Legislative Update

A bill to temporarily revoke a doctor’s license called ‘comical’

February 13, 2020

The Oklahoma House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation directing the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision and the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to temporarily revoke the licenses of physicians who perform abortions. House Bill 1182, authored by State Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, would revoke the license for one year. An amendment filed prior to…

Immigration cooperation bill advances

February 13, 2020

Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, passed House Bill 3195 through the House . The legislation would direct all sheriffs, jailers and deputies to comply with any request made in an immigration retainer request provided by the federal government. The legislation would require the person identified in the immigration detainer to be informed they are being held…

Raise Rainy Day cap

February 13, 2020

State Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow, said Oklahomans should decide if the legislature can save additional funds each year by increasing the constitutional savings cap on the Rainy Day Fund, which is the state’s emergency savings account. The legislature has the discretionary power to decide how much money to save while building the yearly state…

Stitt battling red tape, regulations

February 13, 2020

Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order to address Oklahoma’s excessive red tape and implement regulation reform. “Oklahoma’s administrative code is double the size of the state of Kansas and 20 percent more than Missouri and New Mexico,” said Stitt. “In order for us to become a Top Ten State, we must reduce outdated…

Court blocks redistricting petition

February 13, 2020

A group vowed to refile Initiative Petition 420 to create an independent redistricting commission after the Supreme Court of Oklahoma announced their ruling against the policy. “This proposal has been misleading and overly-complicated from day one, and we are pleased the court recognized that by striking it down,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “The…

GOP, Democrat senators to cooperate

February 13, 2020

Two Tulsa senators serving as caucus chairs have pledged to work together in the 2020 Legislative Session currently underway. Sen. Dave Rader, a Tulsa Republican elected to the Senate in 2016, is the Majority Caucus Chair. Rader helps develop the majority caucus agenda, presides over caucus meetings and assists with policy development. “I’m looking forward…

Gov. Stitt unveils Medicaid reform as ‘20 session opens

February 6, 2020

SoonerCare 2.0’ coming The 2020 Oklahoma Legislature opened its session Monday while Gov. Kevin Stiff announced plans to reform Medicaid in Oklahoma. Stitt met with Trump administration officials, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, in Washington, D.C., to announce the Healthy Adult…

‘Pro-life’ website is lying

February 6, 2020

Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, is criticizing unnamed pro-life leaders that he claims are spreading blatantly false information regarding Senate Bill 13, also known as the Abolition of Abortion Act. A website (www.abolitiontruth.org) was launched. The origin and creator of the website are unknown. “Oklahomans who value life are infuriated that someone claiming to be…

Compliance with ICE bill

February 6, 2020

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, filed legislation recently that would require sheriffs, wardens, and other operators of detention facilities to comply with federal immigration officers. House Bill 4115 requires operators of state, city and county detention facilities to honor federal immigration detainers of an inmate for no less than 48 hours after the inmate would otherwise…

4-day school week rules

February 6, 2020

Rep. Ty Burns, R-Morrison, said new rules released by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE) to govern schools wishing to continue four-day school weeks are “unfair” and “unobtainable.” Last year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 441, which allows school districts, beginning in the 2021-22 school year, to adopt an hours-only schedule – 1,080 instructional…