Legislative Update

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…

Bill to help Oklahoma families

January 21, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation aimed at providing greater educational choice for families dealing with bullying and health issues, particularly during the pandemic. “The physical and mental health of Oklahoma students is the focus of each of these bills. We should always put children, their futures, and what their…

Newhouse: Election reform is needed

January 14, 2021

Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, wants all 50 states to return to using paper ballots to cut down on the voter fraud that impacted the 2020 presidential election. The voter problems, which could have swung the election from President Trump to Joe Biden, has angered more than 70 million Americans who legally cast ballots for Trump….

Sen. Greg Treat re-elected

January 14, 2021

The Oklahoma Senate on unanimously re-elected Senator Greg Treat as president pro tempore and adopted rules for the coming 58th Legislature. This will be the third session for Treat to serve as pro tem, the Senate’s top leadership position. The Oklahoma City Republican’s nomination was made by Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, and…

Black Caucus complains

January 14, 2021

The Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus strongly opposed objections to the certification of the Electoral College count by at least 13 Republican senators, including Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, 140 Republican members of the US Congress, including Oklahoma’s Reps. Kevin Hern and Markwayne Mullin. “Democracy should not be destroyed. President-elect Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris won,” said State…

House Leaders appointed

January 14, 2021

House of Representatives committee leadership and Republican majority leadership appointments have been made for the 58th Oklahoma Legislature. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, was formally elected by the full House to his third two-year term as speaker, making him the longest-serving Republican speaker in state history. Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, was formally elected…

Bills filed to strengthen election integrity

November 26, 2020

State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed a series of election integrity bills to further strengthen and secure the state’s election systems and encourage the United States Congress to do the same. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 would work to help strengthen election integrity across the country and bring the focus back to the Constitutional provisions…

State House mandates masks at the Capitol

November 26, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House of Representatives space in the Capitol now has a mask policy consistent with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order concerning masks for state buildings and employees. “Because executive orders do not apply to the legislative branch, the House will observe the same mask policy the governor set for the rest of…

Rep. O’Donnell is Speaker Pro tem

November 26, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Republican Caucus has elected its leadership for the 58th Legislature and State Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, was elected speaker pro-tempore-elect. He replaces State Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, who was term-limited this year. The legislative session convenes Feb. 1, 2021. “I’m grateful to have been selected to fill this leadership role…