Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

Court blocks redistricting petition

Tulsa Beacon

A group vowed to refile Initiative Petition 420 to create an independent redistricting commission after the Supreme Court of Oklahoma announced their ruling against the policy.   “This proposal has been misleading and overly-complicated from day one, and we are pleased the court recognized that by striking it down,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “The…

GOP, Democrat senators to cooperate

Tulsa Beacon

Two Tulsa senators serving as caucus chairs have pledged to work together in the 2020 Legislative Session currently underway. Sen. Dave Rader, a Tulsa Republican elected to the Senate in 2016, is the Majority Caucus Chair. Rader helps develop the majority caucus agenda, presides over caucus meetings and assists with policy development. “I’m looking forward…

Gov. Stitt unveils Medicaid reform as ‘20 session opens

Tulsa Beacon

SoonerCare 2.0’ coming The 2020 Oklahoma Legislature opened its session Monday while Gov. Kevin Stiff announced plans to reform Medicaid in Oklahoma. Stitt met with Trump administration officials, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, in Washington, D.C., to announce the Healthy Adult…

‘Pro-life’ website is lying

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, is criticizing unnamed pro-life leaders that he claims are spreading blatantly false information regarding Senate Bill 13, also known as the Abolition of Abortion Act. A website (www.abolitiontruth.org) was launched. The origin and creator of the website are unknown. “Oklahomans who value life are infuriated that someone claiming to be…

Compliance with ICE bill

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy,  filed legislation recently that would require sheriffs, wardens, and other operators of detention facilities to comply with federal immigration officers. House Bill 4115 requires operators of state, city and county detention facilities to honor federal immigration detainers of an inmate for no less than 48 hours after the inmate would otherwise…

4-day school week rules

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Ty Burns, R-Morrison, said new rules released by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE) to govern schools wishing to continue four-day school weeks are “unfair” and “unobtainable.” Last year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 441, which allows school districts, beginning in the 2021-22 school year, to adopt an hours-only schedule – 1,080 instructional…

Slowing down recidivism

Tulsa Beacon

As work continues to reform the state’s criminal justice system and release more prisoners, Sen. Adam Pugh has filed two bills to ensure inmates are better prepared to re-enter society.  The Edmond Republican said his plans will improve community relations, protect public safety and lower recidivism rates by providing offenders with a plan of action…

Changing drug policies

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma could soon join the growing number of states backing away from using Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to administer prescription-drug programs.  Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, has filed Senate Bill 1901 to replace the state’s third-party PBMs with a direct-to-pharmacy payment system – a move he said could save the state millions and help significantly lower…

Veterans praise Sen. Dahm

Tulsa Beacon

BOISE – A bipartisan group of Afghanistan and Iraq war era veterans praised State Sen. Nathan Dahm for introducing legislation requiring that Oklahoma’s National Guard units cannot be deployed for foreign combat or combat support duties unless Congress has formally adopted a declaration of war as provided by the U.S. Constitution. “As veterans, we strongly…

Rep. Fetgatter selected

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, was named assistant majority floor leader for the Oklahoma House of Representatives. “Representative Fetgatter has proven to be a spokesman that others in the House look to for leadership and advice,” said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City. “I know he will be a valuable member of the…