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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

Record high OK revenue in April

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma State revenues in April surged to a record high propelled by income tax payments, but other indicators point to caution, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced. This was true even though some categories dropped. But in April, Medical marijuana taxes generated $62.6 million, down by $2.2 million, or 3.4 percent. Motor vehicle taxes produced $72…

SCOTUS to soon overturn Roe, making abortion illegal

Tulsa Beacon

Abortion may soon be illegal in Oklahoma. Very soon. Reports out of Washington, D.C. claimed that a leaked document shows that the U.S. Supreme Court is about to overturn Roe v. Wade, the controversial 1973 decision that legalized abortion without a vote of the people. Oklahoma has a “trigger” law that would immediately ban abortion…

Gender reassignment bill

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed two floor substitutes to protect Oklahoma children from sexualization and unnecessary “gender reassignment” surgeries. House Bill 1074 is modeled after Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to in the media as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The legislation would prohibit school personnel for grades kindergarten through fifth…

Stillwater bathroom mess

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, sent a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor on April 22 requesting that his office act regarding a resolution passed by the Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education expressing their intent to continue their controversial school restroom policy. The policy in question permits transgender students to use student restrooms that…

Pot growers restrictions

Tulsa Beacon

Senate Bill 1697, authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, in the Senate, and Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, in the House,  passed. It would require applicants for a medical marijuana commercial grower license and commercial grower licensees to file with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) a bond in an amount of no less than $25,000…

Binary birth certificates?

Tulsa Beacon

Stitt signed Senate Bill 1100, approving the first of its kind ban that prohibits nonbinary classifications on state birth certificates. The legislation was authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair. Under the bill, the biological sex designation on Oklahoma birth certificates may only be male or female, outlawing the use of “X” or any other symbol…

Bill targets phone calls

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, celebrated passage through the Senate of a pair of bills he authored in the House. “Both of these bills are critical to protect the privacy of Oklahomans and I’m pleased to see them overwhelmingly passed out of the Senate,” he said. “Technology brings advancement, which we encourage more of and love…

Turnpike transparency

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, secured passage of legislation requiring the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to provide a detailed report on the planned turnpike through eastern Norman and give the Legislature authority to modify the authorization for construction or location of the turnpike. Senate Bill 1610, which was amended by floor substitute, requires the OTA to…

Energy boycotting bill

Tulsa Beacon

The Senate gave approval to a measure that would require the state to divest from any financial company that boycotts the energy industry. House Bill 2034 is authored by Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro, and aims to support Oklahoma’s largest industry – oil and gas. “This legislation would ensure the state of Oklahoma is free from…

Dying policeman bill

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, thanked  Stitt after he signed Senate Bill 968 into law. The bill prohibits the release of a recording showing an officer dying in the line of duty unless the court rules the material should be released in specific cases. “This bill is about protecting the…