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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives this week adopted House Resolution 1057 , recognizing May 6 through May 12 as National Nurses Week. Authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, the resolution honors the vital role nurses play in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to Oklahomans. Roe, a nurse of more than 40 years and chair of the House Public Health Committee, and Stark, a former nurse of 35 years and vice chair of the committee, said their firsthand experience makes the recognition especially meaningful. "Nurses deserve this recognition and more," Roe and Stark said in a joint statement. "They are there in life’s most critical moments, offering skilled care, steady hands and compassion when it is needed most. They carry the weight of long hours, difficult conversations and life-changing decisions, often all in a single shift. "Nurses are more than caregivers. They are the backbone of our health care system, serving everyone from all across our state. "With more than 52,000 registered nurses, 16,000 licensed practical nurses and more than 6,500 advanced practice registered nurses in Oklahoma, their impact reaches every corner of our lives. On any given day, they could welcome new life into the world, care for the sick and injured or have the difficult job of standing beside families during their hardest moments. "To every nurse across Oklahoma, thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your strength and thank you for your unwavering commitment to others. Our state is stronger because of you." HR1057 encourages Oklahomans to join in recognizing National Nurses Week and the life-saving contributions of nurses in every community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure that would give Oklahoma families an additional end-of-life option while ensuring the process is governed by strong commonsense safeguards is now headed to the governor's desk for final approval. House Bill 3660 , authored by Rep. Eddy Dempsey, R-Valliant, would allow those who want additional options for their loved ones to do so with confidence that those options are safe and responsibly managed. "This bill is about compassion, dignity and respecting the wishes of Oklahoma families during some of the hardest moments of their lives," Dempsey said in a statement. "Families deserve the freedom to choose how they honor and lay their loved ones to rest without unnecessary government interference. At the same time, this legislation puts clear standards in place so these services are handled safely, professionally and with the respect every family deserves." Several House members debated in favor of the bill and addressed what Rep. Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, described as misinformation. "Last time it was presented to this body, we heard a lot of lies, to be honest with you," Wilk said. "Lies that it had to do with humanure. That's absolutely not true. It's nowhere in that bill. Lies that it had to do with using human remains as fertilizer. That's a point-blank lie. None of that is true. There's two things that the government should stay out of: it's coming into this world and leaving this world." In his closing debate, Dempsey reiterated that the bill provides freedom to Oklahomans looking for additional end-of-life options. "All this started with is a bald-faced lie," Dempsey argued. "This is just another option for us for our families if you want it. Nobody is forcing you to do this. I've heard that funeral homes don't want to buy the equipment. Nobody's forcing the funeral homes buy the equipment. But this is the option for us, for our citizens, for equal rights. Give it back to us." HB3660 passed 58-35 and now heads to the governor's desk for final approval.

Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, today condemned the governor's veto of House Bill 3320, a move Osburn said ignores the need for smarter, more effective government. HB3320  would establish a sunset review process for all statutorily created entities, requiring them to demonstrate a clear public need to continue operating. After legislative review, entities must implement any required changes within one year or be dissolved. "The governor's veto of House Bill 3320 is a deeply misguided move that prioritizes outdated bureaucracy over meaningful, effective governance. "Under the current sunset process, the Legislature spends numerous hours every year considering dozens of sunset renewals bills without any actual teeth beyond allowing them to entirely expire. HB3320 was designed to bring Oklahoma’s oversight process into the modern era. Instead, the governor chose to protect a broken, bureaucratic ritual that produces more paperwork than progress. "Let me be clear: every agency, board and commission remains subject to open meetings, public records laws, audits and legislative scrutiny at any time. This bill would have allowed the Legislature to focus on underperforming agencies, requiring specific changes and better accountability rather than wasting time on agencies that are already operating efficiently. The governor’s veto rejects a streamlined approach in favor of maintaining an arbitrary system and continues uncertainty surrounding the very boards and commissions that regulate critical services across our state. "The Legislature, and the people of Oklahoma, must continue pushing for reforms that make government more accountable and focused on results. The governor could share in this effort but instead chose the status quo." Osburn quoted former President Ronald Reagan: "The people are the government. What we create we ought to be able to control." He also pointed to the governor's veto last year of a bill extending the operations of the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, a move that risked the livelihoods of more than 77,000 Oklahomans and could have risked the health of thousands of citizens.  Legislative action  was taken to allow the Board to continue operating. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, on Tuesday passed a bill that establishes exact procedures for law enforcement to review cold cases involving violent crimes. Senate Bill 1636 passed the House unanimously on a vote of 81-0 after previously passing the Senate 47-0. The legislation has been sent to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. If enacted, it would become effective Nov. 1. "As a former police officer, one of the worst things was telling someone I didn't have an answer for them about what happened to their loved one," Ford said. "This legislation sets up a better procedure for violent crime cold cases to be investigated with the hope this brings many of these cases to resolution." Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, is the Senate principal author of the measure. “There are at least 1,000 Oklahoma families who have waited for years for justice for their loved ones. This bill will give them an opportunity to finally have the answers and the justice they deserve,” Hicks said. “I want to thank the members of the House for joining the Senate in unanimously approving Senate Bill 1636 and thank the governor for his consideration of this important legislation.” SB1636 would require law enforcement to review cold case files upon written application by a designated person, including family members, to determine if further investigation would result in probative leads. The review must be performed by a person who has not previously investigated the case, and it must be completed within six months. The timeline may be extended under certain circumstances.  The review is to include an analysis of the investigative steps or follow-up steps that may have contributed to the initial investigation; an assessment of whether witnesses should be interviewed or reinterviewed; a review of physical evidence to determine if all appropriate forensic testing and analyses were performed in the first instance or if additional testing might produce information relevant to the investigation; and a modernization of the file to raise it to current investigative standards to the extent that it would develop probative leads. The law enforcement agency receiving the application for review must confirm within 30 days of receipt and give periodic updates to the person requesting the review. The agency will then be required to meet periodically with the designated person to discuss findings and to explain the decision whether further investigation is warranted. Law enforcement agencies can jointly coordinate reviews. After review, if the law enforcement agency concludes that further investigation is not warranted, no additional review can be taken for the same case for five years, unless new evidence is discovered.

OKLAHOMA CITY- Legislation that will improve awareness and prevention of dangerous blood clots is now in the hands of the Governor. Authored by Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond, House Bill 3644 , titled the Blake Burgess Act, 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. The Act is named after a 21-year-old former neighbor and constituent of Stinson's who died from a pulmonary embolism in 2020. "This is a step toward better understanding the realities of this condition so we can increase awareness, recognize the warning signs earlier and respond faster," Stinson said. "Blake’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of how serious venous thromboembolism can be, and every six minutes, someone dies from complications related to VTE. We owe it to families across Oklahoma to improve education and help prevent more lives from being lost to a condition that is often overlooked until it is too late." A pulmonary embolism is a serious form of venous thromboembolism, or VTE, which occurs when blood clots develop in the veins and travel to the lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 60,000 and 100,000 Americans lose their lives to VTE-related complications each year, while many others face lasting health effects. The measure would also incorporate definitions for pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism into the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act. In addition, assisted living facilities would be required to provide new residents with educational materials about VTE at the time of admission. The informational pamphlets would be supplied free of charge through the National Blood Clot Alliance. Stinson said his thought behind the legislation is to improve coordination across the health care system. "Blood clots remain one of the leading preventable causes of hospital-related deaths in the United States, claiming more than 100,000 lives each year," Stinson said. "The reality is that many of these cases can be prevented, and as the old saying goes, that which gets measured gets managed. Through proper risk assessment and early intervention, we can definitely save lives."

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, applauds Governor Stitt's executive order to ban illegal immigrants on welfare benefits. The executive order comes after House Bill 4422 and House Bill 4423 did not advance in the State Senate. "I am thankful that Governor Stitt takes the issue of illegal immigration seriously and recognizes the importance of enforcing the rule of law at every level of government. Oklahoma taxpayers should never be forced to subsidize benefits for individuals who are in our country illegally. These services are intended for legal tax-paying citizens, and we are going to make sure that is who is receiving these benefits in Oklahoma. Oklahoma must send a clear message: we stand with legal immigrants, American workers and the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol who enforce our laws. The House stands with President Trump and with Governor Stitt in protecting American citizens and our tax dollars."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday passed a bill that would require all youth camps to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment and to develop an emergency action plan by the end of this year and every three years going forward.  The plan specified in House Bill 1675 must include response protocols for each severe weather hazard applicable to the site, evacuation routes and other items outlined in the measure. Senate amendments were adopted by the House, and the bill has been sent to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. "This bill is about keeping our children safe, and to assure parents that when they send their children to camp, it will be a wonderful and safe experience," Cantrell said. "It is not intended to put onerous regulations on camp owners, nor is it focused on any particular camp." Cantrell said the legislation was inspired after a catastrophic flood in Texas last year took the lives of 25 young campers, two counselors and a camp director. "The news reports of this event were horrific to watch, and I honestly cannot imagine the grief of the parents and families that is ongoing today." Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, is the Senate author of the bill. “Camp should be a time for kids to let loose and have fun,” Seifried said. “But parents shouldn’t have to sit at home worrying every time they see a severe weather alert. This bill makes sure camps have clear emergency plans in place and staff who know what to do when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Preparing ahead of time and planning for all scenarios will keep campers safe and give parents peace of mind.” Cantrell said his legislation is not as restrictive as legislation passed in Texas. Instead, he said it would require camps to work with local emergency management officials to develop plans based on their local topography and local weather patterns. He said this is important in Oklahoma, where tornadoes, flash flooding and other severe weather events are a recurring threat. "I trust camp owners and operators will be able to work together with local officials to make sure we have the best emergency preparedness plans in place before our kids arrive at camp going forward," Cantrell said.                                                                                  Under the measure, youth camps would be required to maintain two independent methods of receiving severe weather alerts, an internal communication system, procedures for notifying guardians, and to provide access to shelters. Potential threats of severe weather and emergency response procedures must be disclosed to all participants. Camp staff are required to receive annual emergency procedure and hazard recognition training and conduct periodic drills. A copy of the emergency action plan must be kept on file with the applicable regulating authority. Regulating authorities are authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions and can impose corrective action plans, civil penalties, and suspend or revoke licensure for material noncompliance.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, today commented on a bill being sent to the governor that would require every Oklahoma birth certificate to contain an accurate biological sex designation of either male or female as identified at the time of birth. House Bill 1225 clarifies that the biological sex listed on birth certificates at the time of birth is not to be amended to display gender identity or a nonbinary designation. "The compelling interest for this legislation is to ensure the state has integrity and accuracy on the vital records it maintains," West said. "Birth certificates are used for many different purposes, including accurate identification of a person. It's important these documents reflect biological reality that cannot be changed regardless of how a person might wish to be identified otherwise." Sen. Michael Bergstrom, R-Big Cabin, is the Senate author of HB1225 and the principal author of Senate Bill 1100 , signed into law in 2022, which limited the biological sex designation on birth certificates to male or female. "Oklahoma statutes have always held that on vital statistics documents there are two options for sex, male and female," Bergstrom said. "This legislation clarifies that position, clarifies that's the position always held by Oklahoma's Legislature, so moving forward no one can unintentionally or intentionally confuse this matter." West said HB1225 is closely tied to House Joint Resolution 1032 , which was approved by the governor in March. The resolution removed rules relating to driver's license and identification card renewal that were inherited by Service Oklahoma. The rules were implemented prior to the agency's existence. "These rules did not have statutory authority to exist," West said. He said the clarification in statute is needed after a previous bill signed into law in 2024 has been wrongly interpreted by some. "The combination of these two measures close a perceived loophole that lawyers have used to argue that people can change their sex marker on their driver's license," West said. "This will ensure the accuracy of state records going forward." 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, applauds the signing of a bill that will give more parents the chance to choose the educational experience that best meets their child's needs. Caldwell is a coauthor of House Bill 3705 , which increases the annual cap on the Parental Choice Tax Credit program from $250 million to $275 million beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, which starts July 1. Under the program’s tiered structure, eligible families may receive refundable tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition, depending on household income. Additionally, families who homeschool may qualify for a $1,000 per-student tax credit for approved educational expenses. "This program has been extremely well-received by Oklahoma families, as shown by record application numbers this year," Caldwell said. "I truly believe education is the most important thing the state does for its citizens. A quality education has the power to change someone's life. And parents, not the government, should have the power to decide the best educational path for their child. I'm glad the Legislature and the governor responded to the growing demand by expanding the cap for this vital program, so more parents have the flexibility to choose the education their children deserve." The Parental Choice Tax Credit program was established through House Bill 1934  in 2023. This program is just a part of the legislative commitment aimed at improving education in Oklahoma. In addition to creating the popular school choice program in 2023, the Legislature has also invested more than $1 billion in new funding for public education.  "Parents deserve a choice of where to send their children to school," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, the House author of the bill. "For many, that's the local public school. However, if that school is not meeting their needs, parents should be able to put their tax dollars toward the place where their child will truly flourish." The Parental Choice Tax Credit program is administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which opened applications for the 2026–27 school year on March 16. The commission reported nearly 27,000 applications for the upcoming school year were submitted on the first day alone. The application period for the tax credit closes at 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 15. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation before the deadline to ensure consideration.  More information, including application guidance and eligibility details, is available on the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website: https://oklahoma.gov/tax/individuals/parental-choice-tax-credit.html .