Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

News

Oversight Committee passes Education Reform Bills

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Education Oversight Committee passed a pair of higher education reforms in House Bill 3700 would require state colleges and universities to implement a policy requiring students’ grades to be based only on academic performance, including attendance, and not on a student’s opinions, beliefs or conduct unrelated to academic situations. Caldwell…

Bill on Foreign Land Ownership Advances from Committee

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, secured committee passage of a bill that would add criminal penalties to Oklahoma’s existing prohibitions on hostile foreign ownership of land. While state law already restricts certain foreign ownership of property, Shaw said current statutes lack meaningful criminal enforcement mechanisms. House Bill 1453 would close that gap by…

High Dosage Tutoring Bill Passes Education Committee

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY- The Oklahoma Senate Education Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 1366 on Tuesday. The bill, authored by Senator Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, would establish a statewide high-dosage tutoring program to serve students in grades K-8 who are falling behind. Under the bill, students in participating districts will benefit from focused, small-group tutoring designed to offer…

Third-grade reading reform moves ahead

Tulsa Beacon

With Oklahoma’s third-grade reading outcomes among the worst in the nation, state lawmakers have advanced legislation that requires early intervention for struggling readers in elementary school and mandatory retention for students who end the third grade reading years below grade level. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said Oklahoma cannot afford to continue its current trajectory….

TPS announces layoff of 50 administrative staff

Tulsa Beacon

Late last week Tulsa Public Schools released a statement that it was asking its Board to layoff 50 positions from the administrative staff.  With fewer students enrolled and budgets to be balanced with the new fiscal year beginning in July, these staff would still have their contracts honored until the end of the fiscal year…

Broken Arrow GO Bond will be voted on April 7

Tulsa Beacon

On April 7, Broken Arrow voters will consider eight propositions as part of the Build Our Future BA 2026 General Obligation (GO) Bond. Before the election, the city will hold several Public Meetings to provide clear information about each proposition, helping voters make informed decisions. Four forums are scheduled at different locations, and all residents…

Blocking Medicaid for illegals clears first hurdle

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation preventing illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer-funded Medicaid coverage has easily cleared its first legislative hurdle. House Bill 4423, by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify a Medicaid applicant’s citizenship status using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. Under the bill, no benefits may be provided to…

Bill advances in House to stop foreign straw land purchases

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill in committee that would criminalize a straw purchase of property on behalf of a foreign national. House Bill 3495 would make it unlawful to knowingly and willfully purchase or attempt to obtain any property on behalf of a foreign national. Punishment would…

Bill to safeguard electricity customers from unfair costs

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, unanimously passed HB 3392 out of the House Utility Committee with a 9-0 vote. The measure directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to examine how large, energy-intensive industrial projects like data centers impact our electric ‎grid and ensure that everyday Oklahomans aren’t stuck paying for electricity they did…

Bill to protect residential energy customers advances

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, passed HB 3917 unanimously out of the Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee. The measure requires data centers to pay a surcharge during peak demand periods, protecting residential customers from rate hikes and funding grid modernization. “I want to thank the Committee Chair and Committee for hearing…