SD15 runoff: Robert Keyes endorsed by fourth-place primary candidate Tommie Herell

Robert Keyes is facing Lisa Standridge (wife of term-limited conservative Sen. Rob Standridge) in the GOP runoff for State Senate District 15 (NonDoc has a good article on the race here). Keyes touts an endorsement from the fourth-place finisher in the June primary; the runoff victor will face Democrat Elizabeth Foreman in the general election.

SD15 candidate Robert Keyes

TOMMIE HERELL ENDORSES ROBERT KEYES IN SD-15 RUNOFF

“Robert Keyes is the Senator we need to make Oklahoma stronger and more prosperous.”

NORMAN, OK (August 14th) – Former GOP candidate for SD-15, Tommie Herell, is endorsing Robert Keyes in the upcoming Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma State Senate. Herell is encouraging fellow conservatives to join him in voting for Keyes on August 27th.

Standridge bill to combat squatting passes Senate

Standridge Bill to Combat Squatting Passes Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 24th) – On Thursday, Senate Bill 1994, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, was passed by the Senate. The measure seeks to strengthen laws against squatting.

“In my district over the last year we have seen a home owner arrive home only to find a stranger in their shower, unwilling to leave until they finished using the home owner’s home, vagrants camping and defecating in front of businesses and even attacking patrons and employees with deadly force, and citizens camping on property without permission stating with full confidence that they would not leave until someone could prove the property was not theirs,” Standridge said.

Sen. Standridge files legislation to stop harmful DEI practices in Oklahoma universities and colleges

In related news, Gov. Stitt made moves yesterday to likewise attack DEI programs.

Sen. Standridge files legislation to stop harmful DEI practices in Oklahoma universities and colleges

OKLAHOMA CITY – In the wake of Senator Standridge’s Interim Study on October 18, looking at DEI practices in our universities and colleges, Standridge has filed four pieces of legislation to adopt laws that will stop this discriminatory process. At the study, Standridge (R-Norman) hosted guests from the Heritage Foundation, Goldwater Institute, and OCPA, along with other experts that showed how DEI is destroying our institutions of higher learning and harming many college students and faculty along the way.

According to Sen. Standridge, DEI should be called by its more appropriate name, Discriminate, Exclude and Indoctrinate.

Conservative senators lament Senate's abrupt killing of Stitt's tax-cut special session

Despite being the most conservative governor Oklahoma has likely ever seen, the Republican leadership in the State Senate has pretty much decided to oppose most of Gov. Kevin Stitt's policy proposals. Given that much of what Stitt has pushed for are ideas that candidates like Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat have campaigned on in the past, it seems to primarily be a battle of egos and political futures.

With state coffers flush with taxpayer money, Governor Stitt had the audacity to suggest that the Legislature do something to give taxpayers a break and stop seizing so much of their money. On Tuesday, without so much as taking the slightest move towards considering anything in Gov. Stitt's special-session call, Pro Tem Treat moved to adjourn the Senate 'sine die', thus effectively ending the special session a handful of hours after it began.

So far, at least four conservative GOP senators have spoken out in disappointment at the move, and the Senate's failure to provide tax relief for Oklahomans. Read on for comments from State Sens. Warren Hamilton, Cody Rogers, Blake Stephens, and Rob Standridge (in order from first received to most recent):

State Senate passes bill banning "gender transition" procedures for minors

Good news:

Senate approves bill prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 15th) – The full Senate has approved a measure prohibiting gender transition procedures for children under the age of 18.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the author of Senate Bill 613, which bans the use of any medications or surgical procedures for the purpose of gender transition.  Behavioral and mental health counseling and medications for depression and anxiety are not included.

Sen. Standridge files legislation to protect minors from gender transition medications, surgeries

Sen. Standridge files legislation to protect minors from gender transition medications, surgeries

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed four pieces of legislation to protect minors from life-changing gender transition hormones and surgery that could render them unable to have children as adults.  The bills also allow lawsuits to be filed against health care providers and adults who violate the provisions of these measures.

State Sen. Standridge files bill to better protect minors from obscene material

Sen. Standridge files bill defining community standards for material made accessible to minors

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 1st) – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed Senate Bill 1056, which would create a special definition of  “contemporary community standards” in Oklahoma statutes to better address the issue of obscene material being made accessible to minors.

Standridge applauds Dahm in the push for President Donald J. Trump Day

Standridge applauds Dahm in the push for President Donald J. Trump Day

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, said he fully supports Sen. Nathan Dahm, R- Broken Arrow, for filing Senate Resolution 47, which would recognize June 14, 2022, as President Donald J. Trump Day in Oklahoma.

House passes bill requiring OTA studies, report on proposed Norman turnpike

Sterling Passes Legislation Requiring OTA Studies, Report on Proposed Norman Turnpike

Bill would also give Legislature authority to modify location of turnpike

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) – Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, secured passage Wednesday of legislation requiring the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to provide a detailed report on the planned turnpike through eastern Norman and give the Legislature authority to modify the authorization for construction or location of the turnpike.

State House passes bill to limit school COVID-19 vaccine, mask requirements

House Passes Bill to Limit School COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 26th) – The House today passed a bill that would prohibit public schools, colleges, universities or CareerTech centers from implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition for admittance and from requiring only non-vaccinated populations to wear masks.

Senate Bill 658 is authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman. The measure also requires the State Department of Education and school districts to provide in any notice or publication provided to parents regarding immunization requests the immunization requirements of the school, including the requirement to either provide current, up-to-date immunization records or a signed and completed exemption form.

“Should the force of government be used to force citizens to do something they don’t want to do, or should it be used to empower the rights of citizens,” West asked. “This protects a student’s and a parent’s right to choose for themselves whether a vaccination is appropriate for them for their own personal health reasons or their religious or personal beliefs. This disallows discrimination against students and parents that choose to be exempt from such vaccinations.”

West said the measure is necessary as there has been a push for public schools and higher education institutions to require a vaccination against COVID-19 as a requirement for admittance or to require documentation that such a vaccine has been received in the form of a “vaccine passport.”

“For the sake of children throughout the state, I’m glad this bill is one step closer to becoming law,” Standridge said.  “With this legislation, vaccine passports for Oklahoma students will not exist.”

Additionally, the measure provides that a board of education for a school district or technology school district may only implement a mandate to wear a mask or any other medical device after consultation with the local county health department or city-county health department. Such a mandate must explicitly list the reasons for the mandate and shall reference the specific masks or medical devices that would meet the requirements of the mandate. Any mandate to implement wearing a mask or any other medical device shall be reconsidered at each regularly scheduled board meeting.

SB 658 in its final form passed the House with a vote of 76-18. It now moves to the governor for his consideration.

Senate approves bill giving protections to drivers trying to escape riots

Senate approves bill giving protections to drivers trying to escape riots

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14th) – The full Senate has approved legislation by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, to give legal protections to drivers trying to escape from riots.  House Bill 1674 was approved by the full Senate on Wednesday and would give civil and criminal liability protection to drivers who may unintentionally cause injury or death while fleeing a riot and imposes penalties for those who unlawfully obstruct streets or highways, blocking vehicles.

“We actually saw this happen here in Oklahoma last year when a Tulsa family was surrounded by rioters. Through no fault of their own, they were caught in a dangerous situation, and fearing for their lives, they were attempting to get away,” Standridge said.  “The prosecutor declined to file charges, but that may not always be the case.  This bill will protect innocent people trapped by a rioting mob.” 

State’s first public transit plan delivered to Legislature; goal is mobility for all Oklahomans

Pictured, from left, are Sen. Michael Bergstrom, Rep. Avery Frix, OTA Chief Executive Officer Mark Nestlen, Rep. Carol Bush and Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz.

State’s first public transit plan delivered to Legislature; goal is mobility for all Oklahomans  

The wheels are in motion on improved public transit in Oklahoma after more than one year of coordination by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Transit Association, along with transit agencies statewide to develop the state’s first transit plan. During a special ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 10, the completed Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan was delivered by ODOT and OTA to legislative leaders from the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives on the steps of the state Capitol.

The comprehensive, statewide plan outlines the goals, strategies, objectives and priorities to make Oklahoma a Top Ten state for public transit by 2040. Highlights include identification of the existing gap in funding for transit based on current and future projected needs, a strategic investment schedule outlining the best use of funds for the next 20 years and an in-depth examination of transit funding options used by peer states.

“Completion of the state’s first transit plan is a milestone achievement in moving Oklahoma toward becoming a Top Ten State for all modes of transportation,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said. “Thanks to the input from transit providers and users, we now have a roadmap for modernizing transit services and ensuring mobility for all Oklahomans.”

“While ODOT has incorporated public transit in long-range planning efforts before, I’ve never seen it done to this level in my thirty years with the state,” Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “I’m grateful for the leadership of President Pro Tem Treat and Speaker McCall as well as the Senate and House transportation committees throughout this process of bringing everyone to the table and developing this plan.”

“Passage of HB 1365 set forth an opportunity to modernize a more efficient and effective public transit system in Oklahoma that will operate seamlessly statewide within and between rural communities and urban cities,” said OTA Chief Executive Officer Mark Nestlen. "Oklahoma’s transit system is currently near the bottom, but full implementation of this first ever statewide transit plan will elevate Oklahoma to a Top Ten state in public transit and ensure the mobility needs of all Oklahomans are met in a safe, economical and coordinated manner."

The plan focuses on currently available transit services: public bus, van and streetcar. Goals over the next 20 years are meeting critical needs by 2025, expanding service by 2030, meeting the benchmark by 2035 and reaching mobility for all by 2040.

Creation of the Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan by ODOT and OTA was a key piece of House Bill 1365, which was enacted in 2019 to modernize public transportation by creating the Office of Mobility and Public Transit at ODOT and reforming administration of state and federal funding for transit programs by ODOT.

The transit plan was developed through stakeholder and public input from the transit industry and users. This included numerous meetings with a steering committee of transit leaders, site visits and interviews with transit operators and participation by partner agencies, government officials and advocates. The department also hosted several regional public meetings and administered an online public survey that received more than 2,000 responses. 

The Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan can be viewed at www.oktransitplan.org.

What legislative leaders are saying about the Oklahoma Public Transit Policy Plan:

“Public transit and mobility are very important not only to our metro areas, but also rural communities and tribal nations in Oklahoma,” Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said. “Just like we’ve made major progress on our highway system thanks to long-range planning and goal-setting, this first transit plan sets the stage for improved public transportation that will benefit our economy and the health and quality-of-life of Oklahomans statewide.”  

“The transit plan gives us the ability to address long-term needs and solutions in a comprehensive way,” Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman said. “This collaboration will help us ensure we are identifying and maximizing resources and developing goals that will help us address critical transportation needs in both rural and urban Oklahoma for decades to come.” Standridge is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and sponsored House Bill 1365 in the Senate.  

“It’s important that all Oklahomans have the benefits of the mobility public transit provides,” said State Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, the principal author of HB 1365. “This not only gives people access to employment, healthcare and services but it improves our local and state economies.”

“This legislation helped us modernize our public transit policy as well as ensure better coordination between state agencies so that transportation dollars could be delivered more efficiently where they are needed,” Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, said. Frix chairs the House Transportation Committee and was a co-author of the bill.

Oklahoma GOP legislators ask battleground legislatures to verify legitimacy of their elections

OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS APPEAL TO BATTLEGROUND STATES

[November 21, 2020]  State Senator Rob Standridge (R-Norman) is leading a nationwide charge to maintain the integrity of Presidential elections in battleground states.  Republican members of the Oklahoma Senate and House have signed letters imploring State Legislatures to fulfill their Constitutional responsibility to verify the legitimacy of their elections. 

"We are asking for a fair process to make sure there is no voting fraud,” Sen. Rob Standridge says.  “The US Constitution clearly spells out the role of State Legislatures in a Presidential election.  State lawmakers are the most direct representation of the people and, if the will of the people is not reflected in a Presidential election, legislatures have an obligation to intervene and investigate on behalf of their constituents.  We are not making accusations.  We are asking for an impartial investigation to ensure their results are accurate."

Oklahoma House members, led by Rep. Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City), sent a similar letter to the same battleground states:  Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona.

State Senate passes resolution calling for an Article V Convention of States

Senate passes resolution calling for an Article V Convention of States

(March 5th, Oklahoma City) State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, honored the legacy of former United States Sen. Tom Coburn Wednesday with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 41, which calls for an Article V Convention of States to amend the U.S. Constitution. Coburn is a staunch advocate for a convention and has said it is the only way to halt the overreach of power by the federal government. 

SJR 41 would call for Constitutional amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress.

“There are two ways amendments to the Constitution are proposed – through a two-thirds majority of Congress or a two-thirds majority of the states,” Standridge said. “Our founders provided this right as a means to correct any imbalance of power between the states and the federal government, and to attempt to solve problems that Congress could not or would not address.”

Standridge said the only way to reign in the federal government is through a convention of states, and he outlined the changes needed to restore power to the states and the people in SJR 41.

“Dr. Coburn has worked with Oklahoma legislators and citizens to show that an amendments convention could solve some of our nation’s most critical problems,” Standridge said. “Since Congress is out of control, it is up to us to limit their power, enact term limits and keep the nation from further debt by passing a balanced budget mandate.”

The resolution now heads to the House of Representatives for approval. Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal House author.

Legislature passes bill naming Rosette Nebula as State Astronomical Object

Legislature Passes Bill Naming Rosette Nebula as State Astronomical Object

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Legislature today passed House Bill 1292, which designates the Rosette Nebula as the state astronomical object. It passed the Senate 31-12.

House Bill 1292, by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, names the Rosette Nebula in the Monoceros constellation as the official astronomical object of Oklahoma.

“Our state has a long connection with the space industry,” Miller said. “Every year, hundreds of people from around the country gather in Oklahoma’s panhandle to stargaze at Black Mesa State Park, and by naming a state astronomical object, we’re helping to promote tourism in our state and encourage STEM education.”

Rep. Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko, served as a coauthor of HB 1292 and represents District 61, which includes the panhandle.

“The Oklahoma Panhandle, which is home to Black Mesa State Park, is known for some of the darkest night skies in the United States, which makes for fantastic stargazing opportunities,” Patzkowsky said. “Combined with Black Mesa being the highest point in the state, we already attract one of the largest stargazing parties in the country. Having an astronomical object to call our own will increase the interest in this activity and boost tourism dollars for our area.”

Miller said one of her District 82 constituents, Bill Murrell, is involved in the Oklahoma Astronomy Club and brought the designation to her attention.

HB 1292 passed the House 88-9 in early March. It was authored in the Senate by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman.

“We’re learning more about the universe every day,” Standridge said. “I hope this designation will inspire future Oklahoma astronomers to add to that knowledge with new discoveries.”

Having passed both legislative chambers, the bill is now available to be signed into law by the governor.

Pro Tem Treat announces bipartisan working group for Senate confirmation process

Pro Tem Greg Treat announces bipartisan working group for Senate confirmation process

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat on Wednesday announced the members of a bipartisan working group to study the Senate’s confirmation process for executive nominations.

Pro Tem Treat made the announcement a week after new laws went into effect giving the governor the ability to hire and fire the heads of five of the largest state agencies. To ensure the proper vetting of executive nominations moving forward, Pro Tem Treat said he has tasked the working group with developing recommendations on how to make the Senate confirmation process more thorough and complete.

“I made the commitment to members of the Senate while advocating for this new appointment power for the governor that I would appoint a bipartisan working group to ensure the Senate confirmation process would be thorough and complete,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City. “Senate confirmation of executive nominations has always been an important function of the institution. With the new gubernatorial appointments of agency directors, it’s even more important that we get it right and thoroughly vet executive nominations to ensure the men and women nominated are qualified and capable leaders who will serve the state of Oklahoma well. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the working group.”

Pro Tem Treat has set a deadline of April 4th for the working group to submit its recommendations to his office. The members of the working group are:

• Senator Kim David, R-Porter
• Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah
• Senator Frank Simpson, R-Springer
• Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman
• Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore
• Senator Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City
• Senator Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City

State Senate Committee Rejects Bill Helping Child Bullying Victims

Senate Committee Rejects Bill Helping Child Bullying Victims

OKLAHOMA CITY – Parent activists expressed dismay on Wednesday, as the Oklahoma State Senate Committee on Education voted to reject a scholarship program designed to help children who are the victims of bullying. Senate Bill 570, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, created the Hope Scholarship Program Act. The program would have provided a limited number of scholarships to students who experience ongoing bullying at public schools in order to help them attend a private school of their choice.

Cara O’Daniel is an Edmond parent who attended the meeting to support the bill. She said her son is living with a relative in order to switch public schools and escape relentless bullying in her school district.

“I could see the effects that bullying had on my son: physically, mentally and academically,” said O’Daniel. “He lost interest in his favorite activities, had trouble sleeping, and began missing assignments. He eventually was diagnosed with depression and anxiety from the relentless bullying he endured. Our local school district just could not figure out how to keep our child safe.”

O’Daniel said her family exhausted every possible local option to find a place where her son could learn safely and reach his academic potential, including an intra-district transfer. Eventually, he moved in with a relative in a different part of the state.

“A program like the Hope Scholarships could have helped us find a local solution and avoided an incredible hardship for our family,” O’Daniel continued. “We don’t want anyone else to have to go through what we have. I don’t understand how our legislators can vote against a policy designed to help kids and parents in desperate circumstances. Children’s safety and education needs to be their top priority.”

Robert Ruiz, executive director of the parent advocacy organization ChoiceMatters, said that lawmakers were getting caught up in politics and losing sight of the needs of their constituents.

“Every year we see lawmakers reject policies designed to help children and parents because of politics,” said Ruiz. “The people who are hurt the most by that failure are kids trapped in poverty, kids with special needs, or disabilities, or the victims of bullying. These children and their families are suffering because special interest groups in education want to preserve our current system at all costs.”

Lawmakers who opposed the Hope Scholarship Act include Sens. J.J. Dossett, Tom Dugger, John Haste, Carri Hicks, Allison Ikley-Freeman, Chris Kidd, Roland Pederson, Dewayne Pemberton, Paul Scott and Jason Smalley.

Senators voting in favor included David Bullard, Marty Quinn, Wayne Shaw, Joe Newhouse, Gary Stanislawski and Greg Treat.

State Sen. Standridge endorses Byrd for State Auditor

SEN. ROB STANDRIDGE ENDORSES CINDY BYRD FOR AUDITOR

August 2, 2018 -- Conservative State Senator Rob Standridge (R-Norman) has announced his support for Cindy Byrd in the GOP runoff campaign for Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector. 

    “Cindy Byrd is an experienced CPA whose work as Deputy State Auditor has saved taxpayers millions of dollars,” Sen. Rob Standridge says.  “Byrd truly stands for the people of Oklahoma by exposing and stopping corrupt public officials.  She has been a vigilant guardian ensuring that our hard earned tax dollars are protected and services are delivered with transparency, efficiency and accountability. Please join me in voting Cindy Byrd, CPA, for State Auditor on August 28th.”

    Sen. Standridge is known as a fiscal hawk and was the author of Right Side Up Government Act to install internal auditors within each state agency.  He is encouraging his fellow Republicans to join him on August 6th in Oklahoma City for a meet-and-greet with Cindy Byrd.  Among the many luminaries attending the event are former Governor Frank Keating, Congressman MarkWayne Mullin, State Auditor Gary Jones and House Speaker Charles McCall. 

    For more information on the event, please visit www.CindyByrd.com.

No waste left? Agencies spend on Facebook 'likes', social media ads

One idea discussed often by conservative Oklahoma legislators and groups this past year was putting the brakes on non-essential promotional spending ("swag") by state agencies. Measures carried by State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) and State Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) stalled in their respective chambers during the regular and special sessions, but Governor Mary Fallin unexpectedly issued an executive order along the same lines earlier today.

OCPA estimated "swag" spending at $39M, Rep. Faught and Sen. Standridge both estimated it at about $30M, while Fallin's favorite bureaucrat (Preston Doerflinger) said there is no "swag" spending at all... but the Governor's estimate in her executive order is "up to $58 million a year."

One common refrain by those who have advocated for raising taxes rather than cutting waste from state government has been that agencies are "cut to the bone", and that "there is no fat left to trim". That's simply not the case, as evidenced by the fact that the Governor believes "up to $58 million a year" can be saved by eliminating non-essential promotional spending.

Back in June, I saw the below advertisement on Facebook from the Oklahoma State Department of Education:

After continuing to periodically see ads from the State Department of Education, I reached out last week to the top-10 appropriated state agencies, asking for information about their social media spending levels during the last fiscal year (FY17) and the current fiscal year (FY18). Some responded, others did not.

These agencies reported spending nothing in FY17 or FY18 on social media advertising:

• Department of Corrections
• Office of Juvenile Affairs
• State Regents for Higher Education

These agencies reported social media advertising spending (FY17 and FY18-to-date):

• State Department of Education: FY17 - $4,794.65, FY18 - $1,129.32 (Facebook)
• Department of Human Services:  FY17 - $1834, FY18 - $6285 (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for recruitment of Child Welfare Specialists)
• Oklahoma Health Care Authority: FY17 - $299.58, FY18 - $259.94 (Facebook; mostly through federally funded grants)
• Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: no state funds, but do periodically have federally-funded grants that include some social media spending

Is running Facebook ads an appropriate use of limited state funds, especially given the repeated claims of lack of funding by state agencies? I think not.

'Isn't this a minuscule amount, given the size of these agencies budgets?' you might ask. Yes, $14,600 is a drop in the bucket compared to the ~$7B in state appropriations or the ~$18B in total state spending. However, the fact that this type of spending has not already been eliminated bears witness to the fact that there remains spending that can be cut from state agencies.

Eliminating waste requires common sense and the will to actually do what needs to be done. Agencies need to take responsibility and eliminate what is not absolutely, fundamentally necessary to their function, and the Executive and Legislative branches need to exercise effective oversight of the state bureaucracy to ensure that that happens. 

In the meantime, perhaps average citizens and state workers can help expose waste and unnecessary spending in state government. If you have a tip or want to blow a whistle over wasteful spending that you are aware of, feel free to contact me.