News

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today called on Congress to pass a federal version of Oklahoma's first-of-its-kind tax credit for working family caregivers. In 2023, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to implement a comprehensive caregiver tax credit, the Caring for Caregivers Act, offering up to $3,000 annually to qualified residents. Now, lawmakers are urging their federal counterparts to help ease the financial burden on the nearly 490,000 family caregivers across Oklahoma.  Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, who proposed the state tax credit, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 1009 on the House floor Monday. "Whenever someone cares for a loved one, unexpected out-of-pocket expenses inevitably arise," West said. "Oklahoma led the way in recognizing and supporting this essential work and now we have the chance to lead again by advocating for national relief through the Credit for Caring Act." The Credit for Caring Act was introduced in U.S. Congress by Ohio Congressman Mike Carey. The bill would offer working family caregivers a federal tax credit of up to $5,000. HCR1009 urged Oklahoma's federal delegation to co-sponsor the measure. Caregivers in Oklahoma contribute an estimated $6.6 billion in unpaid care each year, helping seniors and individuals with long-term health needs remain at home and out of institutional settings, which are more costly to both families and taxpayers.  Studies show that family caregivers spend over $7,000 annually out-of-pocket for items like medical supplies, home modifications, respite care, and transportation. The Credit for Caring Act aims to ease this burden with a refundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000. Congressman Tom Cole has already signed on as a co-sponsor of the Credit for Caring Act, and President Donald Trump has publicly supported efforts to recognize and support family caregivers. As the April 15 tax deadline approaches, West is also reminding Oklahomans to take advantage of the state’s new tax credit. Oklahoma's Caring for Caregivers credit provides up to $2,000 annually or $3,000 for those caring for veterans or individuals with dementia. The total state cap is $1.5 million per year. "Family caregivers provide immense value both to their loved ones and to the state," West said. "The Caring for Caregivers tax credit provides real relief to those balancing care, jobs and mounting expenses, and I encourage every eligible Oklahoman to take advantage of this important support." Following the Senate's adoption of HCR1009, a copy of the resolution will be sent to members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation. Oklahomans can check their eligibility by visiting: www.aarp.org/OKCaregiverTaxCredit

OKLAHOMA CITY – Measures to improve math and reading performance among Oklahoma students and to increase in-person instructional time passed in the House Appropriations & Budget Education Subcommittee on Monday. Three bills addressing these issues are authored by House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton. "Oklahoma kids deserve all the help they can in core subjects like math and reading," Moore said. "These are more than just curriculum, they help students the rest of their lives, including in their future careers. Getting students the proper help they need early in their education is invaluable and worth the state's investment." Senate Bill 215 would create the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, requiring students to be screened three times a year for math proficiency in the second, third, fourth and fifth grades. Any student exceeding grade-level targets would be provided advanced learning opportunities. Students exhibiting deficiencies would receive individualized intervention upon parental notification. Moore, whose mother taught math for 33 years, said a basic understanding of math by the time a student reaches eighth grade is vital for higher learning and for future employment. He said the state's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores are consistently low, while increasing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning opportunities remains a priority for the state. Students also are making up for a learning loss experienced during COVID. Moore also authored Senate Bill 840 , which would direct the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to promulgate rules establishing a micro-credential for certified teachers who wish to become dyslexia specialists. This would help identify students with dyslexia early, getting them the interventions and support they need, Moore said, and it would improve literacy rates. Senate Bill 758 would limit the number of virtual days and hours a school can count toward its required amount of instruction time starting with the 2026-2027 school year. A district could count up to two days, or 12 hours, of virtual instruction time toward its required 180 days or 1,080 hours, only if the following has occurred: •      A state of emergency or proclamation has been issued by the governor for a specific reason relating to school district or charter school operation, •      The school board has approved the use of virtual instruction, and •      The state superintendent has approved the district's virtual instruction plan. "We have brick-and-mortar public school districts in our state that have used as many as 43 virtual days," Moore said. "As a parent, I can personally tell you that many of the children on these days receive no instruction from a teacher, and many times they have no actual work assigned. Oklahoma kids need this in-person instructional time." Moore said districts would still have the ability to offer four-day school weeks, and the bill does not apply to statewide virtual charter schools or full-time virtual educations programs operated by a school district.  The bills now are eligible for consideration in the House full Appropriations & Budget Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, today announced he has decided to take a deeper dive into the issue of storm chasing in Oklahoma before advancing House Bill 2426 . He said Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, will be holding an interim study on the legislation that would allow professional storm chasers to obtain state licensing giving them special accommodations while tracking severe weather. The bill earlier passed the House and was engrossed to the Senate. "Many people have concerns on all sides of this issue," Fetgatter said. "I would encourage them to sit down together to work out reasonable solutions. In the meantime, it's worthy that we keep this bill alive as we dig deeper into the details surrounding storm chasing in our state. "I appreciate all those who work to keep citizens alert and aware of severe weather conditions in Oklahoma. Tornadoes and other natural disasters create so much destruction annually in our state, and our meteorologists and storm chasers help to keep us all safe. It's important we give them the appropriate tools to do their jobs safely and well." HB2426 would create an optional severe weather tracker license for those professionally employed by a media outlet or affiliated research program at specified universities. This would have allowed licensed storm trackers, during severe weather events, to be authorized to use green and yellow flashing lights on their vehicles so they could proceed through red traffic lights and travel on closed roads and highways.  Storm chasers choosing not to purchase the license would still be allowed to operate as they do now. Fetgatter said many misunderstood the intent of the legislation. "This was not to stop or disrupting any storm chaser that currently comes to Oklahoma to help residents stay aware of dangerous weather," he said. "Our interim study will help continue this conversation and determine the path of the legislation going forward. I believe the proper role of government is public safety, and this is a necessary discussion." Mann, the Senate author of the bill, added, "Oklahoma is known for our severe weather, and our media meteorologists and storm trackers have been on the cutting edge of innovation in the collection and delivery of vital lifesaving information. We have also seen a rise in storm-related traffic and congestion, which has resulted in delays in the ability of those media outlets to deliver that information and our first responders to quickly respond. This was the impetus for writing House Bill 2426. "As Representative Fetgatter worked in the House, it became clear there were concerns from law enforcement and our first responder agencies. "With today’s announcement, I am excited to hold a joint study this legislative interim to bring those stakeholders to the table and work out the specifics on this legislation, which will empower our media trackers to continue protecting and informing the public while also addressing the legitimate concerns of our law enforcement and first responder communities.” Travis Meyer, chief meteorologist for KOTV Channel 6 and David Payne, chief meteorologist with KWTV Channel 9, issued the following joint statement in support of the legislation. "We support a bill that protects the citizens of Oklahoma from our extreme and violent weather. This includes fires, winter weather, and of course severe weather. This bill would enable the people who have the highest and farthest reach to the viewers of Oklahoma the ability to give them lifesaving information three hundred and sixty-five days a year.  "The bill would by no means restrict anyone from anywhere from chasing our extreme weather. This bill just gives the small amount of us the ability to warn Oklahomans of dangerous and life-threatening weather.  "We are looking forward to working with Representative Fetgatter and Senator Mann over the summer on this important legislation." 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert today commended Governor Kevin Stitt for issuing an executive order inquiring about contract employees across state agencies—a move Hilbert recently called for during his weekly press conference. The Governor’s action aligns closely with legislation recently passed by the House aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the use of contract labor within state government. The House passed House Bill 1607, authored by Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, in a unanimous 96-0 vote. “I want to thank Governor Stitt for taking decisive action to rein in unnecessary contract hiring,” said Speaker Hilbert, R-Bristow. “This is exactly the type of fiscal responsibility Oklahomans expect. By closely evaluating contract hires, we can take a hard look at how our agencies are spending taxpayer dollars and ensure that every dollar is accounted for and spent according to legislative intent.” Speaker Hilbert has cited an example he heard directly from the head of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse where the agency is paying contract nurses $200/hour when they could pay an internally-hired nurse $65/hour. This is just one example of many that have come to light as agencies have been told by the executive branch they cannot hire additional FTEs or ask for additional appropriations from the Legislature. Despite that directive, agencies have more than $1 billion in appropriations asks in front of the Legislature currently.  “This executive order complements our legislative efforts to shine a light on how the state utilizes contracted workers,” Hilbert continued. “We’re not saying contract work doesn’t have its place—but we are saying it deserves the same level of scrutiny as any other line item in the budget. We must continue to balance the need for core government services and those employees best suited to provide those services with private sector solutions that can provide better or more efficient services. Transparency allows for open dialogue between agencies and the Legislature on how to best spend taxpayer dollars and ensure Oklahomans are getting the critical services they need.” The House has already asked LOFT to evaluate every state agency and the contract labor they have on the books to determine what is needed spending on core services vs. what is superfluous and could potentially be cut or brought in-house for cheaper. ?House Bill 1607 requires state agencies to report the number and salaries of contract employees to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) using existing payroll software like Workday. The goal is to provide increased visibility into the scope and cost of contract labor across state government. Following its passage in the House, HB1607 is now in the Senate for further consideration. If signed into law, it would take effect on November 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A resolution authored by Rep. Chris Sneed, R–Fort Gibson, aimed at removing barriers to health care access in rural Oklahoma is now under consideration in the Senate after passing the House.  House Concurrent Resolution 1007 (HCR1007) requests an exemption from the federal Stark Law, which prevents physicians from referring patients to medical facilities in which they have a financial interest. While the law was designed to prevent conflicts of interest, it can have unintended consequences in rural areas with limited providers. “We’ve lost many physicians who would love to practice in rural Oklahoma, but federal restrictions are standing in the way,” Sneed said. “This resolution is a huge incentive to bring doctors back to our small towns and drive more health care access where it’s desperately needed.”  If approved, the resolution would allow Oklahoma to seek relief from the Stark Law and related federal rules that make it harder for rural physicians to operate clinics, labs or other needed services in their communities.  Sneed added, “Oklahoma is leading the way nationally on this issue. We’re taking bold steps to make health care more accessible for every Oklahoman—no matter their ZIP code.”  HCR1007 now moves to the Senate for adoption. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, Mike Lay, R-Jenks, and Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, issued a joint statement Tuesday following the announcement that 13 Tulsa Public Schools have officially exited federal school improvement designations.  The schools were removed from the Continuous School Improvement (CSI) list or the Most Rigorous Intervention list, both of which are part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The designations are updated on a three-year cycle and identify schools in need of targeted support based on factors such as academic performance and graduation rates.  “We commend the incredible progress made by the students, educators and families at Tulsa Public Schools,” the representatives said in a joint statement. “This kind of growth takes time, hard work and a lot of heart. These 13 schools have shown what’s possible when everyone is committed to moving forward together.”  “This is more than a milestone — it’s a moment of pride for our entire community,” they continued. “We’ve seen students rise to the occasion, educators go above and beyond and families stay engaged every step of the way. We’re excited to see where this momentum leads and we’ll continue supporting efforts that keep Tulsa schools on the path to success.”  Unity Learning Academy, Edison Middle School, Tulsa MET High School, and 10 other campuses met the criteria to exit the federal lists, either by making significant academic gains or maintaining strong progress since a January 2024 update. Several schools that met early exit criteria opted to continue receiving support under their CSI status, demonstrating a sustained commitment to improvement.  “These results show what’s possible when schools, families, and communities work together,” the representatives said. “We applaud the leadership at each of these schools and the work being done across Tulsa to improve outcomes for students.”  The legislators continue to support efforts that drive academic achievement and ensure every Oklahoma student has access to a quality education.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday adopted a resolution recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 6-12, 2025. Wednesday, April 9, is Victims' Rights Day. House Resolution 1017 was authored by Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, a former Tulsa Police officer. "I'm just proud to be here to have a voice for the victims that can no longer speak," Ford said before reading the resolution. The theme for this year's observation is “Kinship, Connecting, and Healing.” The resolution reads that "advocates believe all victims deserve equal rights throughout the judicial system. The rights of victims being pursued aim to provide coequal protections that are no more and no less than the rights afforded to those accused and convicted of crimes. Consideration, awareness, and a voice for victims are central to the remembrance of victims during National Crime Victims' Rights Week. "Oklahoma agrees that victims should always be treated with fairness and respect throughout the criminal justice process, protected from the defendant, provided reasonable opportunities to be heard at public proceedings regarding his or her case, and given a voice throughout each process of the case. "National Crime Victims' Rights Week serves to recognize the needs of crime victims and statewide advocacy organizations that are dedicated to guaranteeing victims' rights." Members of the House resolved to join efforts with advocacy organizations throughout the state to continue recognizing and supporting victims' rights, and reaffirmed their commitment to help protect the rights of all Oklahoma crime victims, year-round. Copies of this resolution will be distributed to the Victims Services Division of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council.

On Tuesday, legislators and advocates wore purple and filled the Oklahoma House of Representatives in a show of support for Alzheimer's Awareness Advocacy Day.  Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, were joined on the House floor by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Alzheimer's awareness advocates John Pellow and Debbie Elliot. "Alzheimer’s Awareness Day is about honoring those living with this disease and the caregivers who support them every day," Miller said. "I’m grateful to everyone who joined us at the Capitol to share their stories and for my colleagues who stand with us in raising awareness and pushing for progress." According to the Oklahoma chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 70,000 Oklahomans are currently living with Alzheimer's, with over 100,000 caregivers supporting them. Hill reflected on his father-in-law's 11-year journey with Alzheimer's, sharing the emotional toll it took on each member of the family. He called for continued investment in care and research for treatment and potential cures, stressing the hereditary nature of the disease and its lingering effects on families. "For the families that are here today representing those that they love that are affected, my hope is that we will continue as a state and as a nation to invest in care, but also invest in possibilities of treatment and an eventual cure of this disease," Hill said. "It truly leaves a lasting mark on families, and with it being hereditary, for those families who deal with this, there's always a cloud by which we consider our futures." Miller said Alzheimer's Awareness Advocacy Day helps raise awareness of the disease's impact across the state and encourages policies that better support those with the disease and their caregivers. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. To find resources, including the 10 early signs of the disease, visit alz.org/oklahoma .

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, was joined by industry leaders, business owners and policymakers for a town hall event discussing the future of aerospace, aviation and defense in the House chamber. Over 1,200 Oklahomans visited the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 2 for AERO Day. The 2025 AERO Oklahoma Aerospace Town Hall, moderated by Miller, focused on key industry trends including space commercialization, Advanced Air Mobility technologies and Oklahoma’s role in the evolving aerospace landscape. Attendees traveled from across Oklahoma and as far as Washington, D.C., Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia and Utah to take part in the conversation. "It was an honor to welcome industry professionals to the Capitol to discuss the future of aerospace in Oklahoma," Miller said. "These conversations help state leaders understand where we can support innovation, workforce growth and economic development. Miller serves as the chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, which oversees state funding for the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. The town hall also explored the business aviation sector’s efforts to enhance safety in the national air transportation system and Oklahoma’s preparation for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. A major focus of the discussion was the state’s leadership in maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, operations. Representatives from AAR Corporation at Will Rogers World Airport shared their vision for advancing innovation and sustainability in the engine MRO sector and discussed how policymakers can support industry growth. Industry experts speaking on the panel included Mark Miner from American Airlines; Gabe Sherman from The Artemis Group; Greg Brown from Vertical Aviation International; Steve Hadley from the National Business Aviation Association; Keith Rash from Consolidated Turbine Specialists/Kratos; Mandy Trainer from The Boeing Company; Stan Mayer from AAR Corporation; and Grayson Ardies from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. In addition to the panel discussion, dozens of industry representatives set up booths throughout the Capitol, giving attendees the opportunity to network and learn more about aerospace initiatives and advancements. Over the past decade, Oklahoma has experienced a 125% increase in aerospace exports. The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics plans to host the event again next year to ensure aerospace and defense remain key priorities in the 2026 legislative session.