Legislators highlight Administrative Rules, Open Meetings Act online portals

Kendrix, Bergstrom Highlight Rules, Open Meetings Act Online Portals

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 28th) – Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, recently held an interim study examining Oklahoma's current administrative rules process and considering how it could be made more efficient and transparent.

"One of the things we’ve been working on is trying to make this process more transparent, get more people involved in it, make it more accountable not only to us as legislators but also to the public, where more people are aware of the rules process—how it works, the notification process, the public comment process," Kendrix said during the study. "We've been working with the secretary of state on the portal that they have, to try to make that better for everybody involved."

AG Drummond partners with OPA to hold Open Meeting, Open Records seminars this fall

2023 Open Meeting/Open Records seminar

Open Meeting, Open Records seminars to be held across Oklahoma this fall

Free meetings, open to the public, registration required

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 3, 2024) – After overwhelming success in 2023, the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General is partnering again with the Oklahoma Press Association to host seminars on the state’s open meeting and open records laws in five locations across Oklahoma beginning late this month.

The seminars will be presented by Thomas R. Schneider, deputy general counsel to Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Attorney General's Open Meetings, Open Records seminars see record turnout

Open Meetings, Open Records seminars see record turnout 

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 14, 2023) - More than 900 Oklahomans attended a series of Open Meetings and Open Records seminars presented this fall by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the Oklahoma Press Association in different regions of the state. 

Small: Questionable ethics at Ethics Commission

Questionable ethics at Ethics Commission

By Jonathan Small

One of the most important jobs of a state attorney general is to protect citizens from overreaching government, so Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond deserves praise for reining in the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

In a letter sent to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Sept. 21, Drummond told the agency that day’s meeting should be rescheduled “due to clear violations of the Open Meeting Act which have come to my attention.”

AG Drummond announces personnel, tipline to ensure compliance with open government

Drummond announces personnel, tipline to ensure compliance with open government

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 17, 2023) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced today that former state senator Anthony Sykes has joined the Office of the Attorney General to serve as public access counselor. As an assistant attorney general, Sykes will work with state, county and municipal government agencies and commissions to ensure they strictly comply with the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts.

Gann bill would prohibit government abuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements

Gann Bill Would Prohibit Abuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, this week filed a bill to prohibit the abuse of non-disclosure agreements, providing greater transparency in government.

House Bill 1378 would require businesses of any kind seeking state or local incentives to fully disclose who they are and what they do and also would prevent government officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

AG O'Connor, OK Press Assoc. hosting Open Records/Meetings seminars across state

Attorney General O’Connor, Oklahoma Press Association to Host Open Records Seminars Across the State

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor is partnering with the Oklahoma Press Association to host open records and open meetings seminars in five locations across the state beginning Sept. 26.

“These seminars are a great way for public officials to stay up to date on the state’s open record laws,” Attorney General O’Connor said. “I encourage everyone who serves the public to attend and participate in these meetings.”

Senate approves measure to make virtual public meetings more accessible

Senate approves measure to make virtual public meetings more accessible

 OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave unanimous approval to Senate Bill 1547 on Tuesday, which would make virtual public meetings a permanent fixture across the state.

The measure, authored by Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, would modify the Open Meetings Act to require public bodies such as school boards, local municipalities, and state agencies to stream and post all public meetings online if they maintain a website and utilize a high-speed internet connection. In addition, public bodies in counties with an active state of emergency declaration may conduct executive session via videoconference.

House Democrats announce 2022 legislative priorities

Democrats Announce 2022 Legislative Priorities

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday presented their legislative priorities for the 2022 Legislative Session.

The Democratic Caucus highlighted policy initiatives in five primary areas: transparency and accountability, health care, criminal justice, education, and the state economy.

House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, spoke to the intent of Democratic policies and reiterated the caucus’ recent success to elevate ideas focused on Oklahomans. Virgin named the EITC, protecting education funding, and eliminating the state grocery tax as examples. 

“Our goal for the 2022 Session is to provide and support compassionate, common-sense ideas focused on the needs of Oklahomans,” Virgin said. “What you won't find in our priorities are tax credits or cuts to large corporations, legislation that restricts voting rights, or attacks on tribal sovereignty.”

The Democratic Caucus recognized the current lack of transparency in the Capitol and highlighted the caucus’ desire to require the House of Representatives to follow the Open Meetings Act. 

Stitt signs first bill of 2021 legislative session, reinstating virtual public meetings exemptions

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNS FIRST BILL OF 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Senate Bill 1031 reinstates temporary modifications to allow for virtual public meetings

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 10, 2021) – Governor Kevin Stitt today signed Senate Bill 1031 into law, his first bill of the 2021 legislative session, reinstating temporary modifications to the Open Meeting Act allowing for virtual public meetings.

“I want to thank Pro Tem Treat, Speaker McCall and the Legislature for getting this across the finish line to my desk,” said Gov. Stitt. “We’ve all heard from constituents, state agencies, local school boards and other public bodies requesting this, and I’m pleased we were able to deliver so quickly.”

SB 1031, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City), reinstates the same exemptions to the Open Meeting Act that were signed into law in 2020 with some minor changes, including requiring public bodies to post documents or materials online that are provided to participants of the meeting.

State Senate approves renewal of Open Meeting Act exemptions

Senate OK’s renewal of Open Meeting Act exemptions

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation renewing exemptions to the Open Meeting Act put in place last year during the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Bill 1031 by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat reinstates the same exemptions to the Open Meeting Act that were signed into law in 2020 with some minor changes.

Among the changes from the 2020 exemptions are:

AG Hunter reminds State Boards, Commissions about Open Meetings exemptions expiration

Attorney General Hunter Reminds State Boards and Commissions Open Meetings Exemptions Expire Sunday

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today, in coordination with the Oklahoma Press Association (OPA), announced the relaxed rules for open meetings created through Senate Bill 661 will expire Sunday.

Any permanent changes to the Open Meetings Act or the Open Records Act must be changed in statute and cannot be modified through an executive order by the governor.

Attorney General Hunter said beginning Sunday, boards and commissions need to begin meeting as they did before the Coronavirus pandemic.

“When this legislation was authored, no one could have predicted how long the pandemic would last,” Attorney General Hunter said. “More is now known about how we can safely meet and conduct business in accordance with proper social distancing and other safety protocols. How ever boards and commissions decide to meet, they need to do it under the Open Meetings Act pre-SB 661 beginning Sunday.”

Loring files bill to remove Legislature's Open Meetings Act exemption

Loring Files Bill to Remove Senate and House Exemption from Open Meetings Act

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State Rep. Ben Loring (D-Miami) has introduced legislation to promote transparency in the legislature.

House Bill 2914 would require that both the state House and Senate follow the Open Meetings Act. Currently, the legislature has exempted itself from the law that allows the public to know, in advance, when and what each body is going to be doing.

“At the end of the day, this is the People’s House or it isn’t,” Loring said. “I strongly believe that it is, and therefore, I believe Oklahomans have a right to know what is happening in their House.”

This isn’t the first time Loring has filed proposed legislation pertaining to the open government. He hopes his last term in office is an opportunity to gain some traction on the issue.

“I truly believe that sunshine is the antidote to corruption,” Loring said. “I have worked at multiple levels of government, and there is no good reason as to why the state House and Senate can’t be just as transparent as we require every other Oklahoma government entity to be.  We owe it to the people that not only send us here to represent them but also pay for us to be here. Oklahomans deserve a transparent government.”