The Board of Equalization, chaired by Gov. J. Kevin Stitt, certified $8,249,071,274 in revenues for FY 2020 appropriations, which is $574.5 million, or 7.5 percent, more than was appropriated for FY 2019. This amount is $37.8 million, or 0.5 percent, less than the December estimate. The state treasurer reported that at the end of January,…
The Senate Education Committee approved a bill to essentially mandate five-day school weeks in Oklahoma schools. Senate Bill 441 by Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, says all public schools shall be in session for no less than 180 days. Currently, schools are to be in session for 1,080 hours. The bill provides exemptions to the five-day…
It is estimated that around two million Purple Hearts have been awarded by the U.S. Military since World War I. Sen. Frank Simpson authored Senate Bill 232 to recognize Oklahoma’s 1,340 recipients by designating Oklahoma a Purple Heart State. “So many Oklahomans have sacrificed life and limb for our country,” said Simpson, R-Springer. “We want…
The full Senate approved a bill aimed at helping save lives if students overdose on opioids while at school. State Sen. Greg McCortney is the author of Senate Bill 85, which adds school nurses or other designated employees to those who can administer life-saving opiate antagonists. The bill was approved unanimously. Currently, state law includes…
The Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee unanimously approved a bill by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would help more small business owners gain access to affordable health plans. Senate Bill 943 increases access to association health plans (AHP) by making state law closely reflect federal rule changes that allow more employer groups and associations…
Legislation aimed at improving mentorship passed the House Common Education Committee. House Bill 1412, co-authored by Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, seeks to modify the qualifications for lead teaching certificates by lowering the requirements from five years of certified teaching experience to either three years of certified teaching experience or a…
Legislation designed to better protect children in the custody of the Department Human Services passed off the House Floor on Tuesday. House Bill 1036, authored by Rep. Collin Walke, D-Oklahoma City, passed with a bipartisan vote of 94-3. The legislation would prohibit a parent who has had his or her parental rights terminated from being…
The Oklahoma House passed a measure that would allow citizens to carry a firearm without a permit. “This bill solidifies the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans while protecting private property rights,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “We worked with private businesses, schools and college campuses to ensure that their rights are protected.” House Bill…
A bill that would increase Oklahoma teachers’ pay passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee last week. During his State-of-the-State Address, Gov. Kevin Stitt called on the Legislature to increase teacher pay by $1,200 this year, and House Republicans made it a priority to accomplish early in the session. House Bill 1780, by…
Two bills aimed at making it easier for Oklahomans with occupational licenses to work passed in the House of Representatives last week. House Bill 2477, by House Speaker Charles McCall, would amend current law to require the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) garnish wages of a non-compliant taxpayer rather than revoke or not renew the taxpayer’s…