Legislative Update

Bill aids state’s disabled veterans

April 11, 2019

The Oklahoma House passed legislation helping community members volunteer as a guardian for veterans who have no available family. Senate Bill 931, by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, establishes the Veterans Volunteer Guardianship Act to provide a platform to recruit local volunteers to serve veterans who can no longer manage…

Proposal targets paternity fraud

April 11, 2019

A bill that would extend the time for men to prove paternity fraud passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2270, by Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, and Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Addington, would extend until a child’s 18th birthday the right of a judge to determine paternity fraud, freeing men from paying child support for children…

Bob Coburn is named to OTC

April 11, 2019

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat has appointed Bob Coburn of Muskogee to serve as a commissioner on the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. Coburn, a cousin of former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, is the first of two appointments the Senate president pro tempore made to the commission following the enactment of Senate Bill 457, legislation that…

Taylor nominated as a regent

April 11, 2019

Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed Steven W. Taylor to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Pending Senate confirmation, Taylor will serve a nine year term, effective May 17. “Chief Justice Taylor has been a dedicated public servant for the people of Oklahoma his entire career,” said Stitt. “He has a passion for education and…

Stevenson confirmed by senators

April 11, 2019

The Senate Education Committee in a unanimous vote on approved the nomination of Eric Stevenson to serve as the next member of the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma. The nomination was carried in committee by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. Stevenson was nominated to the post by Governor Kevin Stitt….

Fewer state bridges deemed dangerous

April 11, 2019

Bridge conditions in Oklahoma are improving, Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a recent meeting of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz introduced Stitt, who was attending his first commission meeting as governor. Stitt congratulated ODOT on its effort to address the condition of the state’s infrastructure, noting that…

Lankford’s bill to stop dismemberment

April 11, 2019

Senators James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, and Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, introduced the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2019. This bill would prohibit physicians from performing dismemberment abortions. It would impose a criminal fine, up to two years in prison, or both for individuals who perform this type of abortion. “Oklahomans and our nation are divided on…

Bill to prohibit vapor products on school property advances

April 4, 2019

The House Common Education Committee has passed a bill that will prohibit vapor products on school property. Senate Bill 33, authored by Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, and Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso, modifies the 24.7 Tobacco-Free Schools Act. The committee passed the bill 16-0. It is now eligible to be considered by the entire House. “This…

Task force to study retiree COLAs

April 4, 2019

President Pro Tempore Greg Treat appointed seven senators – including Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa – to serve on a pension group to study long-term pension reform as well as make recommendations to his office on pending pension reform legislation. Pending in the Senate is a House bill that would provide a 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment…

Troubled page program is restarted

April 4, 2019

The bipartisan task force assigned to evaluate the House of Representatives’ Page Program has voted unanimously to restart the program beginning this week with immediate changes. The Page Program Task Force has recommended moving to male only and female only weeks through the end of the legislative session as they continue to evaluate the program…