A bill to require initiative petitions to indicate if the proposed measure will have a fiscal impact on the state, and if so, name a funding source passed the House Appropriations & Budget Committee. Senate Bill 947, by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, would require the fiscal information to…
The Oklahoma House of Representatives adopted a resolution to emphasize the critical role public lands play in the state’s economy, heritage and quality of life. State and federally-owned public land constitutes just over 6% of the land in Oklahoma. Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, authored House Resolution 1002 to draw attention to Oklahoma’s public lands. He…
City council races, school board races and bond issues will be on several ballots on April 6 throughout Tulsa County. Here is a rundown of those votes. Broken Arrow City Council Ward 1 The candidates are Jonathan Kelly, Cathy Smythe and Debra Wimpee. Kelly is a businessman, an author and a Forbes.com contributor. He is…
House Resolutions 1009 and 1010 sponsored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, were adopted in the House. The two resolutions assert Oklahoma’s state sovereignty in the face of multiple attempts by the federal government to usurp states’ rights. In particular, the resolutions are meant to combat H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2021” and…
A bill aimed at expanding the state Rainy Day Fund passed out of the House on with unanimous approval. House Joint Resolution 1001, by Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, provides Oklahoma voters the opportunity to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to allow more money to be saved in the Constitutional Reserve Fund, better known as the…
The Senate approved to a measure that would require insurers to provide a detailed notice to both the patient and health care provider when denying a claim. Authored by Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, Senate Bill 550 would require the notification to include the reason for denial and instructions on where a person or entity could…
The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Act, which would establish regulations for health care providers wishing to participate in Medicaid within Oklahoma passed out of the House. House Bill 1091 specifies how claims are to be processed, ensures payments made to providers are timely and that rates are following the fee schedules in effect at the…
A bill that would prohibit the courts from extending the terms of tenancy failed the House on a vote of 26-51. House Bill 1564 by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, would have allowed a landlord to immediately apply to a sheriff for enforcement of the right to possession upon the entry of a judgment. The measure…
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to protect churches as essential in the state of Oklahoma. Senate Bill 368, by David Bullard, R-Durant, creates the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, prohibiting declaration of religious institutions as nonessential. SB 368 prohibits any governmental entity from declaring or deeming a religious institution and any activity directly related to the institution’s…