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Oklahoma Senate Committee advances new tax-reform plan

Tulsa Beacon

This year’s legislative session has included much focus on addressing the problems created by Oklahoma’s tax on work and investment, the personal income tax. Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for lowering the top tax rate from 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent and putting the tax on a path to complete repeal over time. Both chambers…

Oklahoma school-board election shift moves ahead

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation that would shift Oklahoma’s school-board elections to better-known election dates that draw higher turnout has cleared two House committees and is now eligible to be heard by the entire membership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Senate Bill 6, by state Sen. Ally Seifried and state Rep. Chris Banning, would move school-board elections to…

Business pandemic bill advances to Stitt’s desk

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, on Monday won passage of legislation that prohibits the governor from closing any business during a pandemic without documented scientific evidence that the nature of the business actually contributes to the spread of the disease. Senate Bill 672 now moves to the governor’s desk for his consideration of…

Death Penalty for First Child Rape Offense Passes House Oversight Committee

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, today passed a bill in oversight committee that would add the death penalty as a possible punishment for any person convicted of a first offense of forcible anal or oral sodomy, rape, or rape by instrumentation of a child under the age of 14. Senate Bill 599 passed…

Senate Committee Approves Tax Credit Bill to Support Pregnancy Resource Centers

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee this week easily passed legislation to establish an income tax credit for individuals who donate to pregnancy resource centers. On Monday, the committee advanced House Bill 1201 by Rep. Cody Maynard and Sen. David Bullard, both Republicans from Durant. The bill provides an income tax credit…

House Passes Resolution Declaring “Christ is King”

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Thursday adopted House Concurrent Resolution 1013, which proclaims “Christ is King” during the observance of Holy Week. Authored by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, the resolution affirms Oklahoma’s deep-rooted spiritual heritage and the enduring faith that unites communities. Olsen said that adopting the resolution during Holy Week,…

Standridge Advances Bill to Prevent Additional Taxes, Fees for Utility Ratepayers

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, on Thursday successfully advanced legislation to prevent utility customers from being burdened with additional fees and taxes as a result of Winter Storm Uri. The Senate Energy Committee passed House Bill 1220, which prevents municipalities from imposing franchise fees or taxes on the repayment of securitization funds obtained…

Initiative-petition reforms head to OK House floor

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation that would require initiative-petition efforts to gather signatures from Oklahomans across the state is now headed to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The bill passed over the objections of urban Democrats who argued the legislation would reduce the ability of urban areas to dominate initiative-petition efforts. Senate Bill 1027, by state…

Tulsa Gas prices down again

Tulsa Beacon

Average gasoline prices in Tulsa have fallen 9.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.68/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 321 stations in Tulsa. Prices in Tulsa are 7.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 52.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price…

Plant-It-OK is a new OSU Dept of Horticulture App

Tulsa Beacon

The OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will soon release Plant-It OK, a new horticulture app designed to help Oklahomans make informed decisions about landscapes and plants. The app is undergoing final pilot testing and will be available for download in April. The platform will provide a comprehensive and easy-to-use database of Oklahoma-centric ornamental…