Legislative Update

Port assistance

November 14, 2019

State Reps. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, held an interim study to review critical maintenance issues of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), the impact of the system on surrounding communities, and current and future economic growth plans. “The reliability of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas Navigation System Channel is…

17.5-year-olds can preregister to vote

November 7, 2019

Oklahoma citizens will be able to pre-register to vote when they turn 17.5 years old thanks to a new law that went into effect on November 1. Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, and Rep. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, authored Senate Bill 496 this past session to make it easier for young voters to remember to get registered…

Smoking in the workplace study

November 7, 2019

House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, has scheduled an interim study to examine modernization to the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act as a way to address second-hand smoke exposure in Oklahoma. The House Health Services and Long-Term Care Committee’s study is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Room 432-A…

Lawmakers tour Pryor Schools

November 7, 2019

State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, helped welcome other lawmakers to Pryor Public Schools in his House District 8 this morning to get a closer look at the district’s successful workforce development programs offered to students from elementary to high school. “Pryor Schools is doing a fantastic job of preparing students not just for higher levels…

More oversight for state agencies

November 7, 2019

House Speaker Charles McCall has launched a new initiative to increase legislative oversight and assess the performance of agency governing boards. “The Legislature has been too deferential and hands-off with these governing boards for most of state history, and the House is going to change that,” said McCall, R-Atoka. McCall is assigning House committees to…

Survey: Pastors weren’t overly prepared for retirement

November 7, 2019 Aaron Earls

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most retirement age pastors and missionaries say their current life is close to ideal, but some who have entered retirement say they could’ve been better prepared. In a survey sponsored by Shepherd’s Fold Ministries, Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked 2,451 pastors, ministers and missionaries who were retired or at least 67 years old…

Folds of Honor helps the families of fallen heroes

November 7, 2019

OWASSO (PRNewswire) — Folds of Honor was founded by Captain Dan Rooney above his garage in 2007 with a dream to provide the gift of education to military families impacted by war. A veteran of three combat tours in Iraq, Rooney was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and today, he has a…

Gov. Stitt names Justin Brown as new director of DHS

June 13, 2019

Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed Justin Brown Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). “Justin is a fellow Oklahoman who has a strong record of helping healthcare and human-service oriented businesses become great success stories in their delivery of compassionate care,” said Stitt. “His time working at the Villagio Senior Living is just…

Bill reforms long-term care

June 13, 2019

SB 888 will allow seniors to take advantage of options counseling to ensure they are fully informed of their options prior to admission to a long-term care program, including less costly choices like home health and adult day services. One option provided under SB 888 is the PACE program, which is a Medicare and Medicaid…

Workers Comp reform bill passes

June 13, 2019

The Oklahoma Senate approved legislation that preserves and strengthens landmark workers’ compensation reforms adopted in 2013. House Bill 2367 passed unanimously and now goes to the governor’s desk for consideration. Senator Julie Daniels, Senate Judiciary Committee chair, is the Senate author of the bill and said HB 2367 clarifies and secures the reforms while addressing…