Senate Majority Whip Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City) absolutely erupted in anger at a Senate District 10 candidate forum in Ponca City this week, dropping an accidental truth bomb in the middle of a tirade against Senate conservatives.
Coleman said: "This election is about who is gonna control the Oklahoma State Senate, and I do not want it to be the Freedom Caucus."
Why is it that some of the greatest social ills chronically plaguing Oklahoma are advanced under the guise of "helping the children" through some sort of rosy promise of "more money for education"? Here's something I wrote back in 2025 when the last version of Coleman and Luttrell's bill passed the State House (in 2023, like true politicians, they lamented missing out on all that juicy tax revenue this would generate):
Terrible idea. Of all the things to be on a multi-year crusade about, State Rep. Ken Luttrell and State Sen. Bill Coleman have been on one to expand gambling in Oklahoma. Society - and sports at all levels - will reap a negative harvest from this in years to come. Shame on every legislator who voted for this.
Read the amendment. It includes a veritable slush fund specifically for the OKC Thunder, I mean, "a professional sports team that is part of the National Basketball Association and located in a county in this state with a population exceeding six hundred thousand (600,000)" of up to $7,000,000 per year - ostensibly "for the purposes of economic development, job training, community improvement, regional tourism assistance or new tourism attraction creation, including capital improvements or debt service support in connection therewith, tourism marketing separate from or in connection with an agency of this state, supplemental educational or vocational programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics, public safety, other projects in this state in the public interest," – but get the very next words – "or other team business operations."
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman and Rep. Ken Luttrell announced today that they will move forward with a new version of a bill to legalize sports betting after securing support from key stakeholders.
After years of negotiations, the Ponca City Republicans said this new legislation that supports public education and economic growth has support from the Oklahoma City Thunder, a supermajority of the tribes that are members of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and the state’s leading public universities.
Coleman filed new bill language today through an amendment to House Bill 1047. He said he expects the full Senate will vote on the measure this week.
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 28th) – The Senate has approved legislation from Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, to create a recall process for state elected officials to be removed from office.
Before the legislation passed 31 to 15, Coleman vowed to make major changes to the bill in the coming weeks.
Senate Bill 990 currently establishes a process for the Oklahoma Legislature to initiate the recall of a statewide elected officer through a joint resolution, but Coleman said he plans to scrap that portion of the bill. He added that he wants to alter the bill so the recall process would be driven entirely by members of the public through an initiative petition.
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed two significant bills aimed at legalizing sports betting and enhancing the state's gaming compact with tribal partners.
House Bill 1047, authored by Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, authorizes sports betting in Oklahoma. The bill also maintains the existing funding for the treatment of compulsive gambling, ensuring the monthly allocation to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services remains at $20,833. Additionally, the bill outlines provisions for tribes interested in entering into gaming compact supplements to accept the state's offer for sports betting.
House Bill 1101, also authored by Luttrell, establishes a voter referendum for the approval of sports wagering in the state. It mirrors many of the provisions in HB1047 and provides a path for tribes to adopt the state’s gaming compact supplements.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 12th) – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, has requested legislation to ensure state elected officials remain accountable to Oklahoma voters.
Coleman said he intends to file legislation to amend Oklahoma’s Constitution to allow for recall elections of state elected officials.
Coleman said he is working with Senate staff to draft legislation that would allow the Oklahoma Legislature to refer recall propositions to the ballot so voters can decide whether to remove or retain a specific state official. Because the legislation would alter the state’s Constitution, it would have to pass both legislative chambers and then be approved by Oklahoma voters to become effective.
Oklahoma City (March 18th) -- State Representative Tom Gann issued a statement today following the dramatic defeat of SB 1620 on Thursday.
"In 2016, the legislature made the unfortunate decision to authorize the use of license plate scanner technology for the purpose of insurance verification. That law limited the use of this intrusive technology to that purpose only. This year, the legislature considered House Bill 3570, which was not heard prior to the 3rd reading deadline, and Senate Bill 1620, which was defeated on Thursday by a wide margin — becoming one of the very few bills to be defeated on the Senate floor. These bills would have authorized the use of this technology for purposes other than insurance verification. As these laws have failed, it's important for the public and city councils across the state to know that: There is no specific statutory authorization for using these systems."
Sen. Coleman responds to governor’s sports betting plan
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, released the following statement Friday after the governor announced a plan to advance sports betting in Oklahoma. Coleman is the Senate principal author of House Bill 1027, along with Rep. Ken Luttrell, to legalize sports betting in the state. The bill was introduced during the 2023 legislative session where it received House approval and will be available for further consideration by the Senate when session convenes in February.
“I’m somewhat surprised by the governor’s unexpected sports betting proposal given I already have an active piece of legislation, House Bill 1027, in the Senate to legalize sports betting and he has never reached out to share his support of the idea or to offer any other input on this important economic development issue. It’s frustrating that he didn’t feel it necessary to collaborate with those of us who have been diligently working on this major issue for over a year now, but I’m hopeful that will change in the coming weeks.
“While the governor’s plan might be a starting point, I’ll be interested to see if he has contacted or worked with our tribal partners to get their input. A lack of coordination between the executive branch and tribal leadership was the main reason our bill stalled this session. When dealing with the tribes, compacting, and the many nuances with exclusivity and future gaming negotiations, it’s imperative that Governor Stitt work in good faith with our tribal partners. I’m not sure he’ll garner much support given his plan, among other things, asks the tribes to give up their online share of sports gaming, which nationally accounts for 95% of total revenues.
“However, I am optimistic that Gov. Stitt is showing interest in bringing sports betting to Oklahoma. As I’ve said before, this would be an incredible economic boon for us and one that 37 other states have already taken advantage of. We need to seize this opportunity to create jobs and millions in new revenue. With more tribal casinos than any other state and three successful horse tracks, Oklahoma is primed for sports betting.
“I urge the governor to work with me, my House author Rep. Luttrell, and others who have been working on this issue, as well as the tribal nations because without their support, there will be no change. The governor’s plan needs some work but that’s what the legislative process is about – coordination, collaboration, and consensus – and I’m looking forward to it.”
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, issued the following statement in support of Governor Stitt’s plan to bring sports betting to Oklahoma, which was announced on November 2.
“I think that this is a fantastic opportunity to not only welcome new economic, tourism, and recreational opportunities to Oklahoma but also address the discrimination faced by Oklahomans who enjoy attending sporting events such as the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders Cup. It is unfair that they are not allowed to place bets online solely because they live in Oklahoma. The Governor's plan not only helps increase revenue coming into the state but also provides opportunities to every single Oklahoman.
“Oklahoma sports have always garnered high levels of enthusiasm, and embracing sports betting is an obvious move for our state and districts.”
The plan includes opportunities for tax revenue for the state, as well as guidelines for transparency and accountability in support of consumer protection.
For a fact sheet detailing sports betting in Oklahoma, click here.
OKLAHOMA CITY (June 8th) – A bill highlighting Oklahoma’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement has been signed into law. Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, [pictured above] are the Senate principal authors of Senate Bill 509, creating the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail, and the House principal authors are Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City.
After a bill that would have legalized sports betting in Oklahoma failed to advance through a State Senate committee before a crucial legislative deadline, the authors of the measure are lamenting the fact that Oklahoma is "missing out" on all that juicy tax revenue that would have resulted from passage of the bill.
As I've said before (sarcastically, of course)... if there's just one thing Oklahoma needs more of, it's gambling. 🙄
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 21st) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives gave the stamp of approval Tuesday to legislation to legalize sports betting and potentially bring in over $9 million a year to the state budget.
When legislators say that even more gambling in Oklahoma would be "an economic boom for the state", they're actually drooling over the prospect of collecting more taxes -- who cares about the social detriment it brings.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman announced Wednesday that he will be signing on as the Senate author of fellow Ponca City Republican Rep. Ken Luttrell’s House Bill 1027 to legalize sports betting in Oklahoma. An avid sports enthusiast, Coleman said the change would be an economic boon for the state and he hopes the Legislature seizes the opportunity before it’s too late.
“Oklahomans love their sports – we have the lottery, three horse tracks, and the most tribal casinos of any state. Sports betting through our tribal partners would simply provide another opportunity for our state’s sports fanatics to have some fun while creating thousands of new jobs and millions in revenue to further boost our economy,” Coleman said. “With the popularity of sports betting exploding around the nation, I hope our legislative colleagues realize the tremendous fiscal impact this will have on our state and approve sports betting this session.”
HB 1027 would create a new compact that tribes could decide whether to enter into, allowing both mobile and in-person sports betting in the state. A tribe that agreed to the compact would give 4% of the first $5 million in sports betting annual gross revenue to the state, 5% of the following $5 million of adjusted gross revenue, and finally 6% of all future adjusted gross revenue. Any agreement would need to be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior for approval.
Thirty-five of Oklahoma’s 38 federally recognized tribes have signed gaming compacts with the state, and there are 143 tribal casinos and gaming centers statewide that could possibly offer sports betting. Currently, sports betting is already legal in 36 other states, including Kansas where Coleman lives near.
“I recently drove over an hour to Kansas to place some sports bets and there were numerous other Oklahoma tags in the parking lot,” Coleman said. “It’s estimated that approving sports betting could generate $240 million in revenue and create more than 3,000 jobs. We’re missing a huge opportunity.”
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 27th) – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, has authored legislation to give municipalities more control over allowing marijuana grow operations within their city limits. Senate Bill 801 would allow cities and towns to modify their standard planning and zoning procedures to determine or forbid certain zones or districts for the operation of new marijuana-licensed premises, medical marijuana businesses, or any other premises where marijuana or its by-products are cultivated, grown, processed, stored, or manufactured starting Nov. 1, 2023.
OKLAHOMA CITY (April 26th) – Oklahomans could be getting fewer irritating solicitation calls thanks to legislation unanimously approved Tuesday by the Senate. House Bill 3168, by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, creates the Telephone Solicitation Act of 2022, which would prohibit numerous types of marketing calls and set strict parameters on when others can be made.
OKLAHOMA CITY (April 19th) – The Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday to provide more transparency of state service contracts. Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, is the principal Senate author of House Bill 3484, which would require state agencies accepting a service contract, whether bid or no bid, to list the city, state, and country in which the services will be provided.
