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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

Phaseout of Oklahoma Income Tax continues to advance

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation that would gradually phase out Oklahoma’s tax on work and investment—the personal income tax—continues to move ahead, clearing its first Oklahoma Senate hurdle this week. House Bill 1539, by state Rep. Mark Lepak and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, would cut Oklahoma’s 4.75-percent personal income-tax rate by a quarter point each time that net state…

Republican special elections headed to runoff May 13th

Tulsa Beacon

The April 1st Special Election primaries for House Districts 71 and 74 resulted in two Republican runoff elections and one Democrat primary decided. Amanda Swope resigned from House District 71 and the Republican primary for that district sported three Republican candidates.  Attorney Beverly A. Atteberry garnered almost enough votes to win out with 48.56 percent…

Initiative-petition reforms clear OK house committee

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation that would require initiative-petition efforts to gather signatures from Oklahomans across the state has cleared another legislative hurdle, easily winning approval in a state House committee. “The integrity of our election system is essential for our democracy to survive and thrive, and that’s what this legislation is about,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow….

State revenues show strong growth

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY  – Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ announced the state’s tax revenue for March topped $1.31 billion, marking an 11.4% increase over the previous month. The report reflects widespread month-over-month growth across all major tax sources, a sign of resilience as the state’s economy adjusts to shifting national conditions. “All tax sources for the…

Bill to Penalize Trafficking of Abortion-Inducing Drugs Moves to Senate

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, on Tuesday passed legislation in the House that would outlaw the trafficking of chemical abortion pills. House Bill 1168 would create a felony trafficking offense for anyone who knows or has reason to know that another person intends to use an abortion-inducing drug and knowingly delivers such…

Senate Approves Bill to Strengthen Penalties for Dangerous Police Pursuits

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate has passed Senate Bill 871, authored by Senator Aaron Reinhardt, to enhance public safety by increasing penalties for individuals who cause accidents while attempting to elude law enforcement. Senate Bill 871 adds the crime of causing an accident that results in great bodily injury while fleeing from law enforcement…

Ford Bills Move to Senate

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week commented on his legislation that passed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now moves to the Senate for consideration. “I’m glad to send these measures onto the next step as I believe they would help Oklahomans,” Ford said. “From getting sexual assault victims more…

Senate passes Bullard bill to educate Oklahomans on signs of deed theft

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday unanimously passed critical legislation from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, to educate real estate brokers and homebuyers about the threats of deed theft. Senate Bill 877 requires the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission to establish standards for real estate brokers to complete continuing education courses to recognize the signs…

House Approves Increased Payments to Foster Families

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a measure to increase reimbursement payments to foster families for the first time since 2018. Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, filed House Bill 2030 after a foster family in his district had to turn away a placement of three siblings because they didn’t have the…

House Passes Bill Banning Sale of Lab Grown Meat

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed a measure prohibiting the manufacture and sale of cultivated meat products in the state. House Bill 2829, authored by Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, hold or offer for sale any cultivated meat product in Oklahoma. Violators would be guilty…