State Rep. Amanda Swope resigns mere weeks before legislative session

Oh, look... a second state legislator to resign in the weeks after winning reelection. Here comes another special election in 2025; that will make for at least three in the first half of the year (two house, one senate). State Rep. Amanda Swope (D-Tulsa) makes it a bipartisan affair, leaving to take a position with new Tulsa mayor and former State Rep. Monroe Nichols:

Swope announces departure from legislature, outlines future plans to continue serving Tulsa

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 13th) – Oklahoma House Rep. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, announced her final day in the Oklahoma Legislature will be January 28, 2025. Swope will start work as the Director of Tribal Policy & Partnership in the administration of Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols.

Small: Two OK House bills are an attack on parents

An attack on parents

By Jonathan Small

Opponents of deference to parents often believe parents cannot be trusted to raise their own children.

The latest proof comes in two bills filed at the Oklahoma Legislature.

House Bill 4130, by state Rep. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, would require any homeschooling parents to notify the state Department of Human Services and undergo a background check. The bill would also impose registration and background-check requirements on parents who “change school districts, whether a result of a move or otherwise.”

Basically, Swope’s default assumption is that any parent who educates their child anywhere other than a local, geographically assigned school should be treated as a likely child predator.

This is complete nonsense. Research shows a child’s educational setting – whether homeschool, public school or private school – has no significant correlation with child abuse.

OCPA: Bill mandating arbitrary DHS investigation of parents should be killed

Bill mandating arbitrary DHS investigation of parents should be killed

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 6, 2024)—Legislation that would subject Oklahoma parents to a Department of Human Services background check if they homeschool their children, or even move to another school district, should be killed, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.