Representative Kevin West

R

District 54

Hi, I'm Kevin West and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 54th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Jun 14, 2024
Recent Posts

Representatives Commend Governor's Line-Item Veto of Education Budget Limits Bill

A group of legislators on Friday praised the governor's line-item veto of Sections 15 and 16 of Senate Bill 1122, which would have placed spending limits on the State Department of Education (SDE) for its Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which goes into effect July 1. The statement is issued by Reps. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid; Chris Banning, R-Bixby; Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle; Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita; Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont; David Hardin, R-Stilwell; JJ Humphrey, R-Lane; Tom Gann, R-Inola; Jim Grego, R-Wilburton; Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa; Mark Lepak, R-Claremore; Cody Maynard, R-Durant; Jim Olsen, R-Roland; Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; Kevin West, R-Moore; and Rick West, R-Heavener. "We'd like to thank Governor Stitt for his thoughtful line-item veto of Sections 15 and 16 of Senate Bill 1122," they said. "These portions of the bill would have done nothing to improve the education of Oklahoma students and instead would have significantly damaged the Department of Education's ability to carry out its mission." The lawmakers said Section 15 of SB1122 would have required SDE to apply for every federal grant, while Section 16 would have included provisions that forbid SDE from using any money to secure media interviews or public relations, or for other public promotional purposes. The group noted that no other agency is subject to these restrictions. State agencies are granted the autonomy to decide which grants to apply for and almost every state agency spends money to communicate to the public about particular programs or services offered. Section 16 would have singled out and severely limited SDE in this function. The lawmakers spoke about the Teacher of the Year program, teacher recruitment efforts, certain financial disclosures, and other public relations messages that would have been hampered should this measure have been signed into law. On Friday afternoon, the governor issued Executive Order 2024-12, which prohibits all state agencies, rather than inequitably highlighting a specific agency, from entering into sole source contracts with public relations, marketing, or communications firms and vendors, as well as requires all PR vendors be procured through a 30-day request for proposal.

May 6, 2024
Recent Posts

Governor Signs Update to Electrical Contractor License

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday signed into law a bill that modifies continuing education requirements for electrical contractors, journeymen and apprentices. House Bill 3215, authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, seeks to address the worker shortage facing the electrical industry. "This bill was the work of many groups and individuals in the industry coming together to address the problem of finding licensed, competent electrical workers to meet Oklahomans' needs," West said. "In addition, it will help individuals take the next step in their career as an electrician." West said the measure returns the pass rate of the journeyman test to 70%, which was the passing score on the test up until 2008. It also increases the continuing education requirements to help ensure the work performed is by a trained and knowledgeable electrician. "Finally, this act levels the playing field for state electricians by matching requirements with surrounding states that have reciprocal license agreements with Oklahoma," West said. Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the Senate author of the measure. "The electrical industry is in dire need of workers entering the trade and obtaining their journeyman’s license," Daniels said. "Every day the need for new workers grows as the electrician workforce ages and more retire." Daniels said the average age of electricians in the United States is 41 years old, and every year over 75,000 electricians are needed throughout the country to meet the growing demand. "We believe these changes are one step to help address this need in the electrical industry while ensuring that the workforce continues to be safe and well educated in the trade," she said. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, contractors and journeymen must complete 12 hours of continuing education every three years for license renewal. The courses must be approved by the Committee of Electrical Examiners and cover specified topics. Apprentices must complete three hours of continuing education annually for registration renewal. Continuing education is not required for apprentices who are students or enrolled in an approved course. 

Mar 15, 2024
Recent Posts

Rep. Kevin West's Medical Right-of-Conscience Bill Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, on Thursday passed a bill in the House that would ensure nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals and organizations in the state are not forced to participate in specific procedures or pay for services that violate their deeply held beliefs. House Bill 3214 would protect Oklahoma’s health care providers from civil or criminal liability or discriminatory actions. The measure does not, however, override the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients, and health care professionals would still be expected to provide a patient with any other services that do not conflict with the professional’s conscience. "There are instances when doctors or other medical professionals are pressured to perform procedures or provide services that violate their personal conscience and that may even be harmful to the patient," West said. "This measure would protect them from facing retaliatory actions because of their sincerely held beliefs." West said similar legislation is already in place in seven states and has been in place since 1977 in Illinois and 2004 in Mississippi. He said it builds upon laws already in place that protect against religious discrimination in the workplace. HB3214 also provides protections for the First Amendment rights of health care professionals, ensuring that they can’t lose their license when they speak out on matters of public importance. It further protects health care professionals who report unlawful or unethical conduct to the appropriate authorities.