News

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two measures authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, to expand reporting access for victims of abuse and increase physical education time for students in schools passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now move to the Senate for further consideration. "I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for recognizing the importance of these bills and supporting their passage," Roe said. "Encouraging more physical activity in our schools can help students stay healthier and focused and in some cases may even reduce the need for certain medications. At the same time, expanding opportunities for victims to report abuse in hospitals is critical if we are serious about helping victims of human trafficking and working to end it." House Bill 3287 would require hospitals and health care facilities across Oklahoma to post signage related to domestic violence and human trafficking in both inconspicuous areas and private spaces used for patient-provider interactions. The signs would inform victims they can notify facility staff if they are experiencing abuse, coercion or trafficking. The measure was previously passed in the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee and later passed the full House unanimously. Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, is the Senate author. The bill also would require facilities to establish clear protocols for responding when a victim comes forward. These procedures would include contacting law enforcement at a victim’s request and ensuring the victim can be safely discharged or released without alerting or interference from an alleged perpetrator. A second measure by Roe, House Bill 3288 , would expand physical education requirements for students in full-day prekindergarten through 12th grade. The bill passed the House with a vote of 81-11 and now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Bryan Logan, R-Paden, is the Senate author. HB3288 would expand current physical education requirements to include students in full-day prekindergarten and increase activity time for elementary students from a weekly average of 60 minutes to at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes per school day. Recess would not count toward the required minutes. For students in grades six through 12, the bill would replace the current law that strongly encourages physical education with a requirement that school districts provide at least 225 minutes of physical activity per week, or about 45 minutes per school day. Both measures now move to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. John George, R-Newalla, this week unanimously passed a bill in the House that would add domestic violence by strangulation to the list of crimes requiring a person to serve 85% of a prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. If enacted, House Bill 3264 would prohibit those convicted from being eligible to receive earned credits toward reducing the length of their sentence to less than 85%. "Strangling an intimate partner is among the most horrific acts of violence and can all too often be deadly," George said. "Yet people convicted of this crime, in many cases, currently only have to serve about a third of any sentence imposed. This legislation would strengthen Oklahoma laws so that anyone committing this type of aggravated assault would be subject to greater punishment." The bill matches a recommendation of the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.  Research shows that strangulation is one of the most common forms of domestic assault and battery and also one of the most fatal. Victims can lose consciousness in less than 10 seconds and can die within minutes. Strangulation victims are more likely to die than victims of other types of domestic assault and battery. Victims who have been strangled are 750 percent more likely to be killed by the same person in the future. Even if a person survives being strangled, there are short- and long-term physical effects, including memory loss, headaches, seizures, strokes, blood clots, even delayed death. In addition, George said Oklahoma has consistently ranked among the top 10 states of women murdered by men in single-victim, single-offender homicides. Despite the seriousness of the crime, domestic violence by strangulation is not yet considered a violent crime that requires an offender to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being considered for release. "We're talking about taking someone's very breath away – the essence of their life," George said. "All I'm asking is for the punishment to fit the crime." HB3264 passed the House on a vote of 89-0. It has been engrossed to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. 

Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, passed two measures aimed at modifying governance and oversight of the Oklahoma State Board of Education through committee. House Joint Resolution 1055  would create a state question asking voters whether to make the state superintendent of public instruction an appointed position beginning in 2034.  House Bill 3327  would increase the board’s membership and give two appointments each to the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore.  "Oklahoma has witnessed extreme volatility at the State Department of Education and its board in recent years, and our constituents are demanding improved stability and oversight," Osburn said. "By involving the Legislature and the governor in appointments of the superintendent and board members, we can align the department and board with the constitutional responsibility of the people’s elected representatives. Most importantly, these measures will reinforce public trust in one of Oklahoma's most critical agencies. Best of all, we will let the people themselves decide whether the state superintendent remains an elected position or an appointed one." HJR1055 proposes a state question that, if approved by voters, would change the process by which the state superintendent of public instruction is selected. Under the proposal, the State Board of Education would gather applications, conduct interviews and produce a list of three to five candidates. The governor would appoint the superintendent from that list, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The resolution also outlines removal procedures for the superintendent. The superintendent could be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate, or by order of the governor combined with a two-thirds vote of either legislative chamber. "Over the past three years, Oklahomans have witnessed the efficiencies, or lack thereof, of both elected and appointed state superintendents," Osburn said. "I believe now is the perfect time to ask the people whether they're satisfied with the current election process or if they want the position to be appointed." Under HB3327, legislative leadership would each appoint two members to the board. The state superintendent would continue to chair the board, and the governor would also appoint four additional members. The bill also specifies that members may only be removed for cause by the official who appointed them. If both measures take effect, the governor would appoint a total of five of the nine seats on the Board, including the State Superintendent. Both measures now can be considered on the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY- Legislation by Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond, aimed at improving awareness and prevention of dangerous blood clots has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. House Bill 3644 , titled the Blake Burgess Act, passed the House with a 71-24 vote. The bill is named in honor of Blake Burgess, a 21-year-old former neighbor and constituent of Stinson who died from a pulmonary embolism in 2020. The bill would require hospitals with emergency departments and ambulatory surgical centers to develop policies and procedures for identifying and responding to patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The measure also would require annual training for nonphysician staff on these procedures. "Blake’s death was a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly and quietly this condition can take a life," Stinson said. "Every six minutes, someone dies from complications of VTE. If we can increase awareness and improve screenings and respond faster, we can save lives like Blake's." Pulmonary embolism is a type of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a condition caused by blood clots that form in veins and can travel to the lungs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die from VTE each year, and many more experience long-term complications. The legislation also directs the Oklahoma State Department of Health to contract with the state’s designated health information exchange to create and maintain a statewide VTE registry. The registry would track data and performance measures to help improve patient care, ensure compliance with nationally recognized medical guidelines and monitor outcomes. Beginning July 1, 2027, hospitals with emergency departments would be required to report certain data to the registry. The Department of Health would submit a report on the incidence of VTE in the state by June 1, 2027. The bill also adds definitions of pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism to the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act. Assisted living facilities would be required to provide residents with a consumer information pamphlet about VTE upon admission. The pamphlet would be provided at no cost by the National Blood Clot Alliance. In addition, the measure would require assisted living facilities to include recognition of VTE symptoms and emergency response techniques as part of their comprehensive resident screening instruments. Stinson said the legislation is designed to improve education and coordination across the health care system. "Many people simply don’t know the warning signs of a blood clot until it’s too late. VTE is the leading cause of preventable death in a hospital setting." Stinson said. “This bill helps ensure that both patients and health care providers have the information and systems in place to recognize the risk and respond quickly." HB3644 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, released the following statement after tornadoes hit northeast Oklahoma Friday night: "The severe weather that moved through Oklahoma this weekend resulted terrible loss to the Beggs community, where two lives were tragically taken. My heart is with those who are grieving and with everyone in the area who is dealing with the aftermath of this devastation. I’m grateful for the first responders, emergency crews and volunteers who immediately stepped up to support their neighbors in this moment of crisis, including the Beggs First United Methodist Church, who have stepped up to provide meals. I also want to thank Governor Stitt and other state and local leaders for moving quickly to coordinate resources and support response efforts. I ask Oklahomans to keep the families who have lost loved ones, as well as everyone affected by these storms, in their prayers."

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation, authored by Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, aimed at modernizing Oklahoma’s vehicle identification number inspection process has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate for further consideration. House Bill 3148 passed the House floor this week by a vote of 83-11. The measure previously received unanimous approval in both the House Public Safety Committee and the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. Gise said she developed the legislation after hearing from several businesses in her district who described delays and unnecessary regulatory hurdles caused by the state’s current VIN inspection process. "Oklahoma families and businesses deserve a government that works for them, not one that slows them down," Gise said. "House Bill 3148 cuts unnecessary bureaucracy while keeping consumer protections in place. When regulations stop serving the people, it’s our job to get government out of the way." HB3148 would modernize the state’s VIN inspection system by removing outdated requirements and allowing qualified sellers and licensed operators to conduct VIN inspections at the point of sale. The bill would clarify who may perform vehicle inspections, update outdated procedures and establish accountability measures for fraud or noncompliance. Gise says the goal of the legislation is to streamline vehicle transactions while maintaining important safeguards against fraud. "I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for their thoughtful consideration and support of this bill as we work to prevent fraud," Gise said. "This is a practical step that reduces unnecessary red tape while still protecting consumers." HB3148 now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Tribal and External Affairs Leader Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, today announced he will not seek reelection for his final legislative term. First elected to the House in 2016, Fetgatter will finish his 10th year in office in November. "I'm ready for some new challenges and to move into my future," Fetgatter said. "This decision comes after much consideration and conversations with my family." "I'm grateful for the decade I've had to serve the daily needs of the incredible people in my House district and to represent Oklahomans all across the state. I appreciate the trust my constituents have placed in me. Even though I haven't been able to agree with everyone 100 percent of the time, I have always tried to make myself available, to listen and to collaborate to find solutions to the many pressing issues that face Oklahomans. "I want to thank my family for their forever support, my legislative assistant, Jamie Layne, and our amazing House staff for all of their assistance. I also want to thank all I've served with in the Oklahoma House, many of whom are my dear friends. Thank you for always supporting me." Fetgatter serves House District 16 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes parts of Muskogee, Okmulgee and Tulsa counties. He's a native Oklahoman, moving with his family to Okmulgee in 1972. After many years of working on tribal issues in the Legislature and being a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert named Fetgatter chairman of the Joint Committee on State and Tribal Relations and leader of tribal and external affairs for the House. He has worked to build bridges with the state's 39 sovereign tribes and to serve as a liaison between the House and Oklahoma's federal congressional delegation. Notably, he's worked with several tribes to improve rural water infrastructure, to enhance economic development opportunities between the state and the tribes, and to negotiate compacts and gaming issues. "My whole life I've believed with 39 tribal nations in the State of Oklahoma that contribute billions of dollars to our local economies, job creation, infrastructure and educational opportunities, the tribes are the greatest partners the state is blessed to have. I would like see better collaboration so this partnership thrives in the future," Fetgatter said. Fetgatter has chaired the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee for seven years. He currently serves on the full Appropriations and Budget Committee as well as Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances and Business. He's also previously served as vice chair the Wildlife Committee and as a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Appropriations and Budget, Business and Commerce, County and Municipal Government, Public Safety, Technology and the Appropriations and Budget Human Services Subcommittee. He also has served at the speaker's request as the chair of the Oklahoma Ireland Trade Commission and as a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority and the Oklahoma-Israel Exchange Commission. He has focused much of his time in office to promoting economic development and diversity in Oklahoma to make the state more business friendly. In 2021, Fetgatter authored the Filmed in Oklahoma Act, creating one of the most competitive film incentives in the nation. Notable productions following the legislation include "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Reservation Dogs," along with many other smaller films and documentaries. Fetgatter also authored the Automotive Engineering Tax Credit and secured a $4 million investment for the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund, demonstrating his commitment to fostering economic development and stability in Oklahoma. Fetgatter also has taken a leadership role in helping to navigate regulation of the state's medical marijuana industry after state voter's approved its creation in 2018. As a first-year legislator, he was crucial in extending aerospace engineering incentives, and he helped prolong three tax credits for eight years, which created more stability and growth for aerospace companies. Two years after the extension, the aerospace industry became Oklahoma's second-largest economic driver, surpassing agriculture. Before his election to the House, Fetgatter owned a construction company specializing in themed construction. He also has worked in sales and marketing for many years as a salesman, trainer and manager. He grew up working in the grocery business at his father's local IGA. Fetgatter married his wife, Kim, in August 1990. The couple has two children, Meagan and Cody. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation aimed at protecting Oklahoma families and small businesses from higher utility bills tied to new data center infrastructure is now eligible for consideration on the House floor. House Bill 2992 , the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, authored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, passed unanimously in both the House Utilities Policy Committee and the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee. The measure now advances to the next step in the legislative process. "I’m very encouraged to see this legislation move forward with such strong support," Boles said. "As Oklahoma continues to grow and attract new industry, we have to make sure the cost of that growth does not fall on hardworking families and small businesses. This bill is about fairness and making sure Oklahomans are not forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of large data centers." Rep. Boles' Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act would set guidelines for how electric suppliers and regulators address the rising energy demands of large data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. The bill defines "large load customers" as new facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand and clarifies that residential, commercial and traditional industrial customers are not included in that classification. The legislation aligns with the recent Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation issued by President Donald Trump. Under the pledge, several leading technology companies agreed that as energy demand grows alongside new data center construction, American households should not bear the cost of building the necessary infrastructure. Instead, the pledge calls for the companies developing and operating data centers to build, bring or purchase the energy required to power their facilities and to cover the full cost of associated infrastructure. "The White House is taking steps to make sure Americans are not left footing the bill for massive data center expansion, and Oklahoma is proud to take steps alongside them to protect our ratepayers," Boles said. Several lawmakers from both parties have signed on as co-authors of the measure, including Senate author Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston; Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita; Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene; Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa; Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City; Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa; Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow; Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City; and Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore. The bill is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan package of reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of taxpayer dollars and reinforcing ethical standards in state and local government has passed House committees and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor. The initiative is led by Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, who collaborated with members of both parties after concerns surfaced about gaps in government spending oversight. The group worked closely with State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, after an audit revealed $93.4 million in questionable expenditures over the past year. Strom said the findings showed the need for stronger safeguards to ensure public funds are properly documented, transparently reported and used for their intended purposes. "When I read that audit, it was frustrating," Strom said. "Serving as chair of the General Government Committee, I knew we couldn’t ignore it. We sat down with the State Auditor to pinpoint breakdowns in contracting and procurement and began working on solutions that safeguard taxpayer dollars, cut unnecessary costs and prevent abuse. The people footing the bill deserve full confidence in how their money is being handled." After several months of collaboration, lawmakers advanced the measures to address ongoing concerns about government spending. The lawmakers say the proposals would create greater uniformity and clarity when contracts involving public funds are violated, helping ensure stronger accountability for the use of taxpayer dollars. Strom met regularly with Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus; Rep. Denise Crosswhite-Hader, R-Piedmont; Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene; Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond; and Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City. The group worked closely with Byrd, whose office conducted a detailed review of contracting practices, procurement systems and accountability laws to identify weaknesses. "The people of Oklahoma expect their government to operate in the open and within clear guardrails," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. "As a group, we took a hard look at how public dollars move through the system and where transparency could be strengthened. These bills are about closing gaps and making sure accountability is built into every step of the process. They also establish clear guardrails so that once lawmakers appropriate funds, agencies are not simply free to spend that money however they choose. Taxpayers deserve nothing less." Byrd said the lawmakers who are working on these bills are doing a great service for the taxpayers of Oklahoma. "If the bills are signed into law, it would be a great step forward in accountability," Byrd said. "I have spent the last seven years blowing the whistle on government mismanagement but our current laws are not designed to hold bad actors accountable. I highly commend each of these lawmakers for demanding the financial guardrails Oklahoma desperately needs. Even our greatest problems can be solved when our leaders unite behind a singular purpose.” The reform package includes the following measures: House Bill 3419 – Would strengthens state ethics laws by making it a felony for current or former state or local officials, employees or contractors to use confidential government information for personal financial gain. Convictions could include prison time, fines and a prohibition on holding public office or entering into state contracts. House Bill 3413 – Would expand transparency in state agency contracting by requiring agencies to publicly list contractors, contract values and project status. It also mandates posting consultant reports and disclosing whether contracts are for outside services or to supplement staffing. House Bill 3414 – Would direct the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to improve accounting systems to clearly distinguish between service contracts and staff augmentation. It also requires permanent documentation for digital and intangible assets purchased by agencies. House Bill 3415 – Would require vendors to disclose subcontractors, sets stronger documentation standards and mandates post-project reviews to confirm work was completed on time and within budget. The bill also creates a publicly accessible database of state contracts. House Bill 3416 – Would allow counties to seek quotes for certain smaller purchases instead of always using a lengthy bidding process, while maintaining safeguards and documentation requirements to prevent misuse. House Bill 3417 – Would clarify that cities and towns must follow state competitive bidding laws and may not adopt local rules that weaken or bypass those standards. House Bill 3418 – Would update the Public Competitive Bidding Act by refining procedures for public construction projects, clarifying definitions and ensuring consistent bidding practices, including for school district contracts. House Bill 3420 – Would amend the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act to strengthen oversight when contracts are negotiated rather than competitively bid. It would require stronger justification, clearer documentation and public reporting of procurement activity, and directs OMES to publish purchasing reports online for public review. All of the bills are now eligible to be considered on the House floor.