Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, held an interim study this week examining how Oklahoma colleges and universities can maintain a competitive edge against institutions from outside the state. The study was held before the House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee. West said the idea came after a constituent called whose daughter wanted to attend Carl Albert State College in Poteau, in West's House district. "A college across the state line offered them too good of a deal to turn down," West said. "It had nothing to do with academics. It had everything to do with what parents could get moneywise for their kids." West said he called Carl Albert's president to talk about this, and that conversation led to the study. "Oklahoma is different. It has Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri as neighbors," West said. "We have colleges from the Panhandle to Southeast Oklahoma to the Northeast and the South that are dealing with different states trying to recruit our kids. These out-of-state colleges can outcompete us unless we change our current regulations." West invited various college presidents to discuss their efforts in trying to keep Oklahoma youth going to Oklahoma higher education institutions. Allison Garrett, chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, detailed how many Oklahoma students are leaving the state and where they are going. She showed that of the 45,130 students graduating in 2022 from Oklahoma high schools: 26,270, or 58.2%, were not enrolled in college during the Fall 2022 semester; 15,150, or 33.6%, attended a public higher education institution in Oklahoma; 1,099 or 2.4% attended a private higher education institution in Oklahoma; and 2,611 or 5.8% attended an out-of-state higher education institution. Of those leaving Oklahoma: 26% go to Kansas 14.6% go to Arkansas 11.2% go to Texas 8.7% go to Missouri 3.3% go to Colorado Garrett gave examples of tuition discounting for Oklahoma students in these adjoining states. These include the University of Arkansas, which pays up to 90% of the difference between resident and non-resident tuition based on GPA. Wichita State University provides in-state tuition to students in 19 Oklahoma counties and discounted rates for students from all additional Oklahoma counties. Others states have discounted rates as well. Study participants heard from college presidents from Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Carl Albert on other states' initiatives to recruit Oklahoma students and how the state must work to maintain a competitive edge. The study wrapped with a discussion of legislative and policy strategies that Oklahoma might pursue. Suggestions included allowing greater flexibility to waive tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students, increasing operational funding to limit tuition and fee increases, increasing marketing funding, and expanding the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship tax credit to Oklahoma higher education institutions. West said the study was very educational. "What has impressed me is the enthusiasm these college presidents have," he said. "It's evident they love their institutions and the students they serve. I see that they are doing everything they can to increase enrollment and help Oklahoma students stay here and thrive."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, on Thursday held an interim study on felony murder before the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, which he chairs. "A number of years ago, my position was that people on Oklahoma's death row had hundreds of chances and numerous appeals so it could not be possible for someone to be there that was innocent," Humphrey explained. Humphrey said his opinion changed after meeting with attorney Donald R. Knight of the Don Knight Law Office. Knight, who is based in Colorado, now works exclusively on death penalty cases at the trial level. "After looking into several of these cases and seeing the lack of evidence, I decided there is something really, really wrong with our system," Humphrey said. "What has amazed me is the quality of people who are standing up against this system who are being ignored despite the massive problems we have. That's what this study is about – how do we change our system, how do we get these issues resolved by changes in legislation, changes in court, those kinds of things." Knight, who has worked on high-profile cases such as for Oklahoma death-row inmate Richard Glossip, spoke about systemic problems in Oklahoma's and other states' criminal justice systems. In addition to Knight, Humphrey invited numerous other speakers to share during the more than five-our meeting. Andrew Miller with the Innocence Project, spoke about The Brady Rule, established in the 1963 Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, which requires that prosecutors disclose all exculpatory evidence to the defense in a criminal case. This has been an issue in numerous Oklahoma death penalty cases. Maria Kolar, associate professor of law at Oklahoma City University's School of Law, delivered a slide show on felony murder and criminal law in Oklahoma and answered questions from Humphrey and others. Jera Burton, a juror in the Tremane Wood's death penalty case, gave tearful testimony that the case and her vote to impose the death penalty haunts her to this day. She said she hopes the state does not execute Wood. Additional presenters included Robert Dunham, director of the Death Penalty Policy Project, and Emma Rolls, first assistant federal public defender for the Western District of Oklahoma and the chief of the Capital Habeas Unit, which represents most death penalty offenders in the state who have exhausted all other appeals. Rolls said that each case she detailed in the study was from Oklahoma County and each featured a young black man in his 20s. She spoke about what she said was hidden evidence in the Julius Jones case. She also spoke about Emmanuel Littlejohn who was executed just over a week ago despite a recommendation of clemency from the state Pardon and Parole Board. Rolls said it is possible for a jury to determine guilt and recommend a death sentence even if they cannot establish that the person caused the death of another human being. "What we're talking about here today is really tough stuff, and that's why it's hard to get change in this area," Humphrey said. "While we have great compassion for the victims and their families, we also have to realize that we have cases where a person on death row may in fact be innocent of committing murder, and they too have family members who are affected by these cases." Humphrey said he will work on legislation that would make sure individuals who have minor involvement in a felony murder case are no longer eligible for the death penalty. That doesn't mean, however, that he's in favor of letting people who are involved in heinous crimes walk free. "Some might still wind up with life sentences without the possibility for parole," he said. "We're not talking about excusing crime, but that we fit the punishment to the crime. We cannot keep executing whomever we want, especially when we see a manipulation of evidence and outright lying. We must bring accountability back to this system and to those who work within it."

OKLAHOMA CITY – In support of bolstering educational excellence and understanding the formation of the United States, the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus (OKFC), led by Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has thrown its support behind the Bible initiative in public schools proposed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters.  The Freedom Caucus applauded Walters' initiative to ensure the availability of a Bible in public school classroom across the state. Walters announced last week he would include $3 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request to fund the initiative.  The Freedom Caucus stands on foundational conservative principals of limited government, personal accountability, constitutional authority, and preservation of those freedom given by God and not government. The legislators said no source or document was more quoted, provided more inspiration or guidance to our Founding Fathers in the formation of this Republican than the Holy Bible.  They said the Holy Bible is the singular most profound and influential work of literature in the English language. OKFC said its inclusion in public schools will elevate the quality of academic achievement by introducing students to exceptional prose, poetry and narratives that have shaped and inspired civilizations for millennia and played pivotal role in the formation of our Republic.  "The profound influence of the Bible on the American Founding Fathers and the formation of our nation is undeniable," said Jett, who chairs the caucus. "Understanding its impact enhances our comprehension of how the Bible shaped the principles of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Our American Constitutional Republic and the liberties it upholds stem from our Founding Fathers' deep respect for and implementation of biblical principles. A fundamental grasp of the Bible's role is essential for a complete understanding of American history."  Speaking to the financial impact, Olsen, who serves as House vice chair, said, "In light of a substantial $4.1 billion public education budget request, the allocation of $3 million represents a modest and reasonable investment in our students' understanding of American history. This amount constitutes less than one-tenth of one percent of the state's education budget, ensuring that it will have no real impact on vital budget items like school safety or teacher pay."  Detractors have raised objections on various grounds, questioning the necessity of physical copies, asserting the availability of superior versions to the New King James Version (KJV) and stating that this violates the "separation of church and state."  Deevers, a pastor who serves as Senate vice chair of the caucus, responded, “The New KJV is an excellent version suitable for the classroom. The New KJV is clear and is widely accepted as an easily readable translation of the KJV that was available to early Americans since its publication in 1611."  On "separation of church and state," Deevers stated, "The phrase 'separation of church and state’ is not found in the U.S. Constitution. Our Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion."  Deevers said those who object to Bibles in the classroom might find themselves more ideologically aligned with Karl Marx than Thomas Jefferson and pointed to the 1918 Constitution of the communist Soviet Union, which states “the church is separated from the state" and "the school is separated from the church."  The Freedom Caucus is committed to preserving freedoms granted by our Creator and recognized in the U.S. Constitution.  "We firmly believe that the Bible Initiative will significantly enhance the educational experience of Oklahoma students and further support our wonderful teachers," the legislators said in a joint statement. "By exposing students to the wisdom, values and historical significance of the Bible, we will empower them to become informed, compassionate and responsible citizens."