Legislative Update

Bill offers a clearer picture of federal spending in state

March 21, 2019

The Senate approved legislation to provide the public and legislature with a clearer picture of what federal funds Oklahoma receives and spends. Senate Bill 271, by Sen. Nathan Dahm, will require state agencies that receive federal funds to annually publish a list on their website of the funds, what programs they are used for and…

Stitt gets more authority

March 21, 2019

Passage of five reorganizational bills will give Gov. Kevin Stitt and future governors more authority to hire and fire agency leaders for the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority (SB 456), Oklahoma Department of Transportation (SB 457), Oklahoma Department of Corrections (HB 2480), Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (HB 2479), and Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance…

Tax credits for teachers

March 21, 2019

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure that would provide Oklahoma school teachers some financial relief when they spend money out of pocket for their classrooms. House Bill 2502, by House Speaker Charles McCall, would provide a $1,000 tax credit that teachers can claim for classroom expenditures and fees associated with the teacher certification…

Bill to expand OLAP

March 21, 2019

The House passed a bill that extends eligibility to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OLAP), granting access to college tuition for students who otherwise might not be able to attend college. House Bill 2227, authored by State Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, extends OLAP for qualifying students in 11th or 12th grades or who are…

More retiree benefits

March 21, 2019

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would grant an increase in retirement benefits to retirees of Oklahoma’s six retirement systems. House Bill 2304, authored by State Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, would give a permanent 4 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) to all retirees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Firefighters…

No to teacher bonus ban

March 21, 2019

A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate, 22-20. Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their…

More rules for charters

March 21, 2019

A bill to require the same level of transparency from virtual charter schools as other public schools passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 1395 amends language in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act of 2012 to hold virtual charter schools subject to the same financial reporting requirements and audits as traditional school districts. The…

Democrat bill seeks ban on ‘conversion therapy’

March 14, 2019

Some House Democrats – including three from Tulsa – want to ban “conversion therapy” for children troubled with homosexuality and to add “sexual orientation” to the category of state “hate crimes.” House Bill 2456 by Rep. Jason Dunningham, D-Oklahoma City, would prohibit a state-licensed therapist from telling a youthful patient they can be cured of…

Bill expands governor’s powers

March 14, 2019

The Oklahoma Senate overwhelmingly passed two government accountability measures that are a part of a larger deal to give the governor the ability to hire the heads of five of the largest state agencies. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s bills would give the governor the ability to hire and fire the head of the…

Marijuana ‘unity’ bill

March 14, 2019

Sen. Greg McCortney is the chair of the Rules Committee and Senate principal author of House Bill 2612, creating the safety and regulatory framework necessary for Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry after voters approved State Question 788 last June. The measure has already been approved by the House. The legislation is the result of work by…