Committees

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. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement recognizing Governor Bill Anoatubby’s over five decades of service to the Chickasaw Nation after he announced his retirement. “Throughout my entire career, Governor Anoatubby has been an incredible mentor and leader,” said Leader Munson. “He has committed decades of his life to serving our country as well as the Chickasaw Nation. I continue to be in awe of all of his accomplishments. He has enriched Oklahoma during his time serving the Chickasaw Nation, whether it be through business development, early childhood programs, health care, criminal justice, environmental protection, higher education, and more. During his ten consecutive terms as Governor, he has achieved several accolades for his remarkable leadership and entrepreneurship that has ultimately helped set Oklahoma up for success while taking great care of the Chickasaw Nation—and he’s done it all with admirable humility. I am honored to know him as a leader and as a friend. “Congratulations to the incoming Governor, Chris Anoatubby, who has already dedicated more than two decades of service to the Chickasaw Nation. I have no doubt you will continue to build upon Governor Anoatubby’s extraordinary work as you move forward in your new role as Governor. I am grateful for your friendship and look forward to working with you to continue our strong partnership and relationship with the state of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw Nation. “Congratulations to my friend, Governor Bill Anoatubby, who has worked tirelessly for over 50 years serving the Chickasaw Nation. May this next chapter be restful and fulfilling as you reflect on your legendary service to the Chickasaw Nation and state of Oklahoma.” Governor Bill Anoatubby began work for the Chickasaw Nation in 1975. In 1979, he was elected as the tribe’s first Lt. Governor. Governor Anoatubby was elected to his first term as Governor in 1987. -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, and hundreds of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) customers were not allowed to participate in a hearing at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) Thursday morning. The customers had officially filed pro se interventions in PSO’s rate case before the OCC. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) heard arguments on their right to intervene in the case. “My interpretation of rule is that’s a threshold determination that has to be made, whether or not they are parties. I’m not going to elicit any responses from the intervenors online,” the ALJ said, ignoring the raised hands of Gann and other intervenors seeking to be recognized. The OCC’s electronic filing system shows more than 380 pro se interventions were filed by PSO customers in the case. PSO is seeking a $600 million rate increase, approximately $25 per month more for its average residential customer. Challenging the interventions , PSO Attorney Jack Fite argued Thursday that Gann and the other PSO customers could not participate in the case because they had missed the April 1 intervention deadline. A written response filed earlier by Gann and intervenor Christine Roam, an organizer for Stop the Inola Smelter , argued that PSO’s customers did not even receive notice about the case until after that April 1 deadline.  Fite did not address the untimeliness of PSO’s notice in his remarks. In response to a question from the ALJ, PSO’s attorney argued customers did not even have a right to notice about Thursday’s hearing on the status of their intervention, let alone the case itself. “I have filed ten appeals at the Oklahoma Supreme Court arguing the Corporation Commission has violated the due process rights of utility customers in these billion-dollar cases for years,” Gann said. “Today’s hearing was just another example. For Oklahomans wondering why their utility bills keep going up, this is a big part of the answer. The officials charged with protecting ratepayers aren’t doing their job, and when others try to step up, we are muzzled and not allowed to speak.”  “The Supreme Court has said utility customers have a constitutional right to appeal the OCC’s decisions, but we have to raise our issues at the Commission first,” added Roam, referencing an April Supreme Court decision (2026 OK 24). “How can we do that if the OCC creates arbitrary deadlines and does not even notify customers about the case until after the deadline?” Fite said PSO’s customers should not rely on the Supreme Court’s recent opinion, which is under reconsideration and still subject to modification or withdrawal. Fite argued utility customers do not have a right to participate in the OCC’s utility cases. Pointing to a table of four lawyers from the attorney general’s Office, he said the AG was representing all utility customers in the case. But after Fite finished, when the ALJ asked if any other party wanted to speak, the AG’s table was silent. “I barely found the right web link in time for this morning’s hearing,” Roam said afterwards. “No one has responded to my requests to see the evidence or participate in the settlement conference. Even though no one has ruled against us yet, the utility is treating us like they already have. To say PSO’s customers are being deliberately excluded from this case is an understatement.” In addition to the requested $600 million rate increase, PSO’s rate case will determine whether a new large-load rate class will be created for data centers and the proposed Emirates Global Aluminum smelter in Gann and Roam’s hometown of Inola. In a Statement of Position filed earlier in the case, Gann raised several issues related to the proposed smelter, including his opposition to existing PSO customers being forced to subsidize its electricity.  On Tuesday, Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a petition asking a Rogers County district judge for an injunction declaring the proposed aluminum smelter a public nuisance. Such an injunction would halt the project. At the end of the Thursday OCC hearing, the ALJ announced his intention to “take this matter under advisement” and issue a written recommendation and report by the end of the day Friday. Gann has already filed a motion citing laws in other states and asking the OCC Commissioners themselves to weigh in on the questions of timely notice and ratepayers’ due process rights.  “It is time the Corporation Commission explicitly recognized that Oklahoma’s utility customers are entitled to due process protections too, especially when the process is already explicitly required by Oklahoma law,” Gann wrote in his Motion for Determination of Utility Customers’ Due Process Rights.  Regardless of the ALJ’s decision Friday, a hearing before the Commissioners themselves on Gann’s motion is set for June 25 . Public comment from PSO customers will be allowed that day. See also , Gann Appeals $1.3B OCC Preapproval of New PSO Capacity to Power Inola Smelter, Data Centers; Hundreds Enter Appearances in PSO Rate Case (June 2, 2026).