A bill that would allow city employees to carry firearms for protection at work passed out of the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 2547, by state Rep. Sean Roberts, would allow municipalities to pass ordinances that authorize all or certain municipal employees to carry concealed firearms. The bill would require those employees to…
The Senate has passed a measure that would prohibit law enforcement entities from requiring officers, justices or judges to meet traffic citation quotas. Authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, Senate Bill 1264 would prohibit any political subdivision or agency of the state to maintain, require or suggest that employee evaluations, promotions, compensation or discipline…
The House of Representatives passed legislation to grant cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees in six Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges. House Bill 3350 passed with a unanimous bipartisan vote of 99-0. “Our state retirees have not had a cost-of-living adjustment for 12 years, even as their health…
Anyone who wants an absentee ballot for the April 7 elections should apply now, according to Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman. Freeman urged voters to apply now even though the Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. April 1. The ballot on April will have: Tulsa Public School Board,…
State Rep. Mark McBride. R-Moore, won passage of legislation that recognizes Israel as one of Oklahoma’s top trade partners and the nation’s greatest ally in the Middle East. House Bill 3967 specifies that unless exempted by the secretary of state, the state of Oklahoma will not enter into contracts with companies that advocate boycotts, divestments…
State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, honored the legacy of former United States Sen. Tom Coburn with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 41, which calls for an Article V Convention of States to amend the U.S. Constitution. Coburn is a staunch advocate for a convention and has said it is the only way to halt…
A bill that was an attempt to better address academic concerns and related issues within the state’s two largest public school districts is dead this session. That’s according to the bill’s author, Senate Education Committee Chair, Gary Stanislawski. “Senate Bill 600 would have allowed the people of Oklahoma City and Tulsa to vote to split…
State Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, passed legislation to update the statutory income qualifier to claim an additional homestead exemption through the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The qualifier has not been raised since 1997. House Bill 3653 increases the statutory income qualifier to claim an additional homestead exemption from $20,000 to $25,000. The additional homestead exemption…
Save the elephants and their trainers! That’s the call from Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, the author of House Bill 2895, which would protect the elephants and the elephant handlers at the Endangered Ark Foundation, a private nonprofit in Hugo, from potential animal cruelty statutory provisions. “We have a circus in our district that has a…
The House will consider legislation clarifying cities’ and counties’ authority to regulate the smoking and vaping of medical marijuana in public places. Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, is the author of Senate Bill 1296, which he says is needed to clear up confusion as to where citizens can use their medical products. The bill passed out…