News

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has adopted House Resolution 1058 , recognizing Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week and honoring the law enforcement officers who protect communities across Oklahoma.  Authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, HR1058 acknowledges the courage, sacrifice and dedication of peace officers, while paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Harris said the resolution serves as an important reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face every day in order to keep Oklahoma families safe. "Our law enforcement officers willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities, uphold the rule of law and serve others before themselves," Harris said. "This resolution is one way we can honor the brave men and women who wear the badge and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our state and nation. Oklahoma stands firmly behind the heroes in law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe." Rep. John George, R-Newalla, who coauthored the resolution, served with the Oklahoma Police Department for more than 30 years. "As someone who spent most of their life in law enforcement, this week is of course meaningful to me," George said. "I've seen firsthand the horrors that sometimes come with being the first on the scene of a violent crime. But I've also seen the moments when officers change someone's life for the better just by showing up to provide protection or to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation. To all the men and women who put on a uniform and serve the public at great risk, I say thank you. You deserve our recognition and our appreciation. I especially want to take time to remember our fallen officers, those who didn't make it back from their last call. Your ultimate sacrifice is not forgotten. We will keep your families lifted in our prayers, and we will do everything in our power to make sure your service will never be said to have been in vain." The resolution names six law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty within the last year: Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Walker" Lemay of the LeFlore County Sheriff's Office, Trooper Vernon Brake of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Sergeant Thomas Duran of the El Reno Police Department, Deputy Gary Brooks of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Recruit Franklin Leinen of the Broken Arrow Police Department, and Reserve Officer Clint Lawrence of the Haileyville Police Department. Following the adoption of the resolution, the House took a moment of silence in remembrance of the six fallen officers and other fallen law enforcement across the nation. National Police Week was established to recognize the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers. Peace Officers Memorial Day is observed annually on May 15.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow, today commented on the signing of House Bill 1739 , a measure relating to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System. HB1739 updates provisions within the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System to strengthen benefits for those who serve in law enforcement. "This bill reinstates an increased benefit to officers hired since 2012 fixing a divide among the members and ensuring successful recruitment and retention," Chapman said. "I appreciate the work Pro Tem Paxton put into helping get this across the finish line and I am grateful to the Oklahoma State Troopers Association for their support and input along the way. This makes sure there is real support in place for the people who risk everything to protect our communities." The measure also modifies contribution structures within the system and clarifies eligibility for certain retirement benefits, helping ensure long-term stability while maintaining support for active and retired members. Chapman said the bill was shaped with input from law enforcement, including the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. "On behalf of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association, I want to extend our sincere appreciation to Representative Chapman for his leadership in passing this important legislation," said Trooper C.J. Williams, president of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. "His commitment to public safety and to the men and women of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will have a lasting impact across our state. This measure strengthens our ability to serve and protect Oklahomans, and we are grateful for his continued support of law enforcement." House Bill 1739 takes effect July 1, 2026.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Kelly Hines, R-Oklahoma City, today commented on the signing of House Bill 3720 , a measure updating Oklahoma’s Homemade Food Freedom Act and expanding opportunities for small, local food producers. House Bill 3720 renames the law as the Local Food Freedom Act and updates several provisions to reflect the growth of Oklahoma’s local food industry. The measure increases the allowable annual sales cap for local food businesses from $75,000 to $250,000 and clarifies how products can be sold and delivered to consumers. "This will make it easier for small producers to grow without getting buried in red tape," Hall said. "Oklahomans have turned these local businesses into real opportunities for their families, and this law reflects that. It keeps commonsense protections in place while giving people more room to succeed." The bill also updates definitions in statute, expands where local food products can be produced, and maintains food safety requirements for products that require time or temperature control. Sen. Kelly Hines, R-Oklahoma City, is the Senate author of the measure. "This legislation gives homegrown businesses more runway to get off the ground. Right now, some of the limits in state law unintentionally hold these home-based entrepreneurs back by disincentivizing them from growing their small businesses. Under the Local Food Freedom Act, these businesses will have every opportunity to grow and flourish" The Local Food Freedom Act preserves existing labeling requirements, including clear disclosure that products are made in a facility not subject to state inspection, while continuing to exclude the sale of certain higher-risk items such as meat and poultry products. The measure takes effect Nov. 1, 2026.

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 – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, is calling for an Elector Bill of Rights to affirm that every Oklahoma voter has the right to be fully represented by the elected official they sent to the Capitol. Gann said the proposal is aimed at House rules that restrict ordinary members from freely making motions, forcing accountability, advancing district concerns or seeking recorded votes without procedural permission from leadership.  “The people do not elect representatives to come to the Capitol and ask permission to represent them,” Gann said. “They elect us to speak, question, amend, move, object and demand accountability. When a House rule hinders a representative, it does not merely burden that member — it burdens the voters who sent that member here.” The Elector Bill of Rights is built on a simple principle: the right to vote includes the continuing right to be represented after the election is over. Gann said internal House rules should organize the legislative process, not suppress the voice of districts whose representatives are outside leadership or outside favored committees. “Every elector has the right to equal representation,” Gann said. “That means their representative should not be reduced to a passive observer, a silent voter or a member dependent on leadership permission to act.” The proposed Elector Bill of Rights declares that Oklahoma voters have the right to:  Have their representative treated as an equal member of the House; Expect their representative to speak, question, amend, object and seek votes; Know who supports, opposes, delays or blocks legislation; See important public questions debated and voted on in public; Have committee and floor decisions made with transparency and accountability; Be protected from internal rules that concentrate legislative power in the hands of a few. Gann said House Resolution 1002 , the current House rules package, has shifted too much power away from individual members and toward leadership-controlled gatekeeping. “When legislation can be stalled without a committee vote, without a floor vote and without a public explanation, the people lose accountability,” Gann said. “That is not just a procedural problem. It is a representation problem.” Gann said the Elector Bill of Rights reframes the debate over House rules. The issue is not merely whether a legislator has been inconvenienced, but whether the citizens of that district are receiving the full representation they voted for. “The elector’s right is not merely the right to cast a ballot every two years,” Gann said. “It is the right to be represented every day the House is in session.”  Gann said he will continue advocating for rules reform that restores member equality, protects open debate and ensures public accountability.  “A rule that silences a representative does not just silence one member,” Gann said. “It silences the district that sent that member here.”

A measure defending the fundamental rights of parents across Oklahoma has been signed into law by the governor.  Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, authored the "Right to Raise Act" to ensure that no Oklahoman is denied the opportunity to adopt or foster children simply for using biologically accurate language or for raising a child consistent with their God-given biological sex.  House Bill 3586  also clarifies that such parenting decisions do not constitute child abuse or neglect.  "The Right to Raise Act reinforces that parents have the fundamental right to raise their children according to their values and beliefs," Harris said. "This bill makes it clear that Oklahoma will stand with families who choose truth over ideology and will not allow them to be punished for it." HB3586 was authored in the Senate by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. "This measure is about protecting the fundamental rights of parents and ensuring the state does not impose ideological litmus tests on families who want to provide a loving home," Thompson said. "No qualified Oklahoman should be denied the opportunity to adopt or foster simply for acknowledging biological reality or raising a child in accordance with their deeply held beliefs. I appreciate Representative Harris for putting this forward to provide clarity in the law." The Right to Raise Act will take effect Nov. 1, 2026.

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. 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.