Bills to curb marijuana

Five bills to further regulate marijuana were advanced this month. “Since the passage of State Question 788, the Legislature has worked diligently to implement medical marijuana responsibly, as the people wanted, while being proactive to address unforeseen issues,” Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, said. These bills include: HB3019 allows medical marijuana packaging to be clear in…

Tax breaks for veterans

The House passed HB3693 which would grant Oklahoma veterans a full tax exemption on retirement benefits they receive as a result of their service. Under the legislation, veterans would receive a 100% tax exemption on their retirement benefits, beginning Jan. 1, 2023. Currently, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces receive tax exemptions for up to…

Freezing valuations at 65

The House passed House Joint Resolution 1047 by Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, that would freeze the assessed value of a home when it comes to ad valorem taxes for Oklahomans when they reach the age of 65. Manger said, “By freezing this valuation, Oklahomans 65 and older can more properly budget their fixed incomes…

Caregivers’ tax breaks

The House passed HB3371 by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, that would grant an income tax credit for caregivers. It would create an income tax credit equal to half of the expenses of providing care for an older loved who is certified to need help with at least two activities of daily living. The non-refundable…

Daylight savings bill

The House passed HB3146 that would authorize a vote of the people on a proposal that could permanently end Daylight Savings Time in Oklahoma. Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, said Oklahomans would vote on a statutory amendment that if approved would lock the clock on Central Standard Time in Oklahoma and do away with the twice-yearly…

Car sales tax reforms

The Senate approved two bills authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, that would change how the state collects sales tax on vehicle purchases and how long citizens have to register that new purchase. SB1486  would modify the formula used to calculate how much sales tax is owed on the purchase of a vehicle. Under current…

2nd Amendment bill

Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, passed a bill out of the House  that would disallow the state of Oklahoma to contract with any company that discriminates against the firearms industry. “This is a constitutionally protected industry, and the majority of Oklahomans are very much in favor of protecting Second Amendment rights,” West said. “Yet there are…

A host of bills concerning public education were advanced this month in the Oklahoma Legislature. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1126 by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, to give schools more flexibility in how and when they spend general carryover funds. “We must stop penalizing our local districts for being fiscally responsible and wanting to save…

Early voting for school board election is March 31-April 1

Early voting for the April 5 election begins March 31, according to Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman. Early voting is open to all voters. “You do not need to provide an excuse to vote early,” Freeman said. “Oklahoma allows early voting for all elections conducted through the State Election Board – from school…

Changes to OK schools’ report cards

The  Oklahoma State Department of Education added new data to the Oklahoma School Report Card.  The additions, required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, include data on teacher qualifications and information from the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The CRDC measures student access to courses, programs, staff and resources that impact education “equity” and…