Finding the courage to say “no more prisons” (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. “We’re not going to build any more prisons.” I remember House Speaker Dan Draper making that declarative… Read more [More...]

Legislative leadership for next session is coming into focus (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. With the appointment of House leadership by Speaker Charles McCall last week, the picture of legislative leadership… Read more [More...]

The first deadline for next year’s Legislature has already passed (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Although the legislative session does not begin until February 4th, the first deadline of the session, the… Read more [More...]

Early bill filings reveal legislators’ priorities (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. With the new Legislature now sworn into office, members can begin filing the bills for the next… Read more [More...]

Transition team begins charting Stitt Administration’s direction (Capitol Update)

A course being plotted on an old chart with a pencil and course plotter Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. There’s not a lot of legislative activity to report from last week. Most members were catching up… Read more [More...]

Office of Juvenile Affairs makes improvements, but more work needed (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Last week the Office of Juvenile Affairs Board of Directors (OJA) approved a new, higher rate for… Read more [More...]

To whom will Governor Stitt be listening? (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. It’s tempting to try to dissect the politics of the election last week, but I think it’s… Read more [More...]

Education and health care frustration pushes against political gravity in tomorrow’s elections (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Finally. It’s election week. This is one of those few elections in recent years in Oklahoma when… Read more [More...]

Interim studies grapple with foster care changes, the cost of child care, and family reunification (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. The House committee on Children, Youth and Families last week considered three separate interim studies. The first… Read more [More...]

Three priorities for criminal justice reform (Capitol Update)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. There’s a growing consensus that “criminal justice reform” should be an important part of the change we… Read more [More...]