Author: Steve Lewis

Tax cuts expected to be considered during upcoming session (Capitol Update)

One of the most important battles next year will be over how much and what kind. Of course, I’m referring to tax cuts. At a recent State Chamber public affairs event, legislative leaders signaled there will be a renewed focus… Read more [More...]

Senate announces committee chairs for upcoming session (Capitol Update)

With the top leadership remaining the same and relatively few new members in both legislative chambers, one might expect the committee chairs to mostly remain the same. However, when President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, announced his appointments last… Read more [More...]

A look at first bills filed for 2023 session (Capitol Update)

With the desk now open for prefiling bills for the upcoming session, it’s interesting to see what legislators have on their mind. Most bills get filed at or near the bill-filing deadline which this year is January 19. Early filings… Read more [More...]

A look at DOJ’s civil rights investigation into State of Oklahoma, OKC, OKCPD (Capitol Update)

According to a press release issued last week by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the State of Oklahoma, the City of Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The… Read more [More...]

Legislative freshman class includes 24 new senators, representatives

It’s always interesting after an election to take stock of the new members who are joining the legislature. This year produced a relatively small freshman class. In the 48-member Senate, there will be eight new senators, and in the 101-member… Read more [More...]

Interim studies examine justice reform solutions (Capitol Update)

Rep. J.J. Humphrey, R-Lane, is at it again with his criminal justice reform interim studies. He reviewed his recent studies in a press release last week describing the studies he’s completed in the past few weeks. One study included looking… Read more [More...]

Interim study looks at retail theft, but lowering the felony threshold is not the solution (Capitol Update)

Last week Representative Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, presented an interim study on organized theft from retail stores in his Judiciary-Criminal Committee that he chairs. Rep. Worthen was an assistant district attorney in Lawton for 29 years before being elected to the… Read more [More...]

Interim studies address issues of lack of housing, childcare facilities (Capitol Update)

Legislators continued their work last week with interim studies to look at issues they may want to address when session begins in February. Two important studies that caught my attention have to do with lack: Lack of affordable housing and… Read more [More...]

Mansion fundraising controversy, and looking back at how past governors used the facility (Capitol Update)

Something of a controversy has developed over Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan to raise about $6.5 million in private funding and build a new governor’s mansion. According to reports, “Friends of the Mansion” has been accepting donations of up to $250,000… Read more [More...]

Legislature passes ARPA relief proposals; Governor signs 8, vetoes 3, while 21 others pass into law without his signature (Capitol Update)

The legislature recessed its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) special session on Sept. 29, giving the governor until last Wednesday (Oct. 5) to act on the bills. Gov. Stitt, largely uninvolved in allocating the $1.8 billion in ARPA funding, had… Read more [More...]