Legislative Update

Abortion ruling puts focus on state judicial appointments

April 6, 2023

A recent ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which controversially declared that the Oklahoma Constitution provides a right to abortion under certain circumstances despite the constitution containing no language regarding abortion, is prompting renewed focus on how Oklahoma justices and judges are selected and appointed. “I want judicial reform for a myriad of reasons,” said…

Senate Approves Historic Education Funding Package

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate today gave passage to its historic $700 million education package. Senators voted overwhelmingly on both measures 40 – to – 7 on House Bill 1935 and 46 – to – 2 on House Bill 2775, approving the single largest appropriations increase to education in state history, sending it…

Measure Could Allow Installment Payments on Property Tax

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation allowing county treasurers to provide the opportunity for residents to prepay ad valorem taxes is heading to the Senate. Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, said senior citizens and other Oklahomans living on a fixed income deserve flexibility and options to pay their property tax. “Property taxes are the only tax Oklahomans can’t…

House Passes Legislation that Would Compensate Teachers for Additional Students

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House on Tuesday passed a bill that would grant additional compensation to elementary school teachers whose classrooms exceed size limits. House Bill 2009 is authored by Rep. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow. “When a teacher is asked to teach additional students, they are taking on more responsibilities,” Davis said. “They should be…

Bill to ban elementary school sex-ed and transgender lessons passes House

March 30, 2023

By an overwhelming margin, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have voted to prohibit classroom lessons on sexual orientation or gender identity in Oklahoma elementary schools. “The spirit of the bill is to prevent discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity outside of parents’ knowledge,” said state Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa. House Bill 2546,…

Senate passes bills to reform medical marijuana

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate continued their efforts Thursday to improve public safety within the medical marijuana industry. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, said the bills focus on youth access, medical education, product potency, recalls, and other important issues requested by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). “Medical marijuana was overwhelmingly supported by Oklahoma voters in…

Senate bill to allow OMMA director to shut down marijuana operations

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate approved legislation Monday to address environmental concerns related to marijuana grows. Sen. Joe Newhouse, R- Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 808, which authorizes the executive director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to order licensees to cease and desist operations if the director finds that an environmental…

Teachers and other certified personnel to get up to $6,000 pay raise under Senate plan

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to provide an across-the-board pay increase for Oklahoma’s teachers and certified school personnel received overwhelming support in the Senate Tuesday. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, the chairman of the Education Committee and Education Appropriation Subcommittee, authored Senate Bill 482 to provide a scaled pay increase ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 based…

Women’s Bill of Rights passes the OK House

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved the Women’s Bill of Rights, preserving biological sex as a distinct legal category. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, authored House Bill 1449, which clarifies how people of both biological sexes are treated under state law by defining ‘sex’ as a person’s biological sex, whether male or…

House Approves two Bills to help Seniors

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City, has advanced two bills benefiting seniors in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Rep. Wolfley passed House Bill 2020, which increases the Oklahoma income tax exemption for retirement benefits from $10,000 to $20,000 beginning in the tax year 2024. “The exemption for retirement income hasn’t been…