Rep. Gann challenges PSO’s 2021 winter storm bonds at OK Supreme Court

Gann Challenges PSO’s 2021 Winter Storm Bonds at OK Supreme Court

OKLAHOMA CITY – An appeal brief filed Thursday by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, asks the Oklahoma Supreme Court to invalidate some $700 million in ratepayer-backed bonds issued to cover costs incurred by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) during February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. Payments for those bonds have been collected on the monthly bills of PSO’s customers since the bonds were issued in September 2022. They are scheduled to continue for another 17 years.

Gann’s brief tells the court that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) failed to provide a required audit of the bonds in PSO’s most recent rate case. He also argues PSO’s original 2021 Uri costs that were securitized into the bonds were never audited either.  Gann asserts the audit failures are fatal in both cases, making the OCC’s orders void. 

Rep. Gann blasts passage of corporate welfare, anti-transparency bill

Gann Condemns Passage of SB987, Calls it Corporate Welfare Wrapped in Secrecy

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 5th) – Following the final House vote on Senate Bill 987, Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, issued a statement about voting no and delivering floor debate in opposition of the measure.

“Senate Bill 987 is not economic development. It is governance by nondisclosure agreement,” Gann said. “I believe this bill expands unaccountable government bureaucracy and entrenches corporate welfare practices that undermine the free-market principles we were elected to defend.”

Gann warns on unprecedented 'bonus' vote taken by House, dangers of setting new policy

Rep.-Tom Gann Issues Statement on Bonus Vote of SB224 and Warns of the Dangers of Setting New Policy

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 2nd) – Representative Tom Gann (R-Inola) released the following statement on the unprecedented bonus vote taken by the House on Thursday on Senate Bill 224. 

"On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Representative Kyle Hilbert, Speaker of the House, took actions regarding SB224 that did not align with the House Rules of the 60th Legislature. House rules dictate that once a bill is defeated it is not eligible for additional consideration. The House vote to defeat SB224 was considered final action under the rules."

"However, Hilbert, while presiding over the house allowed an additional bonus vote to occur by which the bill was approved. This breaks with years of clearly established House precedent that prevents never ending bonus votes on failed legislation and opens up a Pandoras box of potential abuse. 

What other bills will be allowed a bonus vote?

Bill allowing property owners to reclaim seized land signed into law

Bill Allowing Property Owners to Reclaim Seized Land Signed into Law

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 28th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, today commented on the governor's signing of House Bill 1103, which requires the Oklahoma Transportation Commission to notify a previous property owner if the land they sold to the Commission is going to be offered for sale.

"This was a constituent request bill," Gann said. "This person experienced the taking of his land by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and then found out it was later sold without any notification to him. This would just give people in similar circumstances the ability to repurchase land that was taken from them by eminent domain."

Stricter marijuana trafficking measure passes OK House

Gann Sends Stricter Marijuana Trafficking Act to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, on Wednesday passed a bill in the House that would reduce the amount of marijuana an individual may legally possess, distribute, manufacture or bring into the state under the Trafficking in Illegal Drugs Act.

If House Bill 1163 becomes law, anything above 25 pounds would be considered aggravated trafficking vs. simple trafficking. The current threshold is 1,000 pounds. The crime is punishable by a fine ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

State Rep. Gann: ATF using FLOCK cameras for warrantless vehicle tracking of Oklahomans

Gann Sounds Alarm on Warrantless Vehicle Tracking of Oklahomans by the ATF

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, is expressing his deep concern over recent revelations that he believes highlight a widespread and ongoing violation of Oklahomans' rights.

Gann led an interim study on this issue before the House State Powers Committee in October. His recent concern follows an open records request filed by an independent media publication, which revealed that citizens of Oklahoma's original capital city, Guthrie, were under warrantless surveillance by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Rep. Gann warns against corporate welfare on steroids following CANOO bankruptcy

Gann Warns Against Corporate Welfare on Steroids Following CANOO Bankruptcy

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 21st) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola,  an opponent of corporate welfare, today issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing misuse of public funds.

"Corporate welfare is when the government takes the public's money to manipulate the economy, choosing winners and losers in the free market," Gann said. "In recent years, this practice has intensified, creating an era of corporate welfare on steroids, as Oklahoma government has pushed massive green-energy giveaways that align more with a liberal agenda than Oklahoma's conservative values."

Gann pointed to last week's bankruptcy of the high-profile, green-energy, electric vehicle startup, CANOO, as a prime example of why government must stop interfering in the free market. Canoo's manufacturing plant in Pryor is in Gann's House district.

Rep. Gann proposes sweeping transparency reforms for State House

Gann Proposes Sweeping Reforms to Restore Transparency to House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 30th) – In a far-reaching, and transformative effort to modernize the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has sponsored a reform package – House Resolution 1001 – designed to distribute power, promote transparency and reinvigorate the legislative process. His reforms aim to end the culture of opacity and concentration of authority that he says has hindered the chamber's effectiveness for far too long.

“The time has come to ensure the House of Representatives becomes an institution of laws, not of one man,” Gann said. “For years, our legislative process has stagnated, with decisions made behind closed doors and power centralized into the hands of one individual, the House speaker, who is elected by a single House district and not the people of Oklahoma as a whole. In recent years, at best, the House has simply marked time, failing to embrace new transparency measures. At worst, it has regressed, relying on secretive processes controlled by a single person.”

Rep. Gann's state agency budget transparency law takes effect

Gann's State Agency Budget Transparency Law Takes Effect

OKLAHOMA CITY – A law requiring state agency directors to certify their agency's annual budget is filed with the state Department of Libraries within the time required under state law takes effect today.

House Bill 3113, authored by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, requires agency executive directors to certify their agency is in compliance with the Oklahoma State Government Open Documents Initiative when they submit their annual agency budgets to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the Legislature.

Attorney Stephen Jones joins Supreme Court effort against Corp. Commish Hiett

Attorney Stephen Jones Joins Supreme Court Effort Against OCC’s Todd Hiett

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 28th) – Three Oklahoma lawmakers say that legal legend Stephen Jones will argue on behalf of their petition against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, according to a notice filed at the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday. 

Gann study of license plate readers highlights need for statute updates

Gann Study of License Plate Readers Highlights Need for Statute Updates

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 8th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, on Tuesday led a study on the use and abuse of surveillance cameras and warrantless searches before the House State Powers Committee.

Gann particularly looked at the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), which under state law only legally can be used to identify uninsured motorists who are in violation of the state's compulsory insurance law. The cameras, however, - many of them illegally placed, he said – are being used to track much other activity.

Legislators respond to Supreme Court request in Hiett case

Legislators Respond to Supreme Court Request in Hiett Case

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 15th) – Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, today issued statements regarding an Oklahoma Supreme Court request for oral arguments in their case against Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett.

"On Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court changed its position and took the extraordinary step of asking for oral arguments about our Petition for a Writ of Prohibition against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett. We filed our case after allegations of sexual misconduct and public drunkenness were published, but Hiett refused to disqualify himself from Oklahoma Corporation Commission cases involving the victims and/or witnesses of his alleged criminal conduct. These utility cases are worth billions of dollars and affect millions of Oklahoma customers of Oklahoma Natural Gas, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, and Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

Gann highlights suppression of license plate scanner evidence by State Court

Gann Highlights Suppression of License Plate Scanner Evidence by State Court

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 30th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has taken notice of what he believes is the first of many actions by Oklahoma courts to suppress evidence obtained from license plate scanners.

“The decision will place many cases against perpetrators of criminal acts in jeopardy,” Gann explained.

According to Gann, the issue arises from local government entities entering into contracts with a nationwide big-tech firm, Flock, to install 24/7 vehicle scanning technology—despite such actions being prohibited by Oklahoma law.

“When the government uses these devices to scan every passing vehicle, they are violating Oklahoma law. This puts every resulting conviction in jeopardy,” Gann stated.

Legislators consider taking action after Corp. Commissioner Hiett’s assault, harassment accusations

L-R: State Rep. Kevin West and State. Rep Tom Gann

Legislators Consider Writ of Prohibition over Concerns about Hiett’s Impartiality

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 5th) – Reps. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Tom Gann, R-Inola, today issued statements regarding Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, who has been accused of sexual molestation and public drunkenness. The two said they are considering filing a writ of prohibition against Hiett, asking the courts to intervene to protect the public interest.

Gann: warrantless license plate scanner tracking is not authorized by state law

Warrantless License Plate Scanner Tracking is Not Authorized By State Law

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."

HERO: Rep. Gann files bill to protect Oklahomans from Orwellian tax-by-the-mile plan

For some background, read this article from OklahomaVoice.com ('Oklahoma task force recommends implementing per-mile road tax'). ODOT, at the direction of a task force formed by the legislature in 2021, is wanting to charge Oklahomans per mile driven as opposed to by fuel tax at the pump.

This would be a "voluntary program" to start... like every government program ever. Miles would be submitted manually by participants... or via a government tracking device on your vehicle. Nothing could ever go wrong with that, right?

Enter State Rep. Tom Gann, taxpayer defender extraordinaire:

Gann Files Bill to Protect Oklahomans from Overreaching 'Road User Charge' Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 9th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed what he called "a pivotal bill aimed at safeguarding Oklahomans' freedom and privacy."

House Bill 2970 comes in response to what Gann termed are growing concerns over the Oklahoma Road User Charge (RUC) Task Force's controversial "Road User Charge" proposal.

Stitt, UKB and Kialegee tribal leaders agree on tribal gaming compacts, ask committee for approval

GOVERNOR STITT, CHIEF BUNCH AND MEKKO YAHOLA SEND LETTERS TO JOINT COMMITTEE ON STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS, REQUEST APPROVAL OF TRIBAL GAMING COMPACTS

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 14, 2023) - Governor Kevin Stitt, in separate letters with United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) Chief Joe Bunch and Kialegee Tribal Town (KTT) Mekko Stephanie Yahola, called on the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, and House Speaker Charles McCall to convene to approve their agreed upon gaming compact.  

Gann, Rick West call for constitutional amendment to reform state budget process

Gann, Rick West Call for Constitutional Amendment to Budget Process

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 1st) – In reaction to this year's nearly $13 billion general appropriations' bill, State Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, and Rick West, R-Heavener, have proposed capping future legislative appropriations, retaining only what is necessary to be responsible in savings for a rainy day and sending back to the taxpayer any excess funds.

Legislators release statement opposing weakening Oklahoma's current laws banning abortion

Legislators, Pro-Life Organizations Defend Oklahoma's Abortion Laws

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today a bicameral group of legislators, together with numerous pro-life organizations,  released the following statement in support of Oklahoma's current abortion laws.

Rep. Gann wants to repeal bill that failed to land Panasonic plant, calls it 'largest corporate welfare in state history'

Gann Files Bill to Repeal LEAD Act

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed House Bill 1381 to Repeal the Large-Scale Economic Activity and Development (LEAD) Act of 2022.

Last year, the Legislature passed House Bill 4455, the LEAD Act, which promised investment rebates for the cost of qualified capital expenditures for certain establishments based on creation of new direct jobs. HB 1381 will repeal the law to keep it from activating in the future.

Gann called this "a failed attempt to entice business to Oklahoma using corporate welfare."