The Oklahoma Senate on passed a bill that provides increased classroom time for students beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, is the author of the bill. “Everyone can agree that it’s beneficial for a student to spend more time in the classroom learning from a quality teacher. More time in the…
Oklahoma is second in the nation for nursing home residents with low-care needs who could be better served in home and community-based settings. The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 888 to provide seniors and their families options that best suit the individual’s long-term healthcare needs while saving the state money. “Oklahoma spends 70…
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s budget sets aside $200 million in savings, pumps an extra $203 million into public education and gives teachers an annual pay hike of $1,220. The House passed the budget on Friday and now it goes to the Senate. The budget has an additional $157.7 million for common education (K-12) and $28 million…
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a free-market think tank, has filed a legal challenge to an initiative petition that would expand the state’s Medicaid welfare program, saying the proposal is unconstitutional and the petition gist is so misleading it violates state law. “There are a lot of policy reasons to oppose Medicaid expansion,” said…
Legislation providing for greater inclusiveness of Oklahoma military personnel and veterans in the Oklahoma Veterans Registry was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt in late April. The Oklahoma Veterans Registry is a voluntary registry of all Oklahoma residents serving on active duty or in the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as all honorably discharged…
A bill clarifying confusing language regarding the protection of military airspace and training routes was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday. House Bill 2118 was authored by Rep. Charles Ortega, R-Altus, who said the legislation is the continuation of efforts to protect military airspace after legislation passed during the 2018 session left…
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law a bill that could help non-violent offenders with felony convictions find high-paying jobs. House Bill 1373, by state Rep. Zack Taylor, known as “Fresh Start Act,” will allow people with felonies on their records the opportunity to still seek occupational licensing for certain professions as long as the crimes…
Oklahoma set another record for tax collections in April – including $693,500,000.00 in individual income taxes, which is an increase of $106,900,000.00 (up 18.2 percent) from April of 2018. Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas brought in $79,800,000.00 in April, an increase of $19.2 million, or 31.6 percent, from last April. But compared…
A bill requiring informed consent for nursing home patients and their families regarding the use of powerful antipsychotic drugs has been signed into law. State Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 142. Rep. Tammy West, R-Bethany, is the principal House author. The measure deals with the overuse of powerful…
A bill naming the ribeye as Oklahoma’s official state steak has been signed into law. Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt is the author of Senate Bill 21 along with House principal author Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton. Murdock said with 5.1 million head of beef cattle in Oklahoma, the state is ranked third in the nation in…