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OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, chair of the Oklahoma Veterans and Public Safety Caucus, and Rep. John George, R-Newalla, vice chair of the caucus, issued the following joint statement in recognition of Veterans Day. "On Veterans Day, we have the privilege of recognizing the men and women who answered the call to serve our country and who continue to make a difference for our state and nation today. Military service is not an easy commitment, and it takes a special kind of courage and dedication to answer that call. We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude," Hildebrant and George said. "As veterans ourselves, we know firsthand that serving our country is about much more than wearing a uniform. It's a commitment that stays with you long after your military service ends. We understand the sacrifices made and the pride that comes with being part of something greater than yourself." "To our fellow veterans, thank you for your courage, your commitment and your willingness to put our country and our constitution before yourselves. Your service matters, your sacrifices are appreciated and your stories deserve to be heard. We are proud to stand alongside you, not just today, but every day. We also want to recognize and thank the families of our veterans, whose sacrifices and unwavering support have played an important role in protecting the freedoms we enjoy today." Hildebrant is a retired Air Force veteran who served 25 years in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, while George served five years in the Oklahoma National Guard. Both continue their commitment to serving fellow veterans through their leadership roles in the Oklahoma Veterans and Public Safety Caucus.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Mike Lay, R-Jenks, Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, and Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, issued the following joint statement expressing their condolences to the Webster High School community following Monday's tragic crash on the Turner Turnpike. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of a young life and the pain this tragedy has brought to so many families. Our hearts are with the family mourning their child, those recovering from their injuries and everyone at Webster High School who has been affected. We know words can offer only so much comfort during a time like this, but we want the Webster community to know we are here for them. We stand ready to offer our support in any way we can and will continue keeping these families in our thoughts and prayers." The crash occurred Monday as seven Webster High School students and a staff member were returning from a student council convention in Norman. One student has passed away, while the other students and staff member were injured and received medical treatment at area hospitals.  -END-

Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, is expressing his condolences following the death of a Webster High School student in Monday's crash on the Turner Turnpike near Chandler. He also is calling for renewed attention to roadway safety along this stretch of the turnpike and other heavily traveled routes in the area. "My heart breaks for the family who lost their child, for the students and staff who were injured, and for the entire Webster High School community," Shaw said. "No family should have to experience this kind of loss. I am keeping everyone affected in my prayers, and I hope those who were injured make a full recovery." The crash occurred as several Webster High School students and a staff member were returning from a student council convention in Norman. One student passed away, and the other occupants received medical treatment at area hospitals. Shaw, whose district includes the portion of the turnpike where the accident occurred, called for a closer examination of roadway safety along the Turner Turnpike near Chandler. The crash follows previous safety concerns along the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County. In November 2025, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported investigating 22 crashes along the full turnpike in just 18 days, with semi-trucks involved in 55% of those crashes. Shaw said these incidents warrant a closer examination of roadway conditions, traffic patterns and safety measures along this stretch of highway. "This is an area that sees significant traffic, including commercial trucks and families traveling across our state, and we need to take a hard look at whether current safety measures are doing enough to protect motorists," Shaw said. "We cannot change what happened Monday, but we can look for ways to prevent another family from experiencing this kind of heartbreak. Every Oklahoman should be able to travel our roads with confidence that their safety is a priority."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, commented on the launch of the new Oklahoma Spending Transparency database by the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) that gives Oklahomans greater access to information about state agency spending. The database follows transparency reforms championed by Strom during the 2026 legislative session. "I have always believed taxpayers have a right to not only know how much their government is spending, but where those dollars are going and what they are getting in return," said Strom, who chairs the House General Government Appropriations and Budget Committee. "State contracts should be transparent so communities can understand the cost and scope of public projects, ask informed questions about their progress and see how taxpayer dollars are being used. By making this information more accessible and in one place, we are giving Oklahomans the tools to identify concerns and evaluate spending decisions while holding government accountable." According to OMES, the database allows users to search state agency spending, including vendor information, purchase amounts and transaction dates. It includes both anticipated costs through purchase orders and actual expenditures made with state purchase cards. The Oklahoma Spending Transparency database follows the passage of House Bill 3415 , part of an eight-bill package authored by Strom in 2026 to improve transparency and oversight of state contracts. HB3415 requires subcontractor disclosures, stronger documentation, post-project reviews and a public database detailing state contracts, including vendors, anticipated costs and contracted services. HB3415 took effect Nov. 1. Oklahomans can access the new Spending Transparency database at contracts.ok.gov .

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker, R-Bristow, released the following statement at the conclusion of the results for the 2026 general election: "Oklahoma voters sent a clear message at the ballot box today, sweeping all statewide offices and reaffirming a supermajority in the state house. Despite the national trends, tonight’s results demonstrate that Oklahomans continue to believe in the conservative principles, priorities and leadership that have helped move our state forward. I’m grateful to every Oklahoman who took the time to vote and to the candidates who stepped forward to serve their communities.” “I’m especially excited to welcome new faces to the Legislature as we prepare for the 61st Legislature. Each election brings an opportunity for fresh perspectives, new ideas and renewed commitment to serving the people of Oklahoma. I look forward to working alongside our returning and incoming members to build on our progress and deliver meaningful results for our state.” -END-

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, hosted Interim Study 26-014 , "Modernizing Plan Review, Permitting, and Inspections in Oklahoma's Growing Cities," which examined ways to improve permitting, plan reviews and inspection processes across Oklahoma to encourage business and residential development while maintaining protections for residents. The study brought together developers, architects, municipal leaders, tribal representatives, fire officials and housing advocates to discuss Oklahoma's growing need for housing and challenges within the permitting process that can delay residential development and increase costs. "Oklahoma is growing, and we need processes that support that growth," Gise said. "What encouraged me most about this study was the willingness of everyone at the table to work together. Our municipalities, developers and permitting officials all want safe, successful projects completed in a timely manner." During the study, Home Creations founder Jalal Farzaneh identified lot costs as one of three major factors affecting housing development and emphasized the need for greater oversight of the permitting process. Farzaneh shared an example involving a zoning dispute after the company sought approval to expand a single-family residential development. After a legal battle lasting more than three years, a judge ruled in favor of Home Creations. However, Farzaneh said legal fees, carrying costs and rising lot prices during that time added approximately $15,000 per home, costs ultimately passed along to homebuyers. The example highlighted how permitting delays and legal disputes can increase housing costs for Oklahoma families. Tyler Parette, founding executive director of Housing Forward also highlighted Oklahoma’s projected need for 372,593 housing units by 2034, including more than 105,000 affordable units, according to the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment. “For Oklahoma to meet the challenges ahead, the systems that impact housing development need to be firing on all cylinders,” said Tyler Parette, founding executive director of Housing Forward. “Conversations like this one bring key partners together so that we can make the improvements necessary to ensure that every Oklahoman has access to a home that fits their needs, their life, and their future.” Mike Fina with the Oklahoma Municipal League, which represents the state's 588 cities and towns, emphasized the importance of municipal oversight in the permitting process. He noted that permitting is just one step in the broader residential and commercial development process, which can take months or even years to complete. "I think the thing we all agree on here is that Oklahoma needs more development, more houses, more businesses and more economic growth. I think we need to challenge the perception that municipal government is somehow the obstacle in development," he said. "One of the most common complaints we hear from developers is that municipal permitting takes too long, but I think we need to put that into perspective. We have a very important job to do." The study also explored opportunities to improve the permitting process through public-private partnerships, better communication and transparency between developers and municipalities and voluntary modernization efforts that preserve local authority without imposing unfunded mandates. Other presenters in the study included representatives from Krittenbrink Architecture, GH2 Architects LLC, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Fire Department. Gise concluded the study by acknowledging the complexity of the issue and thanking stakeholders for their commitment to continued collaboration as potential solutions are considered ahead of the 2027 legislative session. "Public safety should never be compromised in the name of efficiency," Gise said. "Our goal isn’t to eliminate safeguards or undermine local authority. It’s to identify opportunities to improve communication, reduce unnecessary delays, lower housing costs for Oklahoma families and help our communities accommodate growth." The entire study can be viewed on the House Website under News & Media, live proceedings, then search the calendar for Oct. 28 starting at 2:00 p.m.

House Common Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, has been named the 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools (OROS). OROS presented Lowe with the award during its annual conference on Oct. 23, recognizing his continued commitment to advocating for rural Oklahoma schools throughout his time in the Legislature. "I'm honored to receive this recognition from an organization that has spent more than four decades standing up for rural education in Oklahoma," Lowe said. "Rural schools are often the heart of the communities they serve and help sustain the future of our towns. I'm committed to making sure rural students have the same opportunities to succeed as students anywhere in Oklahoma, and I'll continue working to ensure our rural schools have the support they need to do that." OROS is a non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting the interests of rural school districts in Oklahoma. The organization now includes more than 320 rural school districts as members. Lowe, a former agriculture teacher, has served as chair of the House Common Education Committee since 2024.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two new laws taking effect Nov. 1 will further strengthen Oklahoma's administrative rules process by requiring state agencies to demonstrate clear legal authority for their regulations and making agency guidance documents more accessible to the public. House Bill 4319 , authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, requires clear legal authority for agency rules, which carry the weight of law. Senate Bill 1433 , the Guidance Transparency Act, carried by Rep. Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, requires agencies to make guidance documents publicly available and submit them for publication in a centralized, searchable format. Administrative rules are the regulations written by state agencies to enforce laws passed by the Legislature and carry the force of law. After being approved by the agency, proposed rules move to the Legislature for approval. "Administrative agencies have a responsibility to carry out the laws passed by the Legislature, but they must do so in a transparent way and within the bounds of what the law specifically allows," said Kendrix, who chairs the House Administrative Rules Committee. "We have made significant and much-needed reforms to this process over the last three years, and I appreciate my colleagues' support of these measures and the work Representative Hall has done to continue building on this important work." HB4319 limits state agencies to adopting rules supported by specific and explicit authorization in state law rather than relying solely on general statements of rulemaking authority. The law also strengthens legislative review by requiring lawmakers to determine whether proposed rules have specific statutory authorization and fall within the scope of that authority. In addition, agencies must review existing rules and determine whether they meet the requirements within three years or risk noncompliant rules being repealed. "House Bill 4319 reinforces the Legislature's constitutional authority in making law," Kendrix said. "By strengthening the emphasis on specific statutory authority, we can confirm agencies implement intended legislative policy rather than establishing requirements without proper authorization from the elected officials tasked with lawmaking responsibility." SB1433 addresses another part of the regulatory process: agency guidance documents that communicate official policies, interpretations or recommendations but are not necessarily formal administrative rules. The Guidance Transparency Act requires certain state agencies to make guidance documents available for public inspection online or at their primary places of business. Agencies also must submit the documents to the Secretary of State's Office of Administrative Rules for publication in a centralized, searchable format and keep the information current. "Making agency guidance more accessible gives Oklahomans a clearer picture of how decisions are made and what they can expect when working with state government," Hall said. "I believe this change will make a meaningful difference for people trying to navigate those processes. Greater transparency also brings greater accountability, and that's something that benefits everyone." Together, the measures build on recent efforts to limit agency overreach and restore accountability to Oklahoma’s administrative rulemaking process. In 2025, the Legislature enacted four major reforms addressing legislative oversight, agency authority and public accountability. The Secretary of State's Office also launched rules.ok.gov , an online portal where Oklahomans can review proposed rules, submit public comments and sign up for updates on agency rulemaking. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new law prohibiting edible medical marijuana products from being made in the shape of humans, cartoons or animals, or in a form of commercially available candy takes effect Nov. 1. Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, authored House Bill 4454 . The measure also requires edible medical marijuana products to clearly indicate the number of servings of THC in each package and the amount of THC in each individual serving. This includes drinks and beverages. "These changes are intended to better protect children from accidental ingestion of these potent products and to help us better inform consumers about recommended dosage amounts," Newton said. HB4454 specifies that edible marijuana products shall not be attractive to children. They cannot use any image or words designed or likely to appeal to anyone under the age of 18. This includes but is not limited to cartoons, toys, animals, food or depictions of persons younger than 18, including any characters or phrases popularly used to advertise to those under 18. Oklahoma voters approved medical marijuana in the state in 2018 through State Question 788. The question was brought to the ballot by voters themselves through the initiative petition process.  Newton, who is a practicing optometrist, said he's aware that some in the industry have complained about the changes this new law will require to manufacturing and packaging, but his efforts are to keep the public safe. "We've got to protect our kids and make sure they don't get sick or worse thinking they are just eating some colorful candy," Newton said. "We also owe it to consumers to be clear about how much THC is contained in each package. This makes sure patients are fully informed on the medical marijuana they are taking to prevent overmedicating." HB4454 amends existing state statute. There are no new penalties in the law for licensed processors. They already are subject to up to two yearly inspections by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Those found deficient have one month to correct or face a $500 fine per deficiency.