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Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Sapulpa, considered Tuesday the current driver's license suspension policies within the state and the resulting economic impact on the workforce and families. "We want processes to work well for people who want to do the right thing and are striving to do the right thing," West said . "We do not want unnecessary barriers, and for those who are not striving to do the right thing, we want the consequences to be fair and administered properly." "As a former chief U.S. probation officer for Oklahoma’s Northern District, I saw firsthand how suspending driver’s licenses for missed court dates or unpaid fees can put people in a no-win situation," Gollihare said. "A suspended license disrupts their ability to work and support their families, and these policies can unintentionally push more people toward public assistance programs. This was an important conversation on a complex issue, and I look forward to working with Representative West and stakeholders to find a balanced solution." Lauren Krisai, executive director of Justice Action Network, shared that licenses may be suspended for many reasons, including failure to pay, failure to appear and financial responsibility. Licenses may also be suspended for driving offenses such as DUIs, though that was not the focus of Tuesday's study. "There are a lot of hidden economic costs of suspending a license," Krisai said , adding that it prohibits people from legally driving to work, school and the grocery store. She later added that the ripple effect also affects employers and manufacturers if an employee can't get to work. Jeremy Hutchinson, director of strategic initiatives for Unify.us, asked the committee, "What kind of policy is that that we impose a sanction a punishment and then beg please ignore this and go to work and take your kids to school and try to be a responsible member of society?"  Krisai highlighted House Bill 29 in Ohio, which retroactively eliminated suspensions for failure to pay traffic tickets. The bill, which was supported by the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, Ohio Association of Municipal/County Court Clerks, and numerous county chambers and local businesses, allowed over 7,000 people to fully regain their legal driving status. Michael Olson, policy counsel for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, said if 180,000 people with suspended licenses stopped driving, Oklahoma's workforce would reduce by nearly 9%. He added that during the 2008 recession, Oklahoma's labor force dropped by 2%, and said a 9% drop would present "a massive problem for the state." Fines and Fees Justice Center Regional Director Sarah Couture said that the average length for driver's license suspension for failure in Oklahoma to pay is three years and two months. "Debt-based driver's license suspension costs people their livelihoods, it cuts economic growth, it undermines public safety and it does not compel payment of debts," Couture said . "Ending debt-based license suspension increases employment, increases the tax base and overall GDP, and improves public safety." Couture estimated a net fiscal tax revenue benefit of over $42 million if Oklahoma passed comprehensive driver's license suspension reform. "An increased workforce would also logically result in reductions of state expenditures on public benefits like Medicaid, SNAP and other social welfare problems due to increased earnings in populations often affected by driver's license suspensions," she said . At the conclusion of the study, West thanked speakers and attendees for participating in the conversation. "We are in a maze that we have created that makes it very difficult for people who are wanting to do the right thing to do the right thing," West said , later adding, "This is something that we can address, and it will help the people of the state of Oklahoma. It will help the businesses of the state of Oklahoma, and it will help change families in this state."

Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, chair of the Oklahoma Veterans and Public Safety Caucus, and Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, an Air Force veteran, applauded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ announcement that it processed a record-high 3,111,399 disability compensation claims in Fiscal Year 2026. "Veterans should not have to face unnecessary delays or barriers when seeking the benefits and care they have earned through their service, sacrifices, and dedication to our nation. We are grateful for all they and their families have given in defense of our freedoms," the lawmakers said. "This reduction in the claims backlog means more veterans and their families are receiving the timely support they deserve. Recognizing and honoring their sacrifices with meaningful, dependable service is significant progress for veterans across Oklahoma and the nation. "We deeply appreciate the men and women at the VA who are diligently working to serve those who have served our country. We will continue supporting efforts that make it easier for Oklahoma veterans and their families to access the benefits, health care, and services they have earned through their sacrifice and commitment to our nation." The VA reported that its FY2026 claims total exceeded the previous record of 3,001,734 claims set in FY2025. The department also reported that its benefits backlog has been reduced by more than 70%, while claims-processing accuracy has reached 94%, the highest level in two years.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma (CCO) has named Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, its 2026 Legislator of the Year. The award recognizes Dobrinski's leadership on conservation legislation, commitment to responsible natural resource management and continued partnership in advancing practical, science-backed conservation policies across Oklahoma.  Dobrinski was applauded for his significant contributions to conservation policy and his ongoing commitment to collaborative problem-solving. "Preserving and properly managing our state's natural resources for the benefit of our residents and future generations is incredibly important to the constituents I serve," Dobrinski said. "To be recognized for this work and my passion on behalf of all Oklahomans is an honor." Dobrinski was specifically noted for his active involvement in addressing woody plant encroachment, the fuel behind many Oklahoma wildfires, and a growing concern for Oklahoma’s water resources, native grasslands, wildlife habitat and agricultural productivity. His legislative efforts include authoring House Bill 2988 this year and serving as House author of Senate Bill 940 in 2025. Both address harmful woody species. Dobrinski also has worked closely with CCO to advance discussions on emerging energy technologies, sponsoring legislative interim studies examining advanced nuclear energy and geothermal energy. Continuing that partnership, Dobrinski is sponsoring an interim study on biochar scheduled for Oct. 20.  CCO also recognized Dobrinski for his accessibility, willingness to listen and thoughtful engagement on complex conservation issues.  “Representative Dobrinski has been a tremendous representative for his constituents and partner in efforts to protect natural resources for all Oklahomans with Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma,” said CCO Executive Director Matt Wright. “Whether we’re discussing legislation we support, raising concerns about proposals we oppose or exploring new approaches to conservation, he has consistently made himself available to listen and engage in meaningful conversations. We don’t have to agree on every issue to work together effectively, and that willingness to listen, ask challenging questions and work toward practical solutions is what makes good public policy possible.” The Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing practical, science-backed conservation policies that protect Oklahoma’s water, wildlife, habitat and natural resources. Through education, collaboration and advocacy, CCO works with policymakers, Tribal Nations, conservation organizations, agriculture, industry and communities to promote responsible stewardship of Oklahoma’s natural resources.

Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, has been recognized by the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association (OREA) with its Friend of Education Award for his commitment to supporting Oklahoma students, educators and public education. Pae was named at OREA's annual convention in recognition of his work to support policies that strengthen educational opportunities for students and the state’s education workforce. "Our teachers and educators play an important role in preparing Oklahoma students for success, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with them and advocate for policies that help our schools and students succeed," Pae said. "As legislators, we have a responsibility to make sure our policies reflect the needs of students, teachers, and communities. I’m grateful to OREA for this recognition and for the work its members continue to do on behalf of Oklahoma’s education system." Pae, who represents House District 62 in Lawton, has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2018. He has served as chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Human Services since 2024. The Oklahoma Retired Educators Association represents retired educators across the state and advocates for issues affecting Oklahoma’s education community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, on Monday hosted an interim study on the effects of the marketing and sales of kratom and THC drinks on Oklahoma children. The study, held before the House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee, explored methods of regulation and advocacy in order to better understand the nature of these products and how to protect the state's youth from substances, some of which have been shown to carry high health risks, including death. “I am grateful to the committee for hearing this study today and to Representative Grego for joining me on studying this important issue," Pogemiller said "It’s my responsibility not only as a state representative, but as a mother to ensure Oklahomans are aware of the dangerous and addictive products such as kratom sold in our state that are being advertised to our children. We have work to do to ensure these products are not reaching our youth and that Oklahomans understand the devastating and harmful effects these products have. I’m thankful to all who testified and presented research on this as we look at policy solutions this upcoming legislative session that work to protect Oklahomans from dangerous and accessible substances.”  Grego said he requested to join the study because many of his constituents have shared similar concerns. This included Pittsburg County resident Steve Covington who told study participants about his son who is still undergoing rehabilitation to be free of the effects of kratom and its derivatives. "Hearing Mr. Covington's story about a son whose entire life changed because of this substance, was one reason I asked to be a part of this discussion," Grego said. "Here's a young man who has a wife and children, who had a good job, a nice house and so much more. Yet addiction to this product that was marketed as a natural substance that could boost his energy and help with soreness has almost ruined him. We've got to consider what we can do as a state to better address this." Study presenters, including Donnie Anderson, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, shared that kratom is marketed as a plant-based herbal supplement made from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Consumers claim it can be an energy booster, a mood lifter, a pain reliever or a relaxant that can have both sedative and stimulant effects, depending on dosage. Kratom is often paired with additives such as mitragynine, an active alkaloid, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. The products are easy to find in convenience stores and gas stations across the state, and they are easy for teens to purchase, according to numerous study presenters. The products themselves, especially with derivatives combined with other substances, however, can carry high risk of addiction and negative health consequences, including death, according to Chief and Deputy Chief Forensic Toxicologists Dr. Jesse Kemp and Dr. Kacey Cliburn with the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Cliburn shared that mitragynine was listed as a contributory factor on 44 Oklahoma death certificates from 2021 to 2025. Between January 2025 and June this year, mitragynine and or an alkaloid were listed as a factor in 42 deaths, so the problem is growing. She said the laboratory began identifying more cases with the potent alkaloids in early 2026 and issued a public service alert in May. Mitragynine is now among the top five drugs listed for cause of overdose death along with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol. "Our office has never experienced a situation like this, in which an uncontrolled, over-the-counter commercial product has displaced a drug in the top five listed in the cause of death," Cliburn said . Several constituents of the representatives shared personal stories during the study. Angela Goins spoke of the death of her brother who she said became addicted to kratom pills that had dangerous additives. She said the research she had to do to discover the true effects of the derivatives was overwhelming and said it is too hard for law enforcement or lawmakers to keep up with the constantly changing over-the-counter products that are available to Oklahomans. "For my family, this isn't an abstract discussion about chemistry, it's the reason my brother is gone," Goins said . Tiffany Sprague said her daughter became addicted to a kratom drink that was marketed to her as a natural herbal supplement that could help her with energy, weight loss and pain relief as she pursued competitive dancing. Her daughter, Isabella Gardner, and 19-year-old Braxton Bunch shared stories of addiction, detox and the long fight for sobriety. Presenter Frank Turner said he's worked in the field of addiction for more than 25 years, and he's the guy that gets the call from family members asking for help. "Drugs are killing our kids," Turner said. "And how many of us have to die for us to make some drastic changes? There are more drugs in schools than on the streets of Oklahoma. We send our kids to school and think that they're learning, but what they're learning in school is how to get high." Judge Kenneth Stoner, a district judge who works in Oklahoma County Home Treatment Courts, shared additional statistics and risks. Tane Webb, a substance use policy analyst with the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, which has offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, explained that while kratom products are readily available over the counter in many Oklahoma gas stations and vape shops, many consumers are unaware of undisclosed synthetic ingredients that carry significant risk. Webb said that while Oklahoma has a Kratom Consumer Protection Act on the books, enforcement of regulations has not kept pace with the changing landscape. His recommendations include increasing the legal purchasing age to 20-plus and prohibiting free or promotional distribution; updating Oklahoma law to limit legal kratom products from natural plant material; establishing consistent standards for alkaloid limits and measurement of concentrations; broadening the scope of enforcement beyond kratom and expanding state capacity for product testing; and increasing education among health care providers, vendors and the public; among others. Michella Carter, technical manager of the Seized Drug Unit, and Melissa Brous, technical manager of the Forensic Toxicology Unit with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, shared costs of kratom testing in Oklahoma – almost $2.7 million in one-time costs and almost $800,000 annually recurring. Former Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, also addressed study participants saying state residents have been down this road plenty of times in the past with marijuana, opioids and other substances. "If you are really interested in saving Oklahoman's lives; if you are really interested in keeping Oklahoma families from being destroyed, then outlaw all of it," he encouraged. The study can be viewed on the House website under News & Media, Live Proceedings. Search the calendar for Oct. 12, Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances, 9:30 a.m. -END- Ellen Pogemiller serves District 88 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes part of Oklahoma County. Jim Grego serves District 17, which includes Latimer County and part of Pittsburg County.  

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, on Wednesday held an interim study before the House Public Safety Committee examining active shooter response training for law enforcement professionals. "Active shooter situations in schools and the public are of huge concern to everyone," West said. "We Can't say we hope they never happens. Too many have already happened. This study is about making sure law enforcement knows what training is currently available in the state so they are prepared to respond and where gaps might exist that we need to address." West invited multiple presenters to discuss active shooter situations that have occurred across the country and various law enforcement responses. Colton Jones with the Black Banner Group helped organize the study and was the first speaker. He said every state is different in approaching active shooter incidences. He specifically examined various responses to mass shootings at schools, including Columbine High School in Colorado, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.    Jones noted the difference in response times in these incidences, with Sandy Hook being within 11 minutes and Uvalde being up to 77 minutes before law enforcement breached the school. Training and coordination made the difference, he said. "At Sandy Hook you saw officers show up and proceed to the threat," Jones said , "Where when you get to Uvalde, you had officers show up where it seemed like they were afraid to go to the threat, because of, a lot of them said, lack of training." Jones, an Army veteran said recurring training matters. "In the Army it was always train, train, train, train, train. That way, when you had to act upon that training, it was there and you knew it like the back of your hand." Jones said a lack of finances and manpower prevent many rural law enforcement departments from sending officers to training. Tanner Killiingsworth, a student resource officer from Latimer County, said continuing education and advanced training are essential. But differences in professional development, training methods, terminology and response procedures can actually hinder responses, creating significant communication and coordination challenges when officers from multiple agencies respond to the same incident. "In a situation where time is critical, inconsistent training and conflicting tactics can lead to confusion, delayed responses and unnecessary risk to officers and innocent civilians," Killingsworth said .  Establishing standardized training is essential, he said. Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety and Homeland Security Advisor Tim Tipton discussed his department's training availability and the ability of law enforcement departments to access training when needed. He said this is one of the top three safety concerns his department is dedicated to in the state. Tipton spoke on the Secure Oklahoma Schools, or SOS, initiative and the Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI), which focuses not just on responding to shooters but to prevention. "You know, school safety, active shooter threat response, although a ton of it is about the response when the bad guy's in the building, but school safety has to be multi-layered, and the first point of that is prevention," Tipton said . "We don't want the bad guy even getting to the building." The Legislature dedicated funding for schools to do risk and vulnerability assessments every five years. Tipton said all schools have now had those and now OSSI is in the process of updating those so the schools can qualify for this funding going forward. Mike Fike, director of OSSI, also spoke about the effectiveness of training for officers and why recurring training is essential. Other presenters included Bobby Floyd, director of training, Austin Slaten, academy coordinator, and Clay Anderson, an instructor, at the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). They outlined the types and duration of active shooter response training and the Center for Active Shooter Preparedness (CASP) at CLEET and its role in active shooter training across the state. Brett Macy, deputy director of the Transportation Division at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, shared about the coordination between rural and municipal departments during active shooter situations and access to recurring training.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, received the 2026 Honorary PA designation from the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates (OAPA) in recognition of her work supporting physician associates and quality healthcare for Oklahomans. The OAPA recognizes individuals who have promoted the physician associate profession and advanced the academy’s mission. Honorees are recognized for distinguished service to patients, their communities, the profession and the academy. "Healthcare is not only a huge part of my daily life, but it is my passion as a legislator, and I am deeply honored to receive this designation," Roe said. "Healthcare is the backbone of every state, and it reaches Oklahomans during some of the best and most difficult moments of their lives. I am thankful that through my medical career and my service in the Legislature, I have the opportunity to care for people and improve healthcare in our state." A colleague nominated Roe for the honor in recognition of her work over the years on behalf of physician associates and her efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services for Oklahomans. Roe is one of four current members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives who work or have worked in the medical field. She has more than 40 years of healthcare experience as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. The OAPA presented Roe with the Honorary PA designation during its awards luncheon on Oct. 1 as part of the organization’s Fall Continuing Medical Education Conference at the Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center.

Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow, this week led an interim study examining the benefits, costs and long-term impacts of data center development in Oklahoma. The study was held before the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee's Utilities Subcommittee, where Chapman serves as vice chair. During his opening remarks, Chapman said he wanted the discussion to move beyond some of the strong opinions surrounding data centers and give lawmakers an opportunity to look at the issue from multiple perspectives. He encouraged committee members to consider both the potential benefits and costs and allow the information presented during the study to guide future discussions. "For the past year, I've heard a lot of discussions and concerns about data centers, and I felt it was time to lay the cards on the table and look at this issue as objectively as we can," Chapman said. "There are potential opportunities, but there are also legitimate questions about infrastructure, resources and the effects on communities. We need to understand what communities may be saying yes to, what they may be saying no to and what safeguards need to be in place." Much of the study focused on how data centers affect utility planning and local resources. Speakers discussed the large power needs of newer facilities, safeguards intended to keep project costs with the customers creating them and how water use can vary depending on a facility’s design and cooling technology. The discussion also covered permitting and community impacts, including infrastructure needs and potential economic and workforce opportunities. Speakers noted that oversight can involve different state and local authorities depending on the project. They also discussed ways to better connect existing resources so communities can more easily evaluate proposed projects and understand potential impacts. Chapman said he will continue reviewing information gathered during the study to determine whether additional legislative action is warranted.

Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, has been elected chair of The Energy Council, an international nonpartisan organization focused on energy policy. He was elected chair during the Council's annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last week. Archer, who served as vice chair of the Council's Executive Committee last year, joined the Executive Committee last February and has been a member of the Council since 2022. "I am honored to have been named chair of the Energy Council by my colleagues," Archer said. "This organization plays an important role in bringing policymakers together to address the opportunities and challenges facing the energy industry. I am committed to continuing conversations to support a strong, stable energy future as Oklahoma powers our country and world."  Archer is the chair of the Oklahoma House Energy Committee and is a member of the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee. He has represented House District 55 in western Oklahoma since 2022 and previously served as mayor of Elk City.