Category: Capitol Updates

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...]

A look at the lawsuit filed challenging the purchases of classroom Bibles (Capitol Update)

One of the interesting things about living in these times is the re-litigation of matters long thought to be settled. Who would have thought that public school teachers could be required by the state to teach from Bibles that were purchased and delivered to schools with state tax dollars? [More...]

Working across the aisle to address Oklahoma’s needs (Capitol Update)

If you look closely, you can find good work being done by many legislators who are working across the aisle to address the state's many needs. [More...]

Lawmakers study state’s felony murder statute (Capitol Update)

The lengthy study on Oklahoma’s felony murder statute showed that our felony murder statute is not an outlier among the states. But, as witnesses pointed out in the hearing, it is fertile ground for what many would consider entirely legal but horribly unjust results. [More...]