House Media

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, has been selected to serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures' Executive Committee. This governing board maintains and advances NCSL's mission of representing and supporting legislatures from all 50 states as well as U.S. commonwealths and territories. The group works to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, promotes policy innovation and communication among the legislatures and ensures state legislatures maintain a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system. The bipartisan group assists 7,386 state lawmakers and more than 30,000 legislative staff. In this new role, Moore will be on the front lines of making decisions on behalf of all legislators and staff served by NCSL. "It's an honor to be chosen to serve at this national level and to bring Oklahoma's perspective and voice to this national conversation," Moore said. "Our state is making great strides in many areas, and I'll be able to share our trajectory. I also will draw on the experience of those from other states and learn what has worked well and what remains challenging on many different policy fronts." House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, commended Moore's selection. "Anthony has been a trusted leader on many of our state's most significant policy initiatives," Hilbert said. "Whether strengthening educational opportunities, defending constitutional freedoms, protecting property rights or advancing policies that promote economic growth, Anthony has consistently demonstrated the ability to build consensus and lead with conviction. He will certainly represent Oklahoma well in his new role on the NCSL executive committee. “Anthony’s selection ensures Oklahoma has a seat at the table on important issues facing state legislatures across the country. Our federal government is created by the states, not the other way around, and strong leadership at the state level is as important as ever. There are over 7,000 state legislators across the nation and Speaker Pro Tem Moore will be a strong voice for building consensus on tough issues that will help the United States of America continue to thrive for our next 250 years.”  Terms on the executive committee are for one year and renewable for up to three years. Moore's first term began at this year's legislative summit in Chicago, held at the end of July. It culminates at next year's summit in August in Atlanta. 

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.

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.