The process for state questions would be more transparent and modernized under two bills passed by the House Rules Committee. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, authored House Bills 3826 and 3827 to improve the initiative and referendum petition processes used to place state questions on the ballot. “Petitions for state questions are increasingly popular, and…
A pair of bills aimed at increasing accountability for those convicted of domestic violence have been approved by the full Senate. Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is the author of both measures. Senate Bill 1103 deals with domestic violence attacks that deal with strangulation, a crime that is often a precursor to domestic homicide. Senate Bill…
The full Senate approved a child safety bill with the passage of Senate Bill 1303. Authored by Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, the measure would require any child under the age of 17 to wear a seat belt while riding in the back seat of a vehicle. Current Oklahoma law only requires children under the age…
The House Government Efficiency Committee passed legislation to modernize Oklahoma’s human resources model for state employees. House Bill 3094, by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, creates the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act. The act places all new hires into a newly-modernized civil service system called Human Capital Management Administration (HCMA), beginning Jan. 1, 2021….
The House of Representatives passed a bill to address doctor shortages in rural areas. House Bill 3823, by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, authorizes a $25,000 tax credit for doctors who move to a rural community to practice. It passed 84-3 and heads to the Senate. Doctors who are new to the rural area and…
Born in 1952, Linda Lewis did not envision being a caretaker for two young children during her golden years. But when her grandson was incarcerated and the mother of her great-grandchildren ran afoul of the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma City resident became the legal guardian for two of her great-grandchildren: a seven-year-old great-granddaughter…
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) joined 29 other states last week in Washington, D.C. working with federal partners on the monitoring and response to COVID-19. To date, there are two persons under investigation in Oklahoma. While testing is pending, the routine process of investigating suspected infectious disease events is to identify contacts who…
Due to continuing growth of new businesses in Tulsa County, John A. Wright, Tulsa County Assessor, wants new and existing business owners, including home-based businesses, to remember to file their business personal property returns (Form 901) by March 15th with the County Assessor’s Office. Copies of the Form 901 are available at the assessor’s website…
Every other week, Broken Arrow students get a visit from Tiger Tails, Broken Arrow High School’s therapy dog program. “Therapy dogs are here to make us feel good, help us to be less stressed, have a peaceful moment,” said Karen Holman, Tiger Tails founder and Broken Arrow High School teacher. “They are great at helping…
The fees for the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan are getting lower, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said. Effective since February, the management fee for Oklahoma¹s official college saving plan is being reduced by more than 16 percent. The new management fee will be 0.25 percent on account balances, down from 0.3 percent. The fee reduction…