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OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Utilities Committee today passed legislation that will put in place a setback from wind turbines in counties that meet certain wind speed and population density requirements. House Bill 2751, by Rep. Trey Caldwell, is the culmination of work being done by multiple House members who filed wind setback bills this session. "I appreciate the work of our Republican House members who came together to find a compromise that, while it doesn't make everyone happy, addresses this issue in a way that works for all of Oklahoma," said Hilbert, R-Bristow. "Our two-tiered committee process is intended to ensure work like this is done at the committee level, and this is a great example of the process working." A setback of 2.5x the fall down height of a wind turbine from the property line or a quarter mile from an occupied dwelling, whichever is greater, in the counties that meet the criteria  average wind speed below 9.5 mph according to Oklahoma Climatological Survey and; population density greater than 8.5 per square mile according to the 2020 US Census "This bill is about property rights at its core. We are trying to use common sense to mitigate disputes between property owners, some of which may want wind and some who don't," said Caldwell, R-Faxon. "This balances private property rights with the desire to encourage economic development in Oklahoma." The bill includes a local opt-in/opt-out option, allowing counties to, by popular vote, change their status of being subject to this wind setback. The bill also requires the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to maintain a list of counties and their wind setback status. "This legislation ensures that wind turbines can be where the wind blows consistently and at certain speeds in our state so they can generate efficient energy," said Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta. "This does not restrict wind projects but makes sure the projects are placed in areas where if subsidies were taken – per President Trump's America First agenda – they are financially viable on their own." "This well thought piece of legislation allows the state to set uniform policy while giving counties local control," said Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow. "This solution to the setback issue provides some clarity and a framework that all affected parties can work within." ?The bill applies to future projects and those that are not currently under construction. How "under construction" is defined will continue to be worked on prior to the bill being heard in oversight committee. "This legislation ensures projects will not happen in eastern Oklahoma where the population density and wind speeds do not make these wind projects viable or make any sense," said Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah. "This legislation is a win for eastern Oklahoma." The House Utilities Committee passed the bill 8-3 and it will now move to the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee for further consideration.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2728, a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process. House Bill 2728 , authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. The bill ensures that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect. "This is a major step toward ensuring the people’s elected representatives—not unelected agencies—have the final say on costly regulations," said Kendrix. "State agencies hold significant power in implementing laws, and this bill makes sure the Legislature plays a more active role in the process." If enacted, HB2728 would require all proposed agency rules to be submitted with an economic impact statement. Additionally, any rule projected to cost at least $1 million over five years would require separate legislative approval before it could take effect. "The rise of decentralized movements like DOGE shows that people value transparency, accountability, and freedom from unchecked control," said John Tidwell, state director with Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma. "The REINS Act embodies these same principles by ensuring that unelected bureaucrats can't impose costly regulations without legislative approval. State and federal governments must remain accountable to the people they serve. By passing the REINS Act, Oklahoma is reinforcing the fundamental idea that power should rest with the representatives elected by the people—not with runaway regulatory agencies." The bill establishes the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to provide independent reviews of agencies' economic impact statements. This ensures accuracy and prevents unnecessary regulatory burdens. Similar models in other states have successfully cut excess red tape and saved taxpayers millions. "This legislation strengthens accountability by making sure agency rules receive independent review before becoming law," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "This is the second House priority bill we have passed in the first three weeks of the legislative session and I appreciate the speed at which the House has passed these important bills." House Bill 2728 passed 86-3 and now advances to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration. The House also passed House Bill 1276 , banning cell phones in schools, and sent it to the Senate with the title on, meaning it is ready to become law if approved by the Senate.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma took a significant step towards securing its affordable energy future today with the passage of House Bill 2747 out of the House Utilities Committee. The legislation promotes affordable and reliable energy generation by championing Oklahoma’s abundant natural gas resources while also restoring state control over high-voltage transmission infrastructure to ensure ratepayer and landowner protections. "HB 2747 is a crucial step towards ensuring that Oklahoma's energy future is secure, reliable, and affordable for all Oklahomans," said House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon. "Oklahoma ratepayers and landowners have been disadvantaged by policies of previous federal administrations for way too long. HB 2747 creates a level playing field for reliable natural gas generation to outshine federally subsidized renewable resources and support economic growth. This will help us protect ratepayers and landowners from unregulated transmission developers who have no accountability to Oklahomans while ensuring free market competition on the construction of these projects.” HB 2747 protects Oklahomans and encourages economic growth by: Modernizing state regulations to increase new natural gas generation. HB2747 gives natural gas a fair chance to compete against federally-subsidized renewables by reducing the cost of building natural gas plants and enabling them to be built faster. Enhancing existing natural gas power plants  and other key critical infrastructure, such as distribution lines and equipment, to boost efficiency and provide more reliable power now and in the future. Keeping rates affordable  by requiring any changes to critical infrastructure to be reviewed through the traditional rate review process at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Preventing ratepayers from funding subsidies  used to switch from one fuel source appliance to another in furtherance of liberal energy policies. Requiring a state-administered competitive bidding process  for high-voltage transmission lines constructed in Oklahoma and reinstating the OCC’s right to oversee the costs before a single cent can be passed on to Oklahoma ratepayers. Ensuring landowners are protected  from out-of-state developers placing high-voltage transmission on their property for 50 years or more with no oversight by or accountability to the State. “At the end of the day, this bill will increase fair competition in the generation and transmission sector, while promoting economic development and faster market entry for much-needed critical infrastructure. As leaders, we have a duty to protect Oklahomans and establish policies that ensure safe, reliable, and affordable energy," said Caldwell. The bill passed out of the House Utilities Committee with a vote of 8-2 and will next be considered by the full House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, spoke on the House Floor today, issuing the following statements on the passing of former Representative, U.S. Senator, Governor and University of Oklahoma President David Boren. "I want to say thanks to David Boren for the contributions he's made to the great state of Oklahoma and for the community he lived in and loved, Seminole," Williams said. "He was a unique Oklahoman. He did things most people only dream of doing. When he served in the House of Representatives from 1967-1974, had a desk in the back of the chamber. Back then, members were far more colorful than they are today. He would get on top of his desk to debate. That was David Boren—our former Governor, Senator, and friend—making his point." Boren served as Oklahoma's 21st Governor from 1975 to 1979, during which he implemented significant government reforms, including tax reductions and the reorganization of state agencies. In 1979, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1994 and was the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. After his tenure in the Senate, Boren became the 13th President of the University of Oklahoma in 1994, a position he held until 2018. "David Boren dedicated his life to public service, leaving behind a lasting legacy of contributions," said Williams. "He championed tax cuts, worked to reform issues within the Department of Corrections, and stood firmly against government corruption. By today’s standards, he might have sounded like a pretty good Republican. He was an outstanding man—not a perfect one, and neither am I—but he was a great Oklahoman whose contributions will live on for a lifetime and beyond."

The House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee passed legislation authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert that removes restrictions on teachers from teaching in public schools after retirement. House Bill 2288  eliminates an existing 36-month waiting period for teachers who retire before they can return to teaching in Oklahoma public schools. The bill will allow career teachers to continue teaching past their retirement age while also drawing on their earned retirement benefits. Currently, teachers are allowed to go into a job in the private sector or in a private school, but must wait 36 months before returning to a public school classroom. "We have thousands of quality career teachers who are still in their prime working years, but because of this needless restriction, are leaving the classroom prematurely, often to teach elsewhere in the private sector to the detriment of our public schools," said Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We need to allow these teachers to draw down the retirement benefits they have earned while remaining in the classroom if they choose to do so." The bill passed out of committee with a vote of 7-1 and will move to the full House for further consideration.  -END-

The House voted today to approve a consent decree resolving a 2023 lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The lawsuit alleges ODMHSAS violated the substantive due process rights of pretrial defendants in Oklahoma State Court proceedings who had been declared incompetent to stand trial and were awaiting competency restoration treatment. As part of this settlement, ODMHSAS is working with experts as well as community leadership to improve competency restoration services in the State of Oklahoma by: increased training of forensic health care professionals, reducing the number of individuals inaccurately declared incompetent, reducing the wait times to Constitutionally appropriate levels of competency restoration treatment, creating a Constitutionally appropriate, cutting edge in-jail restoration treatment program, and expanding the State’s resources including additional in-patient competency restoration beds. The decree has been agreed to and negotiated by the Governor's office, the Office of the Attorney General and ODMHSAS and now approved by the House. It must also pass the Senate in order to move forward. "The House vote today shows the need to move forward with the parameters outlined in the decree to ensure those who committed crimes are held accountable while those accused of a crime get the mental health services they need," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. Implementing the decree could cost between $26-45 million, depending on how long it takes for the state to come into compliance with the requirements of the decree. The ODMHSAS has an implementation plan they believe will satisfy the parameters of the decree. "This helps our state avoid the costs, uncertainties and risks of protracted litigation," said House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon. "This is the right thing to do and I am glad the House was united in moving this through quickly knowing time is of the essence." HCR1004 passed the House unanimously with a vote of 91-0 and will next be considered by the Senate. -END-

A Comanche County judge has ruled that the competency of Ricky Ray Malone, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 2003 execution-style shooting death of Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green, must be reevaluated to determine if he is eligible for execution. In December, Attorney General Genter Drummond filed a motion requesting the reevaluation, and last week a judge agreed. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will reevaluate Malone to determine if he is now able to be executed. An agreement on reevaluation requirements is due March 5. Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, praised Drummond's efforts in seeking justice for the Green family.  "This family has waited over two decades for justice to be served, and I am hopeful this evaluation will show Malone is fit to pay the ultimate price for brutally murdering a public servant in the line of duty," said Caldwell, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. It has been more than 20 years since Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green was fatally shot after he stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the side of the road in Cotton County. In 2017, it was determined Malone was not mentally competent for execution and he was moved off death row in McAlester to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita. He will be reevaluated to determine if he is now competent to be put to death.  Caldwell, along with other Lawton-area Reps. Daniel Pae, Brad Boles, Toni Hasenbeck, Rande Worthen, Stacy Adams and Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, thanked Drummond for his swift action. "I hope the attorney general will continue to use the full weight of his office to make sure justice is carried out in this case," said Caldwell. "This family deserves closure." This case led to the introduction of  House Bill 1693  by Rep. Rande Worthen this legislative session, which puts concrete timelines and requirements on competency reevaluations and adds requirements on competency reevaluation services. The bill will be considered in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee Tuesday. "Victims and their families deserve to know the timeline and status of a convicted murderer on death row," said Worthen, R-Lawton. "We want to make sure if someone is deemed incompetent to be executed that they are reevaluated on a recurring basis and the state is doing all it can to restore competency when possible so justice can be done." -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, reaffirmed his commitment to finding balanced solutions for all Oklahomans and released the following statement today after withdrawing House Bill 1755. "After careful consideration and extensive conversations with various groups, I have made the decision to withdraw HB1755," Kerbs said. "It is important that we take the time to thoroughly evaluate all perspectives to ensure we are crafting policy that supports our farmers and ranchers while also protecting the interests and well-being of all Oklahomans. I remain committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to find a balanced and effective solution moving forward."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Although on Monday, Feb. 10, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed their appeal of an Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) order approving a $127 million rate increase for OG&E customers, saying it had been filed too early, Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, quickly proved they were undeterred. On Thursday, Gann, who is also a PSO customer, filed an appeal of the OCC’s recent order approving a historic $120 million rate increase for PSO’s ratepayers. Once again, the petition argues Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett violated state ethics rules by participating in the case involving an attorney with direct knowledge of alleged criminal conduct by Hiett.  On Aug. 7, 2024, The Oklahoman reported that two female OCC employees alleged they witnessed or experienced alleged criminal conduct by Hiett – including drunk driving and sexual harassment – during and after a law firm reception at an Oklahoma City bar in June 2023. A November filing by then-Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony further revealed the women also told The Oklahoman Hiett had allegedly exposed himself. The filing also alleged one of the women may have received a "hush money" pay raise just weeks after the incident.  "Hiett has not denied any of the allegations against him, including drunk driving and indecent exposure," Gann told the Court in his petition.  Gann’s petition also argues that the OCC failed to provide a required audit of PSO’s $1.1 billion of ratepayer-backed bonds issued after the February 2021 Winter Storm. Extra charges to pay off those bonds are expected to appear on customers’ monthly bills for 20 years. “We are not deterred by the court’s dismissal of our initial OG&E appeal,” Rick West said. “We appealed early to try to keep OG&E’s new rate increase refundable, which would have been worth hundreds of millions of dollars to customers. Waiting to appeal the commission’s final order can only impact OG&E’s rates going forward, but otherwise, the court was clear that waiting will not hurt our case.”  “It seems our appeal already has had an impact,” Kevin West said. On Tuesday, the OCC posted an amended agenda for its Feb. 18 meeting, including discussion about the OG&E rate case and possible votes to reopen the record “to determine whether discovery, further hearing, and/or additional testimony is necessary to address the issues raised.” “Are they going to put one of their famous one-page ‘audits’ in the record before voting on the final order?" Kevin West asked. " Will Brian Bingman get involved in this disaster, or will Hiett violate state ethics rules and cast the deciding vote again? We’ll just have to see. At least they know people are paying attention.” Bingman took over longtime Commissioner Bob Anthony’s seat at the OCC in January. Anthony voted against the OG&E rate increase in November, and Bingman abstained from voting on the PSO rate increase at his first OCC meeting in January. The OCC and PSO have 20 days to respond to Gann’s new appeal petition at the Supreme Court. Read the pleadings in the new PSO rate case appeal at the Oklahoma Supreme Court here: https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122861 Read the pleadings and orders in the original OG&E rate case appeal at the Oklahoma Supreme Court here: https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122735