House Republican legislation to bring high-speed internet to 95% of Oklahomans in five years was scheduled to be heard in committee this month. The creation of an Oklahoma Broadband Office via House Bill 3363 represents Oklahoma’s biggest step in broadband expansion, which has been a House Republican priority for three years. “With all the funds…
The Oklahoma State Board of Equalization (BOE) met to certify revenues available for appropriation for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. The amount initially certified by the board in December was $10.3 billion. The amount certified Tuesday was $10.49 billion. “The revenue figures show Oklahoma’s economy is still strong, but I emphatically believe it is in…
A Senate bill aimed at giving military and civilian families working at Oklahoma military facilities greater access to childcare has been approved by the full Senate. Senate Bill 1286, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, won overwhelming bipartisan approval. Stanley, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, said SB…
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, want more military aid to Ukraine and tougher economic sanctions on Russia in light of Russia’s invasion on February 23. “My prayers are with the brave men, women, and children of Ukraine, who are suffering an unprecedented, unwarranted and unprovoked attack ordered…
Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, filed legislation to protect children from inappropriate material in school and public libraries. House Bill 3702 would require any Oklahoma school district, charter or virtual charter school, state agency, public library, or university that offers digital or online library database resources to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade to do so…
The Senate Rules Committee unanimously approved President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s bill to add voter identification requirements to the state Constitution. Treat’s Senate Joint Resolution 48 would send to a vote of the people a legislative referendum that would add the voter identification requirement currently in state statute to the Oklahoma Constitution. The measure maintains…
The Senate Finance Committee on approved legislation from President Pro Tempore Greg Treat that would eliminate the state grocery sales tax. Senate Bill 1495 effectively eliminates the state grocery tax by lowering the rate from 4.5 percent to zero percent. The bill does not prohibit cities or counties from levying their own grocery tax. Just…
The Senate Education Committee approved President Pro Tempore Greg Treat’s school choice bill that empowers parents with more control over their child’s education. The committee approved the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, which would allow parents to use their child’s state education dollars to pursue a variety of schooling options to secure the best education possible for…
Sen. Shane Jett is taking aim at national organizations seeking to implement social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in the state’s public school system by filing Senate Bill 1442, which would prohibit public school districts or charter schools from using federal, state or private funds to promote, purchase or utilize the concepts of SEL. Jett said organizations…
A House subcommittee has given the first approval to a bill to increase appropriations the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund may receive by $30 million. House Bill 3318 raises the maximum amount that can be apportioned to the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund from motor vehicle revenue from $120 million to…