Our guest speaker this month is Oklahoma State Sen. Dana Prieto who represents Senate District 34. The 9.12 June meeting will be at Spirit Life Church, 5345 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, at 6:30 p.m. on June 8. As a freshman Senator, Prieto has a unique perspective on the State Legislature, and the Senate in particular….
A provision snuck into legislation funding Oklahoma public schools could force the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to apply for federal grants that were a priority of the prior Democratic state superintendent of public instruction. The mandate comes at a time when the Biden administration is openly trying to use federal funding to force…
Although lawmakers are expected to adjourn from the current budget-focused special session without passing a major tax cut, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he may continue to push for one in the coming weeks. “I’m considering calling people back for another special session to get a tax cut done,” Stitt said. “You know, when you think…
Oklahoma State Department of Education regulations that ban pornographic materials in public-school libraries and spell out parental rights in schools have received approval from Oklahoma lawmakers. Lawmakers’ decision to approve the rules is a victory for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, who championed adoption of the new regulations. In March, at Walters’ urging,…
After weeks of negotiations, Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced they have reached an agreement on a public-school funding plan that also clears the way for enactment of a major expansion of school choice in Oklahoma. “Right now, we’re not top 10 in education,” Stitt said. “And so that’s why I appreciate the House…
OKLAHOMA CITY – On the 92nd day of the 2023 Legislative session, with ten working days remaining, Democratic leaders in both chambers called for transparency and accountability in the state budget process. “Oklahomans deserve a say in how their tax dollars are spent. They don’t get that say when budgets are prepared behind closed doors…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that could prevent fentanyl overdose deaths was signed by Governor Kevin Stitt and will go into effect on November 1st of this year. House Bill 1987, authored by Democratic Whip Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, would allow Oklahomans to carry fentanyl test strips legally without the strips being considered drug paraphernalia….
OKLAHOMA CITY –HB1445, authored by Assistant House Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa would require school districts to post a copy of their bond proposal to their website at least 30 days prior to the election. The legislation also requires school districts post updates to their website of any material changes made to a voter-approved project…
Under Oklahoma law, investment companies that politically boycott oil-and-gas investments are now prohibited from receiving state contracts to manage hundreds of millions of dollars in state pension funds. That has grabbed the attention of one of the companies barred from handling those funds. This week, officials with Blackrock, Inc., met with Gov. Kevin Stitt to…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed Senate Bill 404, clarifying Oklahoma law to prevent discrimination against religious entities. Sen. Julie Daniels is the Senate principal author of the measure, and House Floor Leader Jon Echols is the House principal author. Daniels said Oklahoma is one of 23 states that has enacted a state-level…