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Legislative Update

Sanctuary cities banned under proposed state bill

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. Nathan Dahm wants to crack down on the state’s sanctuary city policies. Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed Senate Bill 1459, which prohibits any municipality in Oklahoma to adopt a sanctuary policy. Under the bill, any city or town that enacts such a policy would be ineligible for state funding through agencies and grants. “In the…

‘Year of the Bible’ proposal gains lawmaker, businessmen support

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation filed by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, would declare 2020 the “Year of the Bible.” Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 would recognize the unique contribution the Bible has made in shaping the United States, including that biblical teachings inspired civil government concepts found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The resolution also recognizes…

Make America Great and Keep America Great state license plates

Tulsa Beacon

Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” license plates may soon be cruising by in a lane near you. Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed Senate Bill 1384, which would create special “Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” Oklahoma license plates. Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, is co-author of the bill.  “With…

Bill to ban traffic citation quotas

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed a bill prohibiting law enforcement entities from enacting policies that require officers, justices or judges to meet traffic citation quotas. “It’s no secret that some jurisdictions may emphasize writing tickets at different times to try and generate more revenue,” Dahm said. “Our peace officers shouldn’t be pushed by their…

Gov. Stitt sets new record with pardons

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed 62 commutations, 93 pardons and 23 paroles, bringing the total signed during his first year to 774 commutations, 290 pardons and 101 paroles. “This has been a historic year for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma,” said Stitt. “Under new leadership in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and at the Pardon and Parole…

End Death Penalty bill

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, filed House Bill 2876 which would remove the death penalty from among the options in Oklahoma for sentencing in capital cases. “I’m proud to be a part of the important progress we’ve made toward criminal justice reform,” Dunnington said. “Oklahomans are becoming more aware of the wasted costs of…

Reduce sentencing bill

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation providing juvenile offenders a second chance by preventing harsh sentencing was recently filed by Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City. Senate Bill 1189 not only prohibits life without parole sentences for juveniles, but also prohibits a mandatory minimum sentence that exceeds 20 years for any offender under the age of 18. The bill would also…

Create hazard district

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, authored House Bill 2776, The Oklahoma Hazard Mitigation Assessment District Act, which provides the framework for residents in each county to elect and establish a hazard mitigation assessment district. House Bill 2776 is the first piece of legislation to be introduced following interim studies Sims hosted to conduct a review…

Rep. Gann to run again

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola (House District 8), will run for a third term with the Oklahoma House of Representatives.  First elected in 2016, Gann became one of only two elected state representatives that do not take lobbyist or PAC money.  Gann has remained true to that pledge and will continue to represent the 8th…

Surprise medical billing

Tulsa Beacon

State Reps. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, Chris Sneed, R-Muskogee, and Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, commented on the ongoing discussions to eliminate surprise medical billing in Oklahoma. A surprise medical bill is a bill an out-of-network health provider issues to a covered insured person for health care services in an amount greater than the patient’s cost-sharing obligation that…