OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would protect motorists from criminal or civil prosecution when they make a reasonable effort to escape from a crowd unlawfully blocking the road and surrounding the vehicle passed the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee. Senate Bill 560 is authored by Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, and Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow. “Immunity…
The Senate Public Safety Committee approved a measure to better prepare inmates to rejoin society and the workforce. Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, is the Senate principal author of House Bill 1679, the “Sarah Stitt Act,” by Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Brian Hill, R-Mustang. The measure would require the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to…
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved legislation to better protect the health of residents in long-term care and assisted living centers. House Bill 1877, by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, creates new procedures to further slow the over-prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to elderly Oklahomans in such facilities. Coleman said, “This will ensure…
The Senate will soon be considering legislation designating Oklahoma’s wrecker safety statute in honor of an Oklahoma man who lost his life while on the job. Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, is the principal Senate author of House Bill 1584, also known as Bernardo’s Law. Born in Texas, Bernardo Martinez had lived in Oklahoma for…
A bill that would require initiative petitions to indicate if the proposed measure will have a fiscal impact on the state, and if so, name the potential funding source passed the House Appropriations & Budget Committee. Senate Bill 947, by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, would require the fiscal…
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents has selected Dr. Kayse Shrum as the 19th president of Oklahoma State University. The announcement follows an extensive national search by representatives from faculty, students, staff and alumni. Shrum is the current president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. Shrum will be…
House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, passed a bill in the House Administrative Rules Committee that he said will ensure agency rules go through a more transparent and thorough process before being approved or repealed. Senate Bill 913, by O’Donnell and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would create the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR)…
A bill to require initiative petitions to indicate if the proposed measure will have a fiscal impact on the state, and if so, name a funding source passed the House Appropriations & Budget Committee. Senate Bill 947, by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, would require the fiscal information to…
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…