Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, today urged action by the governor in concert with the Legislature to expand funding for eradicating invasive species as the state faces early wildfires. Dobrinski is the author of legislation that created the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act and the House author of legislation that requires the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to implement a statewide plan targeting harmful woody species on state lands. Both are efforts to reduce materials that consume massive amounts of water and lead to fire threats. This year, Dobrinski is running House Bill 2988 , which currently recommends a tax credit for those who remove harmful woody species through qualified practices as defined by the Conservation Commission. The bill passed in the Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee. Dobrinski said the legislation will be amended before it reaches the House full A&B Committee to instead expand the Terry Peach Act.  "February is not traditionally a month we consider a wildfire risk," Dobrinski said. "After record snowfall last month, warm temperatures and winds have created threatening conditions earlier than usual. Woodward was spared this week, by the grace of God and the work of hundreds of firefighters and first responders. Many in the Panhandle and Northwest Oklahoma, however, have suffered great loss." Dobrinski said lawmakers have talked for years about eastern red cedars and their challenge to the western Oklahoma water supply, along with the fire threat they present for much of the state. "This issue predates my service at the Capitol by at least two decades," he said. "The Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act was a trial study that proved that addressing this issue would improve waterflow, restore native grasslands, return ecological balance and promote wildlife habitat."   Dobrinski said Woodward was threatened because of the proliferation of eastern red cedars southwest of the city, very much like the communities of Stillwater and Mannford, which suffered wildfires last spring. "Our own governor lost a rural residence northeast of the Oklahoma City metro area in those fires, in an area that is very thick with eastern red cedars on neighboring properties," Dobrinski said.  "As the governor approaches the end of his administration, we can celebrate many victories and improvements to our wonderful state," Dobrinski said. "I encourage him to include in his legacy being the governor that decided it was time to turn the tide on our ever increasing eastern red cedar problem. I ask him to please work with our Legislature and emphasize the need to properly fund a sustained effort to improve our state's land and water resources and ensure a safer future for generations to come." 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, advanced four insurance bills this week through the House Insurance Committee, which he chairs.  Three of the bills lay the foundation for broader updates to Oklahoma’s insurance and regulatory framework.  House Bills 3796 and 3818 would serve as comprehensive legislative vehicles to organize and modernize insurance statutes during the 2026 session. The bills would provide a structured framework allowing lawmakers to consolidate reforms, improve statutory clarity and ensure Oklahoma law keeps pace with industry standards and consumer needs. House Bill 3794 would serve as an umbrella measure for regulatory updates affecting licensed professions and occupations, helping streamline statutory changes and provide consistency across regulatory language.  House Bill 3802 would focus on directly on consumer protection. The bill would prohibit insurers from increasing a motor vehicle liability premium solely because a deceased spouse is removed from a policy. It clarifies that removing a deceased spouse cannot be treated as a material change in risk for underwriting or rate calculations. Insurers would still be allowed to adjust premiums at renewal based on documented changes such as driving record, claims history, mileage, garaging location or other actuarially supported risk factors.  "Our responsibility is to ensure the rules are clear and the protections are meaningful," Sneed said. "These bills improve structure, reinforce consumer safeguards and create a more dependable regulatory environment for families and businesses."  In addition to advancing Sneed's legislation, the House Insurance Committee has approved measures this session aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and stability in Oklahoma’s insurance market.  Sneed said he is proud of the committee’s work so far. "We are committed to getting the details right," he said. "Insurance affects people during some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives. When families file a claim or businesses rely on coverage, they deserve a system that is fair, transparent and dependable. That is the kind of work this committee is focused on."  All four bills passed the House Insurance Committee and are now eligible for consideration in the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, passed a bill this week that would give counties the option to impose a local public service impact tax on retail marijuana sales.  House Bill 3314 would authorize counties to impose up to a 15% public service impact tax on retail marijuana sales within county limits. The bill does not automatically create a tax. If a county chooses to pursue one, it must first be approved by a majority of county voters at a special election. The bill also exempts marijuana grown on private property by individuals that is not sold.  "Counties are the ones dealing with the day-to-day impact of marijuana sales," Eaves said. "This lets local communities decide for themselves whether they want to dedicate a portion of that revenue to support law enforcement, first responders and improving problem properties."   If approved locally, revenue from the tax would be deposited into the county general fund and used to support county sheriffs, local police and fire departments and to address dilapidated properties.   The bill outlines election procedures, requires the purpose and duration of the tax to be clearly identified to voters and allows the Oklahoma Tax Commission to administer and collect the tax through a contract with the county. HB3314 passed the County and Municipal Government Committee with a 6-0 vote and now advances to the Government Oversight Committee for further consideration.