Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, and Sen. Kelley Hines, R-Oklahoma City celebrated the signing of House Bill 4486 , which authorizes the placement of a Gold Star Family Monument on the State Capitol grounds. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the measure into law Wednesday.  "Gold Star families carry with them a sacrifice that deserves our deepest respect and lasting remembrance," Townley said. "This monument will give Oklahomans a permanent place at our State Capitol to honor the service members who gave their lives for our country and the families who continue to carry their legacy. Generations from now, I hope it serves as a reminder of the tremendous cost of the freedoms we enjoy and of the Oklahoma families who have borne that cost. I’m grateful to Senator Hines for his partnership in bringing this legislation forward and to Governor Stitt for signing it into law."  HB4486 authorizes the State Capitol Preservation Commission or its designee to work with private entities to design, construct and place the Gold Star Family Monument on the Capitol grounds. The monument is to be located in the northwest corner behind the State Capitol Arch and will be constructed at no expense to the State of Oklahoma.  "Gold Star families have paid the ultimate price for our freedom," Hines said. "This monument will serve as a public reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave military men and women and, importantly, their loved ones who somehow find the strength to carry on even in the face of unimaginable grief. It was an honor to work with Representative Townley and Gold Star families on this legislation."  The measure took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A ceremonial bill signing highlighted new legislation allowing the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to share critical complaint information with law enforcement when an individual threatens a person or organization. Before House Bill 4302 , authored by Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, and Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, complaint information was kept confidential unless a court ordered it released. The new law creates a specific exception for safety threats. "When a complaint escalates into a serious threat of violence, public safety should always come first," Norwood said. "I am thankful to Senator Gillespie for her hard work and to all those who signed on to support it. This legislation replaces inaction with action, helping law enforcement respond to serious threats before dangerous situations escalate." Gillespie said the new law will help authorities better address future threats and protect public safety. "Oklahomans should feel secure when reporting concerns within the state’s juvenile justice system," Gillespie said. "The new law allows the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to notify law enforcement when a threat appears serious and credible, while keeping other complaint information confidential. It also protects a complainant's privacy while prioritizing public safety when a situation could escalate into violence. I was proud to partner with Representative Norwood on this important measure, and I'm grateful for the Governor's support." HB4302 takes effect Nov. 1.

Members of the Oklahoma Accountancy Board and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs joined Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, for the ceremonial signing of legislation that offers another pathway to obtaining certified public accountant (CPA) designation. House Bill 4317 creates an additional path to achieving the certification while maintaining the requirement to pass the CPA exam. Kendrix said the update will modernize the licensure structure while protecting the quality of work. Kendrix, the bill's author and a CPA of more than 30 years, said the change will help address the state’s ongoing shortage of CPAs as the profession has evolved beyond traditional number-crunching to include more consulting and advisory work. "We need to make sure our licensing requirements are preparing students for the workforce, not simply requiring them to take more classes and pay more costs," Kendrix said. "This legislation helps us move toward a system that emphasizes mentorship and real-world experience, while still maintaining the higher education path for those who choose it." In addition to passing the CPA exam and one year of supervised work experience, the existing paths require either a master's degree in accounting or at least 150 additional credit hours. The new path requires a bachelor's degree in accounting and two years of supervised work experience. All candidates will still be required to pass the four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination within the designated timeframe before receiving their CPA certification. Prior to licensure, candidates must also pass an ethics exam and a criminal background check. HB4317 also allows the Oklahoma Accountancy Board to grant CPA certificates to applicants licensed in other states. The update takes effect Nov. 1.