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OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, chair of the Oklahoma Veterans and Public Safety Caucus, and Rep. John George, R-Newalla, vice chair of the caucus, issued the following joint statement in recognition of Veterans Day. "On Veterans Day, we have the privilege of recognizing the men and women who answered the call to serve our country and who continue to make a difference for our state and nation today. Military service is not an easy commitment, and it takes a special kind of courage and dedication to answer that call. We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude," Hildebrant and George said. "As veterans ourselves, we know firsthand that serving our country is about much more than wearing a uniform. It's a commitment that stays with you long after your military service ends. We understand the sacrifices made and the pride that comes with being part of something greater than yourself." "To our fellow veterans, thank you for your courage, your commitment and your willingness to put our country and our constitution before yourselves. Your service matters, your sacrifices are appreciated and your stories deserve to be heard. We are proud to stand alongside you, not just today, but every day. We also want to recognize and thank the families of our veterans, whose sacrifices and unwavering support have played an important role in protecting the freedoms we enjoy today." Hildebrant is a retired Air Force veteran who served 25 years in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, while George served five years in the Oklahoma National Guard. Both continue their commitment to serving fellow veterans through their leadership roles in the Oklahoma Veterans and Public Safety Caucus.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, and Rep-Elect Kathy Suttles, D-Lawton, reflected on their service to the United States of America and honored Veterans on Veterans Day. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve my country and for all of the lessons I learned from the Navy. None of my experiences would have been possible without the bravery and sacrifices of those who served before me, including my brother, my father and my grandfather. Now more than ever, we must work to keep Oklahoma the most Veteran friendly state and continue to do what we can to support those who served our great nation.” – Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman “The Army shaped me. Serving with people from different places, cultures, and creeds expanded my worldview and taught me that our differences are what make us stronger. Service connects us in powerful ways, and I am thankful to have gotten to serve alongside some of the very best. Happy Veterans Day to every person who wore the uniform–and to the families who served right alongside them.” – Rep-Elect Kathy Suttles, D-Lawton -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Mike Lay, R-Jenks, Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, and Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, issued the following joint statement expressing their condolences to the Webster High School community following Monday's tragic crash on the Turner Turnpike. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of a young life and the pain this tragedy has brought to so many families. Our hearts are with the family mourning their child, those recovering from their injuries and everyone at Webster High School who has been affected. We know words can offer only so much comfort during a time like this, but we want the Webster community to know we are here for them. We stand ready to offer our support in any way we can and will continue keeping these families in our thoughts and prayers." The crash occurred Monday as seven Webster High School students and a staff member were returning from a student council convention in Norman. One student has passed away, while the other students and staff member were injured and received medical treatment at area hospitals.  -END-

Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, is expressing his condolences following the death of a Webster High School student in Monday's crash on the Turner Turnpike near Chandler. He also is calling for renewed attention to roadway safety along this stretch of the turnpike and other heavily traveled routes in the area. "My heart breaks for the family who lost their child, for the students and staff who were injured, and for the entire Webster High School community," Shaw said. "No family should have to experience this kind of loss. I am keeping everyone affected in my prayers, and I hope those who were injured make a full recovery." The crash occurred as several Webster High School students and a staff member were returning from a student council convention in Norman. One student passed away, and the other occupants received medical treatment at area hospitals. Shaw, whose district includes the portion of the turnpike where the accident occurred, called for a closer examination of roadway safety along the Turner Turnpike near Chandler. The crash follows previous safety concerns along the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County. In November 2025, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported investigating 22 crashes along the full turnpike in just 18 days, with semi-trucks involved in 55% of those crashes. Shaw said these incidents warrant a closer examination of roadway conditions, traffic patterns and safety measures along this stretch of highway. "This is an area that sees significant traffic, including commercial trucks and families traveling across our state, and we need to take a hard look at whether current safety measures are doing enough to protect motorists," Shaw said. "We cannot change what happened Monday, but we can look for ways to prevent another family from experiencing this kind of heartbreak. Every Oklahoman should be able to travel our roads with confidence that their safety is a priority."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, commented on the launch of the new Oklahoma Spending Transparency database by the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) that gives Oklahomans greater access to information about state agency spending. The database follows transparency reforms championed by Strom during the 2026 legislative session. "I have always believed taxpayers have a right to not only know how much their government is spending, but where those dollars are going and what they are getting in return," said Strom, who chairs the House General Government Appropriations and Budget Committee. "State contracts should be transparent so communities can understand the cost and scope of public projects, ask informed questions about their progress and see how taxpayer dollars are being used. By making this information more accessible and in one place, we are giving Oklahomans the tools to identify concerns and evaluate spending decisions while holding government accountable." According to OMES, the database allows users to search state agency spending, including vendor information, purchase amounts and transaction dates. It includes both anticipated costs through purchase orders and actual expenditures made with state purchase cards. The Oklahoma Spending Transparency database follows the passage of House Bill 3415 , part of an eight-bill package authored by Strom in 2026 to improve transparency and oversight of state contracts. HB3415 requires subcontractor disclosures, stronger documentation, post-project reviews and a public database detailing state contracts, including vendors, anticipated costs and contracted services. HB3415 took effect Nov. 1. Oklahomans can access the new Spending Transparency database at contracts.ok.gov .

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker, R-Bristow, released the following statement at the conclusion of the results for the 2026 general election: "Oklahoma voters sent a clear message at the ballot box today, sweeping all statewide offices and reaffirming a supermajority in the state house. Despite the national trends, tonight’s results demonstrate that Oklahomans continue to believe in the conservative principles, priorities and leadership that have helped move our state forward. I’m grateful to every Oklahoman who took the time to vote and to the candidates who stepped forward to serve their communities.” “I’m especially excited to welcome new faces to the Legislature as we prepare for the 61st Legislature. Each election brings an opportunity for fresh perspectives, new ideas and renewed commitment to serving the people of Oklahoma. I look forward to working alongside our returning and incoming members to build on our progress and deliver meaningful results for our state.” -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, hosted Interim Study 26-014 , "Modernizing Plan Review, Permitting, and Inspections in Oklahoma's Growing Cities," which examined ways to improve permitting, plan reviews and inspection processes across Oklahoma to encourage business and residential development while maintaining protections for residents. The study brought together developers, architects, municipal leaders, tribal representatives, fire officials and housing advocates to discuss Oklahoma's growing need for housing and challenges within the permitting process that can delay residential development and increase costs. "Oklahoma is growing, and we need processes that support that growth," Gise said. "What encouraged me most about this study was the willingness of everyone at the table to work together. Our municipalities, developers and permitting officials all want safe, successful projects completed in a timely manner." During the study, Home Creations founder Jalal Farzaneh identified lot costs as one of three major factors affecting housing development and emphasized the need for greater oversight of the permitting process. Farzaneh shared an example involving a zoning dispute after the company sought approval to expand a single-family residential development. After a legal battle lasting more than three years, a judge ruled in favor of Home Creations. However, Farzaneh said legal fees, carrying costs and rising lot prices during that time added approximately $15,000 per home, costs ultimately passed along to homebuyers. The example highlighted how permitting delays and legal disputes can increase housing costs for Oklahoma families. Tyler Parette, founding executive director of Housing Forward also highlighted Oklahoma’s projected need for 372,593 housing units by 2034, including more than 105,000 affordable units, according to the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment. “For Oklahoma to meet the challenges ahead, the systems that impact housing development need to be firing on all cylinders,” said Tyler Parette, founding executive director of Housing Forward. “Conversations like this one bring key partners together so that we can make the improvements necessary to ensure that every Oklahoman has access to a home that fits their needs, their life, and their future.” Mike Fina with the Oklahoma Municipal League, which represents the state's 588 cities and towns, emphasized the importance of municipal oversight in the permitting process. He noted that permitting is just one step in the broader residential and commercial development process, which can take months or even years to complete. "I think the thing we all agree on here is that Oklahoma needs more development, more houses, more businesses and more economic growth. I think we need to challenge the perception that municipal government is somehow the obstacle in development," he said. "One of the most common complaints we hear from developers is that municipal permitting takes too long, but I think we need to put that into perspective. We have a very important job to do." The study also explored opportunities to improve the permitting process through public-private partnerships, better communication and transparency between developers and municipalities and voluntary modernization efforts that preserve local authority without imposing unfunded mandates. Other presenters in the study included representatives from Krittenbrink Architecture, GH2 Architects LLC, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Fire Department. Gise concluded the study by acknowledging the complexity of the issue and thanking stakeholders for their commitment to continued collaboration as potential solutions are considered ahead of the 2027 legislative session. "Public safety should never be compromised in the name of efficiency," Gise said. "Our goal isn’t to eliminate safeguards or undermine local authority. It’s to identify opportunities to improve communication, reduce unnecessary delays, lower housing costs for Oklahoma families and help our communities accommodate growth." The entire study can be viewed on the House Website under News & Media, live proceedings, then search the calendar for Oct. 28 starting at 2:00 p.m.

House Common Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, has been named the 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools (OROS). OROS presented Lowe with the award during its annual conference on Oct. 23, recognizing his continued commitment to advocating for rural Oklahoma schools throughout his time in the Legislature. "I'm honored to receive this recognition from an organization that has spent more than four decades standing up for rural education in Oklahoma," Lowe said. "Rural schools are often the heart of the communities they serve and help sustain the future of our towns. I'm committed to making sure rural students have the same opportunities to succeed as students anywhere in Oklahoma, and I'll continue working to ensure our rural schools have the support they need to do that." OROS is a non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting the interests of rural school districts in Oklahoma. The organization now includes more than 320 rural school districts as members. Lowe, a former agriculture teacher, has served as chair of the House Common Education Committee since 2024.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, authored a new law that took effect on Nov. 1 which establishes the first Early Childhood Taskforce in Oklahoma.  HB 1979 creates a taskforce that will look into how Oklahoma governs early childhood programs and finds solutions to improving Oklahoma children's care, health, and education rankings. “By consolidating and streamlining government services for early childhood, we aim to make targeted investments to better the outcomes for Oklahoma children,” Ranson said. “Families should be able to easily access the services they need and trust that those services will be optimized and properly funded to provide the best opportunities for our children. I look forward to working with this taskforce to fix the childcare crisis long-term, better prepare our children for school, and promote healthy living for all Oklahoma families.”  Ranson originally filed this bill in 2025, but when it did not receive a hearing, she conducted an interim study that Fall to show how an Early Childhood Taskforce can identify gaps, inefficiencies, and redundancies within services for Oklahoma families. Oklahoma currently has 19 different programs through six different agencies. The task force aims to look at how early childcare, health, and education agencies can work collaboratively so families can navigate these services easier. The 18-member task force includes the heads of the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Department of Commerce, the State Department of Education, and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or their designees, as well as a broad range of members with expertise and various community stakeholders, such as caregivers, educators, and health experts. Members of the Early Childhood Taskforce are: Jaesha Quarrels, DHS Mendy Spohn, OSDH Paula Brown, HeadStart Rori Hodges, OSDE Heather Cox, OHCA Deborah Givens, No Man’s Land Foods LLC Mandi Coleman, St. Luke’s Children’s Center Karen Tilkin, CAP Tulsa Melanie D. Anderegg, The Parent’s Child Center Tulsa Grace Kelley, Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Elizabeth Ging, Edmond Public Schools Representative Trish Ranson Senator Christi Gillespie Dr. Stephanie Hinton, Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children Jenny Thom Hester, SoonerStart Interagency Coordinating Council Dr. Amanda McCabe, Professor of Early Childhood, OSU Dr. Michael Steiner, Pediatrician, OU College of Medicine Dr. Tessa Chesher, Pediatric Psychiatrist, Oklahoma Complete Health  Currently, 26 other states have implemented similar measures and are seeing positive results.  At the end of a two-year time period, the task force will have model legislation prepared to best carve out programs from existing agencies into an agency entity that solely focuses on early childhood care, health, and education services.  The Early Childhood Taskforce will host its first meeting on December 1, 2026, at the Oklahoma State Capitol. -END-