Category: Capitol Updates

Speaker announces House leadership, committee chairs; adds new oversight committees (Capitol Update)

Incoming Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, finalized his leadership and committee chair appointments last week in preparation for the upcoming legislative session that begins Feb. 3. [More...]

Steps to improve budget transparency next session (Policy Matters)

This column originally ran in the Journal Record on May 29, 2024 This legislative session, lawmakers placed great emphasis on budget transparency. It’s been revealing to watch the process unfold, but there are steps lawmakers can take to build on… Read more [More...]

Addressing the complex needs for mental health services for people held in state’s custody (Capitol Update)

In an opinion piece in the Tulsa World last weekend, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler appears to find himself again at odds with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) over its interactions with the… Read more [More...]

State Senate names committee chairs (Capitol Update)

Another step toward the beginning of the 60th Legislature occurred last week when Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, named committee chairs and rounded out the remaining members of the Senate leadership team that had not been announced. Committee… Read more [More...]

A look at the proposed settlement for federal mental health competency lawsuit (Capitol Update)

The settlement appears to reflect the best in government and in private citizenship. The attorneys took on an unpopular cause, the AG cut through politics and resolved to settle the case, the governor and commissioner came to the table and made reasonable concessions while protecting the state's interests as they saw them, and a former federal magistrate lent his skills for the public good. [More...]

Three things needed to reform education in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)

A group of education leaders and others from across the state are organizing an effort to improve Oklahoma’s schools under the name Advance Oklahoma’s Kids. They are gathering input through a short online survey, community forums, and listening sessions to… Read more [More...]

Naming committee chairs is important decision before the upcoming session (Capitol Update)

The 60th Oklahoma Legislature is marching toward its constitutional organizational date on Jan. 7, 2025. The organizational day is a formality to officially elect the leadership, make appointments, adopt legislative rules and do the paperwork to begin the first session… Read more [More...]

A look at the incoming class of state legislators (Capitol Update)

This year’s elections have produced an interesting mix of new legislators. The incoming Senate class is unusually large, while the new House members form a somewhat average-sized class. There is always a degree of excitement in meeting the new members… Read more [More...]

New OJA director good fit to address needs for state youth (Capitol Update)

Timothy Tardibono, who was appointed last week by Gov. Kevin Stitt to be the new director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), should prove to be a good appointment. His background, education and experience all point toward progress for troubled children, youth and families in Oklahoma. [More...]

Modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit: It’s never too late to do the right thing (Capitol Update)

The House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance held a study about modernizing the state Sales Tax Relief Credit for low-income Oklahomans. [More...]