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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus hosted its inaugural Oklahoma Latino Youth Leadership Summit on Nov. 8. The event brought 110 young people together through engaging workshops, expert speakers, and peer-led discussions.  The students explored leadership and professional development, community advocacy, and public service, all with an Oklahoma focus. 70 high school juniors and seniors from Guymon, Ada, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and other towns across the state joined 40 college-age mentors, and the members of the Latino Caucus at the state capitol on Saturday.  “The simple truth is that these kids belong here,” said Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman. “Our caucus is dedicated to investing in youth development and empowerment, and we were proud to provide this opportunity. It was striking to meet such an outstanding group of young people who are passionate about Oklahoma's future.” The Chairman of the Latino Caucus says he is feeling gratitude for the success of the event and those who contributed. “More than anything, we want to say thank you. To all of the staff and volunteers who showed up to help with the summit, and for the generous support of our sponsors,” said Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City. “We could not have accomplished such a successful event without them!” The summit was non-partisan and featured breakout sessions on civic engagement, campaign basics, public service, college and career readiness, and the power of intentional leadership. Attendees were able to connect with mentors, universities, community organizations, industry experts, and elected officials.  "This event gave me great optimism for the future,” said Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City. “Seeing young leaders engaging on themes of service and leadership reminded me of the impact we can have on others, especially the next generation. The Latino community is, and will continue to be, the fastest growing demographic in Oklahoma. As the community continues to grow in population, I hope that our elected representatives will reflect the makeup of our state. By starting this opportunity, we hope to ensure that young people see themselves involved in every role of public service." -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a brief filed Monday, State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, reiterated his challenge to $250 million in recent rate increases and more than $1 billion of bond payments approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) and currently being collected from customers of electric utility Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). PSO primarily serves customers in Tulsa, McAlester, Lawton and surrounding areas. Gann’s appeal before the Oklahoma Supreme Court argues that the OCC failed to perform legally required audits related to February 2021’s Winter Storm “Uri,” making the OCC’s orders void and requiring refunds. He also argues the OCC violated PSO customers’ due process rights by allowing Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett to participate in cases involving witnesses of Hiett’s alleged criminal conduct. Hiett has been publicly accused of alleged sexual harassment and drunk driving at a 2023 party hosted by PSO attorneys Thompson Tillotson PLLC. Gann says state ethics rules require Hiett to disqualify from cases in which a reasonable person might question his impartiality, including cases involving those attorneys. In October, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, the OCC, PSO and the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers (OIEC) all filed briefs defending Hiett. “Parties to legislative rate cases are not entitled to due process,” the attorney general wrote.  In its brief, the OCC specifically asked the court to dismiss the appeal claims against Hiett. Gann has been joined by State Reps. Kevin West and Rick West in five similar appeals brought in cases for OG&E and ONG. On Oct. 17, the attorney general and OCC filed a joint motion asking the court to suspend the other the utility appeals. The court’s Oct. 29 response denying that request was unequivocal: “This appeal shall proceed.”  The AG, OCC and PSO also defended allowing the utility to internally audit its own $700 million of 2021 Winter Storm “Uri” costs, as well as the OCC’s subsequent one-page “audits” of the ratepayer-backed bonds issued to pay for them. Gann argues none of these audits were lawful because they were not performed by independent CPAs.  In their briefs, the AG, OCC and PSO all argued the audits were lawful because licensed CPAs were not required. Gann writes their reading of the law “would permit OCC janitors and AG security guards to give financial testimony in OCC cases.”   “To allow State Agencies to make up their own standardless definition of ‘audit’ is absurd,” Gann writes. He predicts that this misinterpretation of the law will lead to “financial chaos across state government if it is allowed to stand.” Oklahoma utilities PSO, OG&E, ONG and CenterPoint/Summit paid some of the highest natural gas prices in U.S. history during two weeks in February 2021, incurring some $2.8 billion in debt. Interest and other expenses added another $2 billion, bringing the total cost of the winter storm bonds being paid by Oklahoma utility customers close to $5 billion.   Payments for PSO’s bonds have been collected as “Winter Storm Cost Recovery Rider” charges on the monthly bills of its customers since the bonds were issued in September 2022. They are scheduled to continue for another 17 years. The securitization law required those bond charges to be audited as part of the utilities’ subsequent rate cases. Gann says that hasn’t happened. Unless it decides to request additional briefs from the parties, Gann’s appeal is now in the hands of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Gann writes that he “has full confidence in this court’s ability to read and offer first-impression interpretations of the plain language of unambiguous laws, and to properly determine their applicability to the OCC.” Gann’s full Reply Brief can be read online here: https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetDocument.aspx?ct=appellate&bc=1063629140&cn=CU-122861&fmt=pdf See also: Feb. 14, 2025: https://www.okhouse.gov/posts/News-20250214_1 August 21, 2025: https://www.okhouse.gov/posts/news-20250821_1 The progress of all the appeals can be followed on the Oklahoma Supreme Court website: PSO rate case: https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122861 ONG, PSO & OG&E CY2023 fuel cases: (I'm showing this one does not list PSO) https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122991 OG&E rate case: https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123021 ONG rate case: https://oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=123348

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, received the Oklahoma Political Science Association’s (OPSA) award for excellence in public service at OPSA’s annual conference. “I am honored to be recognized by some of Oklahoma’s best political science experts," said Fugate. “It is important to expand our understanding of politics so we can examine the best ways to solve problems faced by everyday Oklahomans. Thank you to OPSA for this award.” OPSA’s yearly conference takes place Nov. 6-7, 2025 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The theme for this year's conference is “History as Our Guide to Politics” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Michael Cohen from American University. Topics explored at this year’s conference include National Elections/OklahomaElections/Voters/Media; Civic Engagement; Supreme Court; Criminal Justice; and OIL demonstration. -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, and Sen. Spencer Kern, R-Duncan, hosted an interim study Monday examining the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Oklahoma’s health care system and how their practices affect patient access, local pharmacies, and state health care costs. "I’ve seen firsthand how PBM practices can harm both patients and independent pharmacies," Marti said. "Our goal is to ensure every Oklahoman receives fair pricing and quality care while protecting the local pharmacies that keep our communities healthy." Experts testified about the financial pressures PBMs place on community pharmacies and the complexity of the drug supply chain. Jonathan Buxton of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said PBMs aim to maintain pharmacy access while controlling costs for plan sponsors. However, several witnesses noted that pharmacies are often reimbursed below acquisition costs, threatening their long-term viability and patient access, especially in rural areas. Marti expressed concern over the continued decline of community pharmacies and questioned whether PBMs are ensuring fair reimbursement rates to keep them sustainable. Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46Brooklyn Research and 3 Axis Advisors, said nearly every participant in the drug supply chain, from manufacturers to PBMs, has financial incentives that can obscure transparency and drive up prices. Independent pharmacists shared firsthand challenges. Todd Pendergraft, co-owner of Broken Arrow Family Drug Stores, reported nearly $30,000 in underpayments on workers’ compensation prescriptions last year and described PBMs steering patients to PBM-owned pharmacies. Lucas Coody, PharmD, Director of Government Affairs at AlignRx, said the burdensome and ever-changing PBM appeals process, combined with disregard for Oklahoma statutes, often causes pharmacies to abandon reimbursement disputes altogether. Scott Biggs, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission, explained that while his agency enforces maximum reimbursement rates, PBMs are regulated by the Attorney General’s Office and the Insurance Department. Michael Leake, Deputy Attorney General and Director, PBM Compliance and Enforcement Unit, said enforcement actions have recovered $32 million for the state health plan and made Oklahoma a national leader in PBM oversight and transparency. Kern said the findings highlight the need for stronger regulation. "PBMs play an important role, but we cannot allow practices that harm our state budget or limit patient access to essential medications." Marti thanked participants for their testimony and announced plans to pursue PBM reform legislation in the 2026 session to ensure fair treatment for both pharmacies and patients statewide. The Second Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature will convene on Feb. 2, 2026.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Tim Turner, R-Kinta, this week held an interim study reviewing Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) eligibility and transfer rules as well as usage of school athletic facilities. The study, held before the House Common Education Committee, specifically examined the implementation of OSSAA Rule 24, commonly referred to as the "Link Rule," which is intended to discourage student athletes from changing school districts to follow a trainer and/or coach for athletic purposes. Lawmakers said they wanted to consider the rule in relation to Senate Bill 783 , passed in 2021, which amended provisions of the Education Open Transfer Act. The act governs student mobility and participation in public school extracurricular activity. "We took a close look at how Rule 24 is being applied and whether it reflects the intent of the Open Transfer law," Miller said. "Families make school decisions for many different reasons, and kids should still be able to stay connected to the activities and teams that give them a sense of belonging. We also heard how restrictions on the use of public school fields for camps or training during the school year can create challenges, particularly when they limit opportunities for Oklahoma student athletes to demonstrate their skills and talent. These are real situations for real students. Moving forward, I want to ensure our rules are clear, fair and truly supportive of the opportunities our students work so hard for." Turner said, "Today's study was not a witch hunt but to look at concerns brought to legislators by parents, coaches and citizens about the OSSAA. We want to keep high school sports fun and make sure student athletes are able to better themselves to go to the next level. We want to stay on facts and present evidence gathered by each speaker to help the legislative body determine the way they would like OSSAA to proceed." OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson said the association is not just some outside entity imposing rules on schools. It's an organization created and governed by school administrators who voluntarily join in order to operate on a level playing field in athletic and other competitions. The intent is to keep the focus on education rather than on winning at all costs. The 482 member schools themselves set the rules by which they're governed, and they can change them if necessary. It's also important to note OSSAA oversees about 30 co-curricular activities, including the arts such as vocal and instrumental music, theater, speech and debate, among others. About 150,000 students are served through the organization each year. Jackson said OSSAA's foundational rule of residence eligibility states that a student is eligible to compete only in the school district where the parents reside. If a student transfers to a school outside the district, then they are required to sit out one year from varsity-level participation unless they are given an exception, or what OSSAA would call a hardship waiver. During the first two-and-a-half months of the current school year, OSSAA tracked 1,060 exceptions requested by students transferring out of their district who wanted to be granted eligibility. Jackson said 1,003 of those requests – about 95% - were approved. In recent years, Jackson said member schools of the association determined to allow students 9th grade and above to select whatever school they would like to attend and then be granted one free transfer. He said they are fielding requests, however, from students who are unhappy with the school where they transferred. They either want to transfer back to their original school or onto another school. There are some guardrails and timelines around when transfers can occur, he said. Jackson also addressed the Link Rule. "Schools have always been concerned about students that want to follow a coach that maybe changed jobs. When the exception – the free transfer – came about, they (school administrators) absolutely anticipated that's even going to magnify that issue a great deal more, and they're right about that." Several parents and a student spoke at the meeting as did former Rep. Mark Vancuren, who also previously worked as a coach.  Chris Adamson, a Deer Creek School Board member and the parent of student athletes, spoke about restrictions on high school sports facilities for use by outside entities. His son, who played quarterback, frequently had to attend camps and other events outside of the state to get before college recruiters. Sixty-one events between January and May and not one of them was in Oklahoma, he said. He knows for a fact there have been inquiries about running them in the state, but there have been obstacles to getting these events run on high school campuses. "These are incredibly important exposure and recruiting events," Adamson said. "This impacts Oklahomans to find the best opportunities for college." From a school board perspective, Adamson said there is a lot of lost revenue for schools because of these restrictions. Additional study presenters included Tom George, chief executive officer and founder of QB Impact; Cindy Morey, a parent of a student athlete; Hannah Whitten, an attorney with Whitten Burrage; and Kent Rossander, one of four Glencoe High School students initially deemed ineligible to play after transferring earlier this year. The entire study can be viewed here . 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, hosted interim study IS25-115 , Life Without Parole Sentencing Review, which examined Oklahoma’s use of life without parole (LWOP) sentences, including an exploration of second look policies and their economic impact. The study discussed the growing number of states adopting second look policies, which allow courts to review life or long-term sentences after evidence of rehabilitation. "My goal for this study was to ask if our current sentencing practices are fair and if not, what a change should look like," Williams said. "There are other states that have implemented second look laws, and Oklahoma could benefit from a similar pathway." Colleen McCarty, executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law, presented data showing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections’ daily cost per inmate is $67.53, totaling $24,648 annually and nearly $493,000 over 20 years, excluding geriatric healthcare costs. She noted that several states , including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as the Council of the District of Columbia, have adopted second look policies. McCarty added that Oklahoma’s recently enacted Survivors’ Act reflects similar principles and could serve as a model for future reform. Under potential proposals, adults serving LWOP sentences could become eligible for review after 20 years if they meet rehabilitation benchmarks, including educational achievements, program completions and positive conduct. Victims and survivors would be notified and given an opportunity to provide input during the process. For individuals sentenced before age 25, a review could occur after 15 years, with courts considering factors such as youth trauma, maturity and rehabilitation. Denied petitions could be refiled every five years. McCarty estimated that if just 10 people qualified per year, Oklahoma could save roughly $246,000 annually. The study also included testimony from community members and family members of incarcerated Oklahomans who have been affected by sentencing laws. "As a Christian, I believe in redemption and forgiveness for everyone, but people must show they’ve done the work to heal and change," Williams said. "They should be given the chance to prove it." The study took place on Oct. 21 before the House Public Safety Committee at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Lawmakers, veterans, those representing seniors and the aging, tax experts and others gathered Tuesday before the House Appropriations & Budget Finance Subcommittee to discuss property tax reform. The combined interim study was requested by Reps. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, and Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore. "Many of us have heard lots of concern about people being priced out of their homes due to rising property taxes," Crosswhite Hader said. "There are some functions government has to fund, but we wanted to bring people together to discuss current law and where we might improve, especially for our veterans and senior citizens." Townley added, "We know this is a big topic and very in-depth. We're so grateful for everyone who joined us for this study. We know that if we do reduce ad valorem in any way in one area, we have to determine how to replace that money to continue vital services for all Oklahomans. At the end of the day, we just want to do better for all Oklahomans." Study attendees first heard from retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stanley Sieg, a 100% disabled veteran. He shared his personal experience with receiving and then losing the veterans' property tax exemption when he moved mid-year within the City of Edmond. He said he was unaware his exemption would not automatically follow him. He was able to work with his county tax assessor to reapply for the exemption and reconcile the amount of back taxes for which he was billed. He asked lawmakers to consider changes in the law to make the exemptions portable or to at least improve communication with Oklahoma taxpayers. Matt Wehmuller, the county assessor for Canadian County, explained that property tax is the largest source of local funding, with 85% going to public education, and 15% going to counties for public safety and other local services, including administration. Property taxes, however, are not used for county roads and bridges. Dr. Brad Ward, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity, showed data exposing the rising burdens of property tax within Oklahoma as opposed to the surrounding region. Ward said while Oklahoma's current property tax rate is competitive with surrounding states, coming in third, the state's rising rate is actually the fastest growing in the region. That is alarming, he said. He suggested some of this might be due to efforts the state made to standardize property valuations among the state's 77 counties, causing a spike for those that had been under valuation for years. Another factor is school bond elections – 43 passed in 2023 and 15 of 19 passed a month ago. Another presenter, Kerry Ross, the county assessor for Carter County, said litigation cases against cities and counties also can play a role in rising property tax rates. Doug Kellogg, state projects director with Americans for Tax Reform, said rising home values are significant as well. Jim Randall, chairman of the Oklahoma State Council on Aging, asked if it's time to bring all parties together to take a comprehensive look at the state's tax structure to see what is equitable for everyone. He said property owners, specifically seniors and others on a fixed income, should be protected from rising costs, while acknowledging local services do need to be funded. Wehmuller explained how property taxes and exemptions are calculated, discussing how annually capping tax increases at 3% and 5%, depending on the type of property owned, until full-market value is reached, protects property owners even more than the standard $1,000 homestead exemption. He also explained the difference between exemptions and freezes and how those who have had their property taxes frozen can still be impacted by large bond elections or litigation. Kellogg shared Florida's zero-income tax structure and a ballot question to remove property tax. He said Florida is known as one of the most tax friendly states in the nation, getting most of its funding through sales and excise taxes. They've also adopted a truth in taxation, or truth in millage, policy that requires public hearings and input before new taxes are assessed. Telling taxpayers clearly when their taxes are going up and where the money will go is essential, he said. State spending is another key, Kellogg said. If local governments had kept spending in line with population growth and inflation, they would be in much better shape today. He ended with a warning against giving local governments a tax revenue source that local voters did not approve. Corey Jager, tax policy manager with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, rounded out the day's discussion with an overview of property tax exemptions, freezes and credits and estimated revenue impacts for changes for seniors or veterans. Much of property tax law is enshrined in the state's Constitution and therefore would require a vote of the people to change. Yager also discussed the loss of revenue that would occur if property tax were eliminated and gave some alternative funding suggestions, including the possibility of taxing services not currently taxed. The full study can be viewed here . 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, hosted a joint interim study Monday to explore potential incentive pay models for Oklahoma teachers. The study focused on how voluntary, performance-based compensation systems could improve teacher recruitment, retention and student outcomes. The study featured a presentation from Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin, who provided a detailed analysis of State Department of Education (SDE) data and comparisons to states that have implemented similar programs. Hamlin highlighted evidence showing that high-quality teachers have the single greatest impact on student success, accounting for as much as 80% of academic progress in a school year. "Secretary Hamlin did an outstanding job presenting the data and showing how programs like these have worked in other states," Johns said. "We’re seeing that Oklahoma could implement an incentive pay model through the State Department of Education without adding new burdens on schools or superintendents. This kind of structure would allow teachers to work together toward shared goals rather than competing against each other, while creating its own revenue stream alongside the current Teacher Empowerment Program." The study reviewed models from states such as Texas and Arkansas, where thousands of teachers have received performance-based bonuses ranging from $3,000 to $32,000 annually. These programs reward teachers for measurable student growth and classroom effectiveness, often using growth-based metrics to determine eligibility. Oklahoma’s current system, adopted in 2022 through the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP), rewards teachers who take on leadership roles and mentor peers. For the 2024-2025 school year, 89 districts participated, with more than 1,100 teachers benefiting from an average bonus of $7,750. Pugh said interest in expanding performance-based pay has grown among educators statewide. "I heard from teachers in 67 different school districts who wanted to know why their schools weren’t participating in the Empowerment Program," Pugh said. "There’s a real appetite for rewarding excellence in the classroom. I’m not afraid to pay our best and brightest teachers more than what the salary schedule calls for. What we need to work on is creating the structure that helps districts identify those teachers and gives them the flexibility to reward them for their impact." Hamlin suggested the state consider adding an incentive pay program tied to performance or value-based metrics. Under a proposed Growth-Based Teacher Compensation System for Oklahoma, teachers would be eligible for bonuses based on measurable student progress. The model would track student achievement over time, taking into account prior academic performance, demographic factors and other indicators to calculate expected growth. Teachers whose students exceed those expectations would qualify for bonus pay. As an example, Hamlin outlined a $25 million pilot program for grades 4 through 8. Teachers whose students demonstrated the highest levels of growth could earn between $5,000 and $25,000 in additional compensation. Teachers in the 67th–79th percentile could receive $5,000, with approximately 1,875 teachers recognized statewide. Teachers in the 80th–94th percentile could receive $15,000, with about 781 teachers recognized. Teachers in the 95th percentile and above could receive $25,000, with roughly 156 teachers recognized. The total estimated cost of the pilot program would be $25 million. The legislators said they plan to continue working with education leaders and stakeholders to in the Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature to evaluate how an opt-in incentive pay model could complement existing programs while recognizing and rewarding Oklahoma’s most effective teachers.

OKLAHOMA CITY – New law ensures diagnostic and supplemental breast cancer services covered  Beginning Nov. 1, a new law updated existing diagnostic mammography law to ensure diagnostic and supplemental breast cancer services are covered with no out-of-pocket costs under health benefit plans. Services covered are recommended by medical experts for early detection of breast cancer.  The law’s House author is Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa.  “Early detection saves lives," said Provenzano. “In 2022, we passed legislation to cover diagnostic mammograms, but since then, we know not every Oklahoma woman has access to the same machines and tests. This law makes it so no matter your zip code, every Oklahoman can get the care they need covered by their insurance, not subject to policy deductible or co-pay. This law would not have happened without the full bipartisan support of the Oklahoma legislature.” The law’s Senate author is Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City. “This legislation is about removing barriers to care,” said Stanley. “When it comes to breast cancer, time matters. By ensuring diagnostic and supplemental screenings are fully covered, we’re giving Oklahomans a better chance at early detection and survival — no matter where they live or what insurance plan they have.” This year, 1 in 8 women across America will be diagnosed with breast cancer. In Oklahoma, that number is closer to 1 in 6. According to Susan G. Komen, in 2025 alone, more than 3,460 individuals will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 570 will die of the disease in Oklahoma. Early detection saves lives and saves money on costly treatments that come with a later stage diagnosis. Read the language of the new law  here . -END-