the state, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, filed the Oklahoma Home-Based Business Fairness Act. Senate Bill 316 would ensure that no municipality could prohibit a home-based business to apply, register or obtain a permit, license, variance or other type of prior approval…