New law requires drivers to go hands-free with devices in school, work zones

This is one of a number of new state laws going into effect tomorrow:

New Law Requires Drivers to Go Hands-Free

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 27th) – Beginning Nov. 1, Oklahoma drivers will be prohibited from using handheld cell phones and other electronic communication devices in active school and work zones under House Bill 2263, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond. The law strengthens Oklahoma’s existing distracted driving rules by limiting handheld phone usage in areas where extra attention behind the wheel is critical. Drivers may still use hands-free features to stay connected safely.

“This law is a practical step toward safer roads,” Miller said. “It allows drivers to continue using hands-free technology while ensuring their focus stays on driving, especially in critical areas where workers and students are most at risk.”

Property owners can reclaim seized land after under new law

Property Owners Can Reclaim Seized Land After Nov. 1

OKLAHOMA CITY – After Nov. 1, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission will be required to notify previous property owners if the land they sold to the Commission is going to be offered for sale. The property owners would then have the right to repurchase at their original selling price.

The change comes thanks to House Bill 1103, passed this year by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola.

The measure was requested by Myron Grabowski who lives in Gann's House district.

"Mr. Grabowski witnessed the taking of another person's land by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and then found out it was later sold without any notification to the property owner," Gann said. "This new law at least will give people in similar circumstances the ability to repurchase land that was taken from them by eminent domain."

Wagoner County Assessor Sandy Hodges announces campaign for House District 12

SANDY HODGES ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR OKLAHOMA HOUSE DISTRICT 12

Coweta, OK – October 30, 2025: Wagoner County Assessor, Sandy Hodges, announces her run for Oklahoma State House, District 12. House District 12 is in Wagoner County and includes the municipalities of Broken Arrow, Coweta, and Porter.

Oklahoma congressional delegation comments on SNAP funding, Be A Neighbor program

Oklahoma Delegation Statement Regarding SNAP Funding and Be a Neighbor Support Services 

Oklahoma (Oct. 30th) – On Saturday, November 1st, 2025, approximately 700,000 Oklahomans will not receive their SNAP benefits. Despite falling into the category of mandatory funding, due to the government shutdown, SNAP contingency funds are not legally available to cover SNAP costs.

We understand that this abrupt pause to SNAP funding may impact many of our constituents, and we wish to assist you during this time. To this end, we recommend that anyone struggling with food scarcity utilize the Oklahoma Human Services’ Be a Neighbor program. Be a Neighbor was started by Governor Stitt in 2018 to help Oklahomans with their food, clothing, and housing needs by providing a comprehensive database of local organizations equipped to support families. 

Chip Keating releases campaign launch video: "Oklahoma is at a crossroads"

McCall, Drummond, Mazzei, Merrick, and now Keating... this GOP gubernatorial field is getting more crowded and interesting as we draw closer to the end of the year. The real campaigning will intensify in the early months of 2026 leading up to the June 16th primary election.

Chip Keating Launches Campaign Announcement Video: “Oklahoma is at a Crossroads”

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 28th) - Conservative businessman, former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, and former Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating today released his official campaign announcement video, “Oklahoma is at a Crossroads.”

In the video, Keating calls for bold, conservative leadership to protect Oklahoma families, strengthen the state’s economy, and defend Oklahoma values against the radical left and career politicians.

Rep. Gann studies citizen privacy impact of warrantless license plate readers

Gann Studies License Plate Readers Impact on Privacy

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, on Thursday led a study on the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and what he said is their use as a tool for mass surveillance allowing law enforcement to conduct warrantless searches. The study was held before the House Public Safety Committee.

Gann looked back at legislation governing the use of ALPRs, which statutorily may only be used to show whether an Oklahoma motorist has automobile insurance.

"We were at a crisis level in Oklahoma with the number of uninsured motorists," Gann said, "and the legislation we put in place helped us drastically reduce that number. Now, however, these cameras with the enhanced use of artificial intelligence are monitoring law-abiding citizens in details of their everyday lives. The data is being used well beyond what the law allows."

Small: Don’t California Oklahoma

Don’t California Oklahoma

By Jonathan Small

A recent decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court effectively provided the green light for an initiative petition that would completely upend Oklahoma elections, replacing our system with the one used in California and Washington states.

Oklahoma’s current election system allows Republican voters to pick Republican nominees in party primaries while Democratic voters do the same. The two parties’ candidates then face off in the November general election along with any independent candidates who file.

But a group calling itself Oklahoma United wants to eliminate that system through State Question 836 and instead require that all candidates – Democrats, Republicans and independents – be placed on a single primary ballot with all voters participating and the “top two” candidates advancing to the general.

In practice, SQ 836’s model can reduce voters’ November choices to two candidates from the same party. This has often been the case in California. Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate in California in a general election that pitted her against another Democrat.

OCPA calls to make State Superintendent an appointed position, not elected

OCPA: For accountability, make state superintendent appointed

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 2, 2025) — To bring greater accountability to the state school system and reduce dysfunction in state government, Oklahoma should make the position of state superintendent a gubernatorial appointee, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.

“Every four years, candidates for Oklahoma governor campaign on education issues, but when they are elected, they have little direct oversight of the school system because the state superintendent is elected separately,” Small said. “Too often, we have seen an elected state superintendent work at cross-purposes to the governor. We saw that with former state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who oversaw the worst academic declines in decades even as school spending exploded and then ran for governor against Kevin Stitt on a platform of improving the education decline she helped create.

Gov. Stitt appoints Lindel Fields to finish Walters' term as State Superintendent

In his press conference at Eisenhower International School, Gov. Stitt called for the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment changing the State Superintendent of Public Instruction from an elected position to one appointed by the Governor, before announcing his selection of Lindel Fields, a former longtime Career Tech superintendent.

Stitt announced as part of the "turnaround team" the following individuals: Connie Riley (Office of Educational Quality and Accountability), Kristen Stevens, Romel Muex-Pullen, Megan Oftedal, former State Rep. Tom Newell, Tara Thompson, and current Secretary of Education Nellie Sanders.

State House updates online budget transparency portal

House Updates Online Budget Transparency Portal

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 1st) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives released today an update to its online budget transparency portal, detailing state agency budgets that have been submitted to the Legislature for the FY27 budget.

The portal, known as Budget HQ, was created in 2024 in an effort to bring transparency to the state budgeting process both for the full House membership and the public.

"Our budget transparency portal has brought light to what used to be a mostly behind the scenes process in crafting our state budget. We will be posting updated budget requests ahead of budget hearings our committees will hold in December and January so our members and the public know the requests being made," said House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon. "We are already working on the FY27 budget and will continue to keep the public informed as the process progresses."

Small: Higher education has an extremist problem

Higher education has an extremist problem

By Jonathan Small

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has shoved uncomfortable truths into the light. Among them is that the fringe-left views aggressively promoted on college campuses have morphed into an active embrace of assassination culture.

Anecdotal evidence abounds as many college students and faculty have publicly cheered Kirk’s murder. Sadly, those statements are not uncommon. Instead, polling consistently shows such views are concentrated among young Americans who have embraced far-left ideology.

Recent polling by YouGov found 24 percent of individuals who self-describe as “very liberal” say it is acceptable to be happy about a public figure’s death, compared to only 3 percent of those who self-describe as “very conservative.”

Rep. Kevin West launches campaign for Labor Commissioner

Rep. Kevin West has been one of the most solidly conservative Oklahoma state legislators in recent years.

Kevin West, current State Representative, Announces Candidacy to Serve as Oklahoma Labor Commissioner

MOORE, OK — State Representative Kevin West (R-Moore) announced his candidacy to serve Oklahoma statewide as Labor Commissioner in the 2026 election cycle.

West, who has represented Oklahoma House District 54 since 2016, has built a strong record of advancing pro-business legislation and strengthening Oklahoma’s workforce. His leadership includes authoring or co-authoring: