OKLAHOMA CITY (March 2nd) – The full Senate has approved a bill to make domestic violence against a pregnant woman a felony upon the first conviction. Senate Bill 1046, by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, was approved unanimously on Thursday after previously winning support in two separate Senate committees.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a bill that would make it easier for teachers in military families to resume their careers after being transferred to a new state. Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 467, creating the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (ITMC) Act.
It is a simple question: will more marijuana in Oklahoma make our families stronger, our streets safer, or our workplaces more productive? The debate for or against increased marijuana access in Oklahoma really comes down to that answer.
When Oklahomans voted to endorse the growth and distribution of “medical marijuana” in 2018, few people in the voting booth could have imagined the future explosion of marijuana access in Oklahoma. Oklahoma now has more marijuana facilities than Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, combined. But for the marijuana industry—which makes millions off drug addiction—that is not enough. They want more.
Hicks bill to increase pay for jury duty sent to House
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The full Senate approved legislation Tuesday to increase compensation for citizens serving jury duty. Senate Bill 713, by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, would increase pay for jurors in non-federal courts from $20 to $30 per day.
Conservative Tulsa blogger Michael Bates of BatesLine.com has posted his take on Tuesday's statewide election, State Question 820. As usual, filled with great insights and well-documented research, his excellent analysis and opinion is a must-read:
After a February town hall tour hitting the 2nd District's largest cities, freshman Congressman Josh Brecheen is doing a March swing through smaller towns that have probably not had seen a Congressman hold town hall meetings in them for decades.
Congressman Josh Brecheen Announces March In-Person Town Halls
Washington, D.C. (March 1st) – Congressman Josh Brecheen will hold in-person town hall meetings on Monday, March 13 and Friday, March 17. Constituents are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ask questions on policy issues impacting Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The full Senate approved Senate Bill 7 Tuesday. The measure, by Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, would stop Oklahoma from changing the clock twice a year and lock in Daylight Saving Time (DST) year round.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Monday clarifying that medical marijuana is not an “agricultural product” and therefore does not qualify for the state’s agricultural sales tax exemption. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said Senate Bill 133 is needed to clarify marijuana’s status and to help the state be able to better track the industry’s water usage.
Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee is out with an op-ed opposing State Question 820, which aims to makes recreational marijuana legal in Oklahoma. Read below:
TEEHEE: PLEASE OPPOSE SQ 820
While my day job has me serving as Chief of Police in Muskogee, I am writing today more as a father and grandfather who is also the product of a family marred by substance abuse.
Substance abuse is nothing new.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The Senate Business Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 806 Monday, assisting with the regulation of the medical marijuana industry. The bill, by Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, was requested by Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) and the Attorney General’s office. The legislation would restrict how many marijuana business licenses could use the same physical address for their applications.
Praise God:
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – Legislation prohibiting gender transition services for minors was approved Tuesday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
House Bill 2177, authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, prohibits health care professionals from providing, attempting to provide or providing a referral for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgeries for minors.
(February 28th) A group of 39 State Senators representing voters all across the state released a letter today urging Oklahomans to reject State Question 820. Those 39 Senators represent more than 81% of Oklahomans.
“I always appreciate it when I know where an elected official stands on important issues, so I wanted to make my voice heard. I told a few colleagues I was going to speak out and quickly found out that they wanted their position known as well,” said Senator Lonnie Paxton.
“On this topic especially, it is easy to speak out because passage of this state question would be disastrous to Oklahoma,” Paxton continued.
