Tag: House Bill

Tax exemption for American Legion

May 16, 2019

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that will exempt the American Legion Department of Oklahoma from sales tax. House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, and Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, are authors of House Bill 1003. The measure previously passed unanimously in the House and Senate. “The American Legion is our state’s largest veterans’ organization, serving…

Cracking down on illegal passing

May 9, 2019

A bill allowing law enforcement to use cameras on school buses to track down drivers who illegally pass stopped buses was signed into law last week. House Bill 1926, by Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, and Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, requires a minimum ticket of $100 for drivers who break this law. It also requires 75…

State turnpike speed limits will jump to 80 miles per hour

May 2, 2019

Speed limits on Oklahoma turnpikes will jump from 75 to 80 miles per hour and on certain state highways from 70 to 75 miles per hour following passage of House Bill 1071. Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, is the House author of House Bill 1071. Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, is the Senate author. Pae, serving…

Supreme Court boundaries’ bill

May 2, 2019

The Senate advanced a measure to modernize the Oklahoma Supreme Court district boundaries in order to increase the pool of qualified applicants eligible to fill judicial vacancies in the future. Gov. Stitt signed the bill. House Bill 2366, by Senate principal author Julie Daniels, modifies the boundaries of the Supreme Court district map to align…

Bill would limit charter schools

May 2, 2019

The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1395 to improve the financial transparency and accountability of Oklahoma’s five public virtual charter schools. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, and Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, are the authors of the bill, which will subject virtual charter schools to same financial reporting requirements, financial audits, audit procedures and audit requirements as…

Dahm heads the list, Blancett is last

April 25, 2019

Conservatism is based on voting Based on 2018 votes, Sen. Nathan Dahm is the most conservative legislator in the Tulsa area and Rep. Meloyde Blancett is the least conservative. Dahm, a Republican from Broken Arrow, cast conservative votes 95 percent of the time while Blancett, a liberal Democrat, voted conservatively only 14 percent of the…

No hike for state pensions until a study is done in 2020

April 25, 2019

The Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee will study a House bill that would provide a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for state pension retirees contingent on the outcome of an actuarial review of the pension systems. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, wrote House Bill 2304, making sure the bill followed the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act…

Handguns on campuses

April 25, 2019

The Senate Education Committee approved House Bill 2336, by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, would allow a local board of education to adopt a policy to authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel who hold a valid reserve peace officer certification or who possess a valid handgun license. “Schools can decide…

Official state nebula picked

April 25, 2019

The Legislature passed House Bill 1292, which designates the Rosette Nebula as the state astronomical object. It passed the Senate 31-12. House Bill 1292, by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, names the Rosette Nebula in the Monoceros constellation as the official astronomical object of Oklahoma. “Our state has a long connection with the space industry,” Miller…

$1,200 teacher raise advances

April 18, 2019

In a bipartisan, unanimous vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee last week advanced a House teacher pay raise bill . House Bill 1780 by Speaker Charles McCall would implement a $1,200 teacher pay raise bill at a cost of $70 million annually. President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is the Senate author of the bill….