News

Senators vote to streamline the Charter School process

March 2, 2023 Ray Carter

State senators have voted to streamline the process for public charter schools to obtain sponsors, potentially shaving months off the application period required to open a new school. “My goal is not to have more charter schools; it’s to have higher-quality charter schools,” said state Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. Senate Bill 516, by Pugh, would…

Early voting begins Thursday

March 2, 2023

Early voting begins for the Special Election for State Question 820, Thursday, March 2 for voters in Tulsa County. Voters, who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their County Election Board. Tulsa County Election Board Secretary, Gwen Freeman, said early voting…

Bill Protecting K-5 Students from Sexual Content Passes Committee

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, today passed a bill in the House Common Education Committee that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-5. Any classroom instruction on these topics in grades 6-12 must be age appropriate for students. “This speaks directly to the heart of a parent’s…

House Education Plan Moves to Senate

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a two-part plan by Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, to provide a $500 million investment to public education and create the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. House Bill 2775 includes a $500 million increase in funding for public schools throughout the state that will fund…

Bill to organize books into age-appropriate categories clears Senate Education Committee

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Bill 397 was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. The bill, authored by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, would require school and public libraries to label books and other materials as elementary, junior high, under 16, or juniors and seniors. After receiving these designations, the materials would be placed in…

Distracted Driving Bill passes out of Public Safety Committee to House

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House Public Safety Committee intended to help further curb distracted driving. House Bill 2228 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver is holding or using a handheld cellular telephone or other electronic device when the vehicle is…

Bill to protect children from lewd or obscene acts or materials in public

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was approved Thursday to prohibit municipalities from allowing or permitting public events that minors can attend like parades, shows or concerts that feature lewd acts or obscene material. The Senate General Government Committee passed Sen. David Bullard’s Senate Bill 503, which would make such displays a felony, subject to civil action…

Bill strengthening penalties for domestic violence against pregnant women

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Domestic violence against a pregnant woman would become a felony on the first offense under legislation by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. Senate Bill 1046 was approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The measure was previously approved by the Public Safety Committee. Weaver said he met with domestic violence victims’ advocates this…

Bill to put LOFT in charge of determining savings from criminal justice reform

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a measure to better determine the amount of savings from a state question enacting criminal justice reform. Senate Bill 844, by Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, was first approved by the Health and Human Services Committee last week. Thompson, R-Okemah, said his legislation revisits the criminal…

Farm Freedom Bills in Committee

March 2, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Carl Newton advanced two pieces of legislation out of House Committees on Tuesday that would expand freedoms and protections for state farmers and ranchers. House Bill 1962 would allow any person age 14 to 16 who lives or is employed on a farm to apply for a farm permit authorizing them…