House Media

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, has been named the 2026 Public Official of the Year by the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association (OFMA). The award is based on Cantrell's efforts to pass House Bill 1675 , the state's first statewide youth camp safety law focusing on severe weather preparedness and emergency planning. The legislation requires all youth camps and outdoor programs to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment and develop an emergency action plan by the end of the year.  "While this legislation was born out of unimaginable tragedy, I'm glad that something positive might come from it that can benefit future campers," Cantrell said. "I'm thankful to be recognized for my efforts in championing this bill, but the praise belongs to a much wider audience. Still, I thank the folks at the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association for giving me this award. I will treasure it, and it will stand as a reminder of the souls we lost that day."  Cantrell received the award at a banquet help Sept. 22 at the Osage Casino & Resort in the Skyline Center in Tulsa. HB 1675 was inspired after the deaths of 27 girls, now known as "Heaven's 27," who lost their lives during flooding at Camp Mystic in Hunt, TX in 2025. Cantrell's legislation updates procedures for how camps are to receive emergency alerts and report to parents and local emergency management officials as well as staff training requirements.  "We want summer camp to be a fun and safe experience for all involved," Cantrell said. "This legislation should help." OFMA consists of professionals who encourage and support flood-safe development and flood mitigation through promotion of sound floodplain management practices and the natural and cultural benefits of the floodplain. They also offer education and certification to floodplain management professionals.  "Saving lives and reducing property loss from floods are our ultimate goals," association materials read.  

Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, led an interim study examining if Oklahoma's current approach to teacher professional development is producing meaningful results. During her opening remarks, West said she wanted to "peel back all the layers of the onion" to better understand what districts and educators are being asked to do, how they are doing it and whether it works. West, a former school board member, pursued legislation earlier this year to modify teacher professional development requirements. "This study took a close look at every facet of Oklahoma’s teacher professional development system," West said. "The discussion highlighted the importance of making professional development relevant and focused on helping teachers and students succeed. I am grateful to all the educators and administrators who gave up their time to speak on this important topic, and I look forward to continuing the conversation in the coming months." Stephen Walden, a social studies teacher at Tahlequah High School, told the committee professional development is most effective when it is directly connected to the needs of teachers and their students. "The best PD for teachers, in my opinion, is actionable. It's relevant. It knows its audience. It isn't one size fits all. And it allows for follow up and modification," he said . Samantha VanOsdol, an educator and elementary math curriculum coordinator with Putnam City Schools, said as a classroom teacher, said a lack of follow-up can limit the impact of professional development. "Sustained, in-depth professional learning is essential to keep this learning from being one and done and actually impacting what happens in a classroom," VanOsdol said . Dr. Katy Green, executive director of education effectiveness and professional development for Tulsa Public Schools, said simply tracking the number of hours completed doesn't demonstrate whether professional development was effective. She pointed to a framework to evaluate effectiveness, including whether teachers valued the training, whether they changed their classroom practices, whether they developed new knowledge and skills, and whether there are potential connections to student outcomes. "A number of hours completed provides one piece of information, but it doesn't tell us whether that learning was relevant, whether the teacher applied it or whether it improved instruction," she said . Additionally, Green highlighted the need for professional development to reflect local circumstances rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. She said Tulsa Public Schools can reach the state’s 150-hour five-year cap through its normal professional-learning calendar before accounting for any additional training or support. Administrators from Broken Arrow Public Schools described a model built around ongoing learning rather than disconnected professional-development days. The district uses instructional coaching, classroom observation, model classrooms and ongoing support to help teachers apply what they learn. "When we started thinking about how to respond to these challenges, one of the biggest shifts for us was realizing that that teacher development, learning that they're doing, really isn't a one day on the calendar," said Bridget Powell, executive director of instruction. "It needs to be a layered approach to professional learning." Kristin Graves, assistant superintendent of instruction, told lawmakers districts should have greater flexibility in how they use time for professional learning, while remaining accountable for the results. "Districts across the state are just like students in a classroom," Graves said . "There are varying needs from district to district and what teachers need. So the less that is mandated, the more districts have the freedom or flexibility to develop things that meet their specific teachers' needs," later adding, "if that freedom or flexibility was offered, we also believe we should fully be accountable to how we used that time." The study also examined the potential for regional education service centers to provide districts with more accessible professional-development resources. Oklahoma State School Boards Association Executive Director Dr. Sean Hime presented a proposal, developed by a coalition of education organizations, that would establish regional education service centers within roughly 200 miles of every Oklahoma teacher. Lawton Public Schools, he said , had to "pay the Texas regional service center for their teachers to get trained." West said the study confirmed concerns about the current approach and highlighted areas that warrant further examination. "We know it's not working the way anyone intends for it to work, or hoped that it was designed to work," she said . "We've gotten a lot of stuff that I think we can peel back and start having deep conversations about."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, on Wednesday held an interim study before the House General Government Committee examining the operational timeliness associated with the transfer of titles to wrecker companies and others when property has been abandoned or held as a lien. "The purpose of this study is to find solutions and hopefully resolutions with Service Oklahoma regarding the Title 42 process," Bashore said. Title 42 under Oklahoma Statute deals with possessory liens and the legal process of obtaining a clean title. This can be attempted by businesses such as mechanics, towing or wrecker services that seek to claim or foreclose on vehicles, boats, manufactured homes or trailers for unpaid repair work, storage or abandoned property removal. Possessors of such property must work through Service Oklahoma for the title. Multiple study presenters expressed frustration with the process. Many of the complaints centered around the National Moter Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), utilized by Service Oklahoma to complete title searches. Complaints ranged from up to four-month wait times to get titles returned, lack of direct communication with NMVTIS and loss of money because of the extreme wait times – all of which hurts these businesses. Bashore said the idea for the study came from a constituent who owns a wrecker service who said it was taking excessive months to obtain titles. "They have to keep these vehicles on site, not being able to move them, and this is impacting these businesses economically," Bashore said. Bashore said he reached out to Service Oklahoma leadership, and they were very responsive. "Service Oklahoma, we know, had some issues in the past," Bashore said. "But it looks like they've made some progress and are doing good things in some areas. I'd like to commend them for that, but in this issue, we need some resolution." Bashore invited presenters from wrecker and title service companies and many in the auto industry to explain their experiences. He also asked Jay Doyle, chief executive officer, and Diedra O'Neil, chief strategy and operating officer, with Service Oklahoma to answer some of the complaints. Marcia Lock, an owner of G&M Wrecker Service in Pryor, OK, explained her company has a used dealer license and she is a Title 42 clerk who services seven wrecker companies and individuals throughout Northeast Oklahoma. "So, I see this from all aspects," she told committee members. Lock said she currently has 34 vehicles for individuals and wreckers' services dating back to the first of June that she has not received titles on because NMVTIS has a hold on them. "The Title 42 division is behind two months in okaying Title 42s," Lock said. "It's not the people's fault that work in these offices. They work their butts off. It's that they don't have enough help." Lock said one problem is that she and others have no way to contact NMVTIS directly to find out where the title is in process. Instead, they contact Service Oklahoma's corrections' office and are told nothing can be done. "As a wrecker company and business owner and used car dealer, we can't sell a car (we don't have title to), and we can't keep a car on the lot for seven or nine months without selling them," she said. Michelle Roeser, office manager at Stevens Ford in Enid, expressed similar frustrations. She said when they call Service Oklahoma's corrections office, they are told their only course of action is to sit and wait. "If NMVTIS would tell us what the problem is, we could help," Roeser said. "Communications with NMVTIS is impossible." Randy Floyd, general manager of Stevens Ford explained, "By the time we get our title back and can sell the vehicle, we've lost maybe $1,500 to $1,800 in value because the bank is only going to finance what the vehicle is worth at that time." Other study presenters included Joshua Falcon, owner of Falcon Title Services; John Holt owner and Tara Worbes who works in the title department at the John Holt Auto Group in Chickasha; Melissa Van Ostrand, chief financial officer with Fowler Automotive in Norman; and Shannon Hutton with Bob Moore Auto Groups in Oklahoma City. Jay Doyle and Diedra O'Neil with Service Oklahoma attempted to educate study participants on Title 42 processes at the agency and NMVTIS. They also detailed things they said are in the works to help alleviate some of the concerns and frustrations expressed by study presenters. "Anytime we do have people that are not satisfied with our services, we obviously want to make sure that we can improve that and make that better," Doyle said. Doyle said the agency's responsibility is to balance between two obligations. One is the desire to issue titles as quickly as possible, the other to be sure the state title is not incorrect, fraudulent, stolen or has other unresolved ownership records. Running NMVTIS checks on titles on the frontside of transactions started in 2025 at the urging of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, the attorney general's office and others, Doyle said. He said he believed the agency could make changes to this process to satisfy those seeking titles and those seeking to protect public safety. The study can be viewed on the House website, https://www.okhouse.gov/ , under live proceedings. Search by calendar day, Sept. 23, then for study IS26-032 Title 42-Liens, under General Government starting at 9 a.m.