Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Just a day after winning reelection to his House seat, Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, filed an appeal of another ruling of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was joined by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore. A June 11 OCC ruling denied the intervention of customers trying to participate in the latest rate case for Oklahoma Natural Gas Company (ONG). The utility is seeking a $29 million rate increase. If approved, it would mark the fourth rate hike the OCC has approved for ONG in the last four years, increasing customer bills by more than $128 million. Often joined by Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, Gann, West and West now have eleven OCC utility appeals pending before the state’s highest court. This latest appeal , filed June 17, brings the total amount of ONG, OG&E and PSO customer payments the representatives have challenged to $500 million in rate increases, $3.2 billion in 2021 Winter Storm bonds, $11 billion in fuel charges, and $1.3 billion in new capacity preapprovals. Six of those appeals are now fully briefed and under consideration by the Supreme Court. “The feedback we’ve received from constituents has been great,” said Kevin West. “Oklahomans appreciate that we aren’t just talking about standing up for them and fighting against inflated utility bills, we’re actually doing it.” “The OCC has gone completely off the beam,” ONG customers Gann and Kevin West told the Supreme Court in their June 17 petition . They go on to describe how the OCC set a March 27 deadline to intervene in ONG’s rate case, but only set it after that deadline had already passed. ONG’s customers were not even notified about the case until late April.  “This case was rigged from the start to keep ONG ratepayers out,” said Gann. “The federal courts have said utility customers have constitutional due process rights – including a right to timely and adequate notice about these cases. We are asking the Supreme Court to uphold customers’ rights and require the OCC to change its rules to respect them. ONG ratepayers should be allowed to exercise their right to participate without being muzzled.” At a June 11, 2026, OCC hearing, an attorney for ONG challenged Gann’s Entry of Appearance filed in the case, arguing he had missed the March 27 deadline to intervene. Gann responded by arguing that as an ONG customer entitled to personal notice in the case, his was an “intervention of right” under the law, not subject to that deadline anyway.  “Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:5-9-4(d)(2) expressly permits ‘a person entitled to personal notice in a case’ to ‘become a party of record by filing an entry of appearance or orally stating an entry of appearance at any proceeding regarding the case without needing to file a motion for intervention,’” Gann later wrote in exceptions he filed objecting to the ruling. The OCC administrative law judge who ruled against him made no mention of that law in her ruling or addressed the fact that the OCC set an intervention deadline that had already passed. Instead, she went on to dismiss Gann’s filed motions and objections as well. Immediately after formally preventing Gann from participating, the OCC conducted an eight-minute Hearing on the Merits with no witness testimony or cross-examination at which the utility, OCC Public Utility Division and the state's attorney general all agreed ONG’s latest $29 million rate increase should be approved exactly as requested by the utility. The commissioners are expected to make a final decision later this year. Gann and more than 300 Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) customers have filed similar entries in PSO’s latest rate case at the OCC in which that utility is seeking an additional $600 million rate increase. With the OCC’s blessing, PSO also did not notify customers about its rate case until after the deadline to intervene had already passed. Those entries, many from residential customers opposed to subsidizing electricity for the proposed Emirates Global Aluminum smelter, are being challenged by PSO with a hearing in that case set for 1:30 p.m. June 25. ONG, the OCC and the attorney general have 30 days to respond to Gann and Kevin West’s latest ONG appeal. All the utility appeals can be followed at the Oklahoma Supreme Court: PSO rate case ($250m rate increases; $700m bonds; initial decision 4/21/2026; reconsideration pending): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122861 ONG, PSO & OG&E CY2023 fuel cases ($1.5 billion; all briefs filed): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122991 OG&E rate case ($127m rate increase; $760m bonds; all briefs filed): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123021 ONG rate case ($98m rate increases; $1.3 billion bonds; all briefs filed): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123348 ONG CY2024 fuel case ($390 million + $888m for 2021/2022; first brief filed): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123588 OG&E CY2024 fuel case ($925 million + $1.9 billion for 2021/2022; first brief filed): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123608 PSO CY2024 fuel case ($600 million + $2.8 billion for 2021/2022; briefs this fall): https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123905 PSO Preapproval case ($1.255 billion; briefs this winter) https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=124090 ONG Intervention Denial case ($29 million rate increase) https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=124164

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, has been selected as a member of Leadership Oklahoma's Class 39, joining 52 leaders from across the state chosen through a competitive application process. "I am honored to be selected for Leadership Oklahoma Class 39," Gise said. "This program provides a unique opportunity to learn from leaders across our state and gain a deeper understanding of the communities we serve outside of my district. I look forward to working alongside fellow Oklahomans who are committed to making our state stronger." Leadership Oklahoma brings together professionals from a wide range of industries and backgrounds to explore issues facing the state and strengthen leadership through education and civic engagement. Participants will travel to communities throughout Oklahoma to gain firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges affecting different regions of the state as part of the program. Leadership Oklahoma is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, educating and connecting leaders who are committed to shaping Oklahoma's future. More than 1,900 individuals have completed the organization's flagship leadership program.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, and Sens. Grant Green, R-Wellston, Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, today expressed excitement over the cities of Edmond and Guthrie partnering to bring the National Junior High Finals Rodeo and the National High School Finals Rodeo to the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie. Organizers say this establishes central Oklahoma as "the youth rodeo capitol of the world." "This is not only great news for the cities of Guthrie and Edmond," Duel said, "but it elevates Oklahoma on yet another national platform. Oklahoma already consistently ranks as one of the best places to live because of our low cost of living, our growing job market and many other factors. These events will bring more visitors to our state to enjoy our hospitality and to see all that we have to offer." Hall added, “This is a big deal for Guthrie, Edmond and the state as a whole because it will bring millions of dollars in new economic activity to Oklahoma,” Hall said. “Competitors and their families will stay in local hotels, dine at nearby restaurants and support our small businesses. I can't wait for these visitors to see what makes Oklahoma such a great state.” Green said, “Oklahoma has become an undisputed leader in youth agriculture, ranching and rodeo events. These competitions teach the next generation about farming and ranching while inspiring young people from Oklahoma and across the country to pursue careers in agriculture. Bringing these premier national rodeos to the heart of America will put Oklahoma in the national spotlight and provide a major economic boost to local cities.” Thompson added, “This is a big win for the entire state, especially Edmond and central Oklahoma. We’re talking about thousands of visitors coming to Oklahoma year after year to compete in these massive rodeos. They will book local lodging and spend money at local businesses. The long-term economic impact of these events on our statewide economy cannot be understated. These rodeos will also be a boon for Edmond for decades to come.” The lawmakers were part of an Oklahoma coalition of elected and other officials credited with helping to secure these events to benefit these communities and the state. The National Junior High Finals Rodeo will begin a 10-year run at the Lazy E Arena beginning this month, June 21-27. The National High School Finals Rodeo will begin a 10-year run at the arena in 2030. Edmond City Council designated $45,000 in 2022 to support the Lazy E's bid for both rodeos. The City of Guthrie contributed $10,000 per year for each contracted event to help recruit these national events. Officials from both communities believe the extended partnership will significantly boost lodging and sales tax revenue for their respective cities and the surrounding region. According to research from the University of Nebraska and Grotta Marketing Research, LLC, the combined annual impact of hosting the National Junior High and National High School Finals Rodeos includes 179,372 visitor days and $27.3 million in total economic output. Since opening in 1984, the Lazy E Arena has become home to a number of major western sports events, including the National Finals Steer Roping (concurrent with the 1984 National Finals Rodeo); Lazy E Arena Bullnanza (1989), a catalyst for the formation of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Tour; the Cinch Timed Event Championship; International Finals Rodeo; Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) Team Roping; National High School Finals Rodeo (returning in 2030); Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association World Championship and several of the world’s largest western sports championships, including three of the top five-barrel races globally. The Lazy E now has many amenities to serve youth competitors and their families including a 30,000 square-foot climate-controlled multi-use even center, a production office, five new stall barns and a modern bathhouse.