Legislative Update

Phased re-opening of OSU campuses

May 14, 2020

Oklahoma State University is planning a phased reopening of campuses to employees and visitors starting June 1. This plan aligns with phase three of the state’s reopening date for all workplaces while also considering the needs of our vulnerable populations. This includes staggered department schedules for in-office work, surveying workspaces and classrooms for any social…

Meat processing infections in Guymon

May 14, 2020

The Seaboard Foods meat processing plant in Guymon, Oklahoma, has reported more than 116 coronavirus infections to the Oklahoma State Health Department. According to its website, the company said it has taken preventative steps, including: Prescreening workers Monitoring for flu-like symptoms Requiring all employees to wear face masks Social distancing within the plant An increase…

TCC back on campus in the fall

May 14, 2020

Tulsa Community College will resume in-person classes for Fall 2020 across all four main campuses, two community campuses and Education Outreach Center. The Fall 2020 course schedule required TCC to alter 80 percent of its class sections to provide options in online, online live, blended and face-to-face classes. TCC will finalize changes by May 18….

State tax collections plummet in April

May 14, 2020

State tax revenues plunged by more than half a billion dollars in April as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts the economy, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said. The April total was $1.08 billion, a drop of $502.5 million, or 31.8 percent, from April 2019. The economic impact hit all major revenue streams, but really dropped income tax…

False unemployment claims skyrocket

May 14, 2020 Trisha Gedon

STILLWATER – Oklahoma has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of unemployment claims, officials said. Unfortunately, some of those 51,124 claims have proven to be fraudulent. The Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission has reported at least 3,800 fraudulent claims have been filed since mid-March this year, said Cindy Clampet, Oklahoma State University Extension assistant resource…

Bus firm complains that Tulsa wants to break its lease

May 14, 2020

(PRNewswire) – The City of Tulsa is threatening to evict IC Bus from its school bus manufacturing facility at the Tulsa International Airport, a move which would cost the city and the state of Oklahoma 1,600 jobs. IC Bus executives say in January 2020, the City of Tulsa, at the direction of Mayor G.T. Bynum,…

Bynum says the city doesn’t want to evict bus company

May 14, 2020

Tulsa city officials said a claim by IC Bus of Oklahoma and their parent company Navistar that the City of Tulsa threatened to evict them from their local facility is false. According to a Tulsa press release, “The City of Tulsa has no intent of issuing an eviction notice as the city is currently under…

State tax collections plummet in April

May 14, 2020

Don’t ban 4-day weeks in schools

May 7, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, is calling on the State Department of Education to cancel and resubmit its proposed rules on waivers from new school year calendar requirements limiting four-day school weeks that are favored by many rural districts. Last year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 441, which requires school districts to…

Oklahoma’s beef industry in trouble

May 7, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, met with Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter regarding his request of an investigation into the Oklahoma beef industry. He sent a follow-up letter expressing appreciation for Hunter’s quick response to his initial request and commending Hunter’s staff for how quickly they addressed his concerns. Humphrey said Hunter’s…