House Judiciary Chair Kannady working with State Chamber on compromise tort reform legislation

House Judiciary Chair to Explore Non-Economic Damage Caps with Guidance from State Chamber

OKLAHOMA CITY – After the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its ruling in Beason v. I.E. Miller Services, Inc., striking down non-economic damage caps, House Judiciary Chair Christopher L. Kannady (R-Oklahoma City) sought input from all stakeholders to work on compromise legislation to move Oklahoma forward.

Chairman Kannady reached out to the State Chamber of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Oklahoma Association for Justice, amongst others. 

 “The State Chamber of Oklahoma worked closely with Chairman Kannady last year on workers’ compensation and other legal reform measures,” said President and CEO of the State Chamber of Oklahoma Fred Morgan. “We look forward to continuing that work during the upcoming session in order to achieve long-term solutions for the business community.”

“It appears that certain stakeholders have no interest in working on a compromise,” Kannady said. “Thus, I will move forward exploring options with stakeholders who are interested in advancing Oklahoma.

State Chamber hires new communications director

State Chamber Welcomes New Communications Director

David Autry to Lead State Chamber’s Public Relations Efforts 

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 16, 2019) – The State Chamber of Oklahoma is proud to welcome David Autry to its Communications team as Director of Communications.

“David’s public relations expertise and his prior work in advocacy and government make him ideally suited for this position,” said State Chamber president and CEO Fred Morgan. “We’re excited to have David on the team and know he’ll be an effective messenger for Oklahoma’s business community.”

“I look forward to building on the State Chamber’s legacy as the leading statewide advocate for business in Oklahoma,” said Autry. “As key policies are being decided at the State Capitol, it’s essential that the perspective of Oklahoma’s job creators—their unique challenges and opportunities—are properly conveyed and understood.”

David received his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Previously, Autry worked at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and at the Office of the Mayor for the City of Tulsa.


About the State Chamber of Oklahoma
Representing more than 1,500 Oklahoma businesses and 350,000 employees, the State Chamber of Oklahoma has been the state’s leading advocate for business since 1926. For more information, visit www.okstatechamber.com.

Surprise (not): State Chamber endorses Step Up plan

State Chamber of Oklahoma Announces Support for Step Up Oklahoma

Oklahoma City (February 2, 2018) – The State Chamber of Oklahoma has announced its support for the Step Up Oklahoma plan after a board of directors vote on Friday. The plan includes measures to shore up our state’s budget hole, provide a teacher pay raise and implement much-needed reforms to our state government.

“We are excited to join the Step Up movement,” said State Chamber President and CEO, Fred Morgan. “Until we resolve long-standing issues like teacher pay, the budget shortfall and funding for health care and other core government services, Oklahoma will remain in a state of gridlock. We must come together to solve our state’s crisis.”

“The State Chamber Research Foundation called for many of these same reforms through our OK2030 vision plan released in December 2017,” said Executive Director, Dr. Jennifer Lepard. “We’re pleased to see many of our policy reform recommendations included in the Step Up plan and look forward to working with the group to ensure these important reforms are implemented.”

“It’s time for our state to come together around a workable solution,” said State Chamber Board Chairman Sean Trauschke. “The Step Up Oklahoma plan will allow our state to refocus its energies on growing our economy and providing the quality of life, health and education that Oklahomans deserve.”

Gov. Fallin Forms Task Force to Review Occupational Licensing Requirements

Governor Mary Fallin Forms Task Force to Review Occupational Licensing Requirements

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the formation of a task force to perform a comprehensive review of occupational licensing in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Occupational Licensing Task Force will provide recommendations to the governor to remove unnecessary or burdensome regulations that are a barrier to potential workers.

“Occupational licensing often can be overly burdensome, which can hinder a person from earning a living and providing for their family,” said Fallin. “These unnecessary or outdated barriers make it harder for many Oklahomans, particularly those who may not have completed a formal education as well as some minorities. This can help them to obtain jobs and build new businesses that create jobs.”

The Oklahoma Department of Labor will provide administrative support for the task force, including necessary personnel.

Members of the task force are to:

• Identify all of the licenses required in Oklahoma.
• Identify all state agencies, boards, and commissions involved with the administration of licenses.
• Determine how each license is administered, including a review of information technology platforms that are or could be utilized and the fee structure for obtaining licenses.
• Review the necessity and appropriateness of training levels and other requirements required to obtain licenses.
• Evaluate whether the public health and safety goals and concerns addressed by license requirements outweigh the barriers to entry they place on Oklahoma workers.

The task force was given a deadline of Dec. 31, 2017, to complete its work.

Fallin’s executive order names Labor Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston to head the task force.

“I look forward to continuing my efforts to evaluate long-standing bureaucratic policies and procedures to determine common-sense practices,” Houston said. “It is important that the state licensing framework allow the free market to thrive without burdensome regulations, while not placing barriers on those working to escape poverty. This will be accomplished while keeping the safety and health of the public a priority.”

Houston will appoint members of the task force, which will consist of two state senators; two members of the state House of Representatives; Attorney General Scott Pruitt or his designee; Fred Morgan, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma State Chamber or his designee; one member of the Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force; two members of organizations focused on workforce and economic development; and a member of an organization focused on poverty reduction.

John Tidwell, Oklahoma state director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation, applauded Fallin for forming the task force and Houston for leading it.

“While we need to be judicious in identifying potential licensing issues for reform, we also need to consider how removing barriers for Oklahoma workers could fundamentally strengthen our state’s economy through increased opportunity for tens of thousands of Oklahomans,” Tidwell said. “We hope that the recommendations of this task force will be seen as a catalyst for an improved Oklahoma economy and a fresh opportunity for government to remove barriers for entrepreneurs without further stifling their ability to live the American Dream.”

State Chamber rates judges on the ballot

Know your judges before you vote

 by Fred Morgan, President and CEO of the State Chamber

Are you going to vote on Nov. 8? Good.

Do you consider yourself an educated voter? Even better. You know who you’re going to vote for president, senator, congressman and probably even who you’re going to vote for in your state representative and Senate race. Excellent. You may have even made up your mind on the seven state questions that will be on the ballot.

One last question: Have you decided how you’re going to vote when it comes to the retention of any of the appellate judges on the ballot? Are you going to look at the ballot and just vote “no” for all of them, or maybe “yes” for all of them? Do you know how they have voted on decisions that affect you, your business and your family?

Unfortunately, most voters go into the voting booth with little or no knowledge of who these judges are or how they have voted on decisions important to Oklahomans.

Four years ago, the State Chamber of Oklahoma, in partnership with other chambers and trade organizations, created the Oklahoma Civil Justice Council to serve as an educational tool for the public to learn more about our courts and judges. To that end, the OCJC has published its 2016 evaluation of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the Court of Civil Appeals. We published similar evaluations in 2012 and 2014. These evaluations, conducted by independent reviewers, analyze cases where the judges have disagreed, reviewing the exact same law and the exact same facts, and which have an effect on civil liability.

So, how do our appellate court judges do when it comes to restricting civil liability that increases the cost of your insurance and the prices you pay for everything? Remember, the higher the rating, the more inclined the judge is to follow the laws passed by the Legislature. The lower the score, the more inclined the judge is to make up their own laws expanding liability.

• Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester, 74 percent.
• Supreme Court Justice Douglas L. Combs, 36 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge Tom Thornbrugh, 39 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge John F. Fischer, 37 percent.
• Court of Civil Appeals Judge Larry Joplin, 82 percent.

When you vote to retain (or not to retain) appellate judges on Nov. 8, you might want to remember these numbers. Check out the full ratings at www.okciviljustice.com.