Legislative budget negotiators and Governor Kevin Stitt will hold a public budget summit. This comes after Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat removed Senator Roger Thompson as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Chuck Hall is now serving in that role. Stitt invited lawmakers to the summit. Both House and Senate leaders agreed. The summit takes place Monday afternoon ..read more

U.S. Senator James Lankford has joined a bipartisan effort to require automakers keep AM broadcast radio as a standard feature on new vehicles. The “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” puts that requirement in place because the lawmakers believe it serves as a lifeline. “Emergency alerts save lives and AM radio ensures that drivers can hear them as soon as possible. If you’re on a road trip or driving to work, you shouldn’t be blocked from having access to news, music, sports, or weather because of the kind of car you drive. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will keep AM radio in cars across Amer ..read more

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) has proposed a rule requiring someone who wants to sell their firearm to obtain a federal firearms dealer license to do so. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has joined a multi-state lawsuit to stop that rule from going into effect. Drummond and the other Attorneys General contend the rule will criminalize law-abiding gun owners if they decide to sell a firearm to a friend or a family member. “In states like Oklahoma, it is a regular occurrence for a gun owner to sell or trade firearms with trusted friends and family. These individual ..read more

Hughes, Love, and Murray counties will receive disaster assistance benefits from FEMA. Those three counties were some of the hardest hit during the tornado outbreak which struck Oklahoma and other states April 27 and 28. Governor Kevin Stitt said he appreciated how quickly FEMA has responded to Oklahoma’s deadly tornados. “I appreciate the support and quick action from the White House and FEMA in approving Oklahoma’s request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of devastating storms. As damage assessments continue, I will request aid for all counties that suffered losses to homes or bus ..read more

Governor Kevin Stitt and 52 governors agree that the Department of Defense’s Legislative Proposal 480 goes too far in curtailing the authority a state’s chief executive has over National Guard assets. The group wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the DOD opposing the move to weaking governor’s authority over assets which could threaten readiness. “For over a century, Title 10 and Title 32 of U.S.C. have upheld gubernatorial authority over the National Guard. National Guard assets are critical components of states’ and territories’ responses to crises. Governors must ma ..read more

Saying that some protesters have crossed a line, U.S. Senator James Lankford is calling on university administrators to do more to protect students as anti-Israel protests escalate. Lankford appeared on NewsNation’s Morning in America on Wednesday and condemned the rising wave of antisemitism and support of terrorism that has cropped up in the university protests around the nation. You can watch Lankford’s appearance on NewsNation below ..read more

Governor Kevin Stitt has signed House Bill 4156 into law making it a crime to reside in Oklahoma while not legally in the country. The immigration law creates the crime of “impermissible occupation.” The first offense is a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. The subsequent offenses are considered felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. In both cases, the offender must leave the state within 72 hours of release from jail or prison and are not allowed to return. Legislative leadership said HB 4156 was necessary because of the Biden Administration’s ..read more

Even as budget negotiations are underway, a changing of the guard is underway for the Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee leadership. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat is changing the chairman from Senator Roger Thompson to the Committee Vice Chair Senator Chuck Hall. Senator Paul Rosino will now serve as the vice chair to the committee. “Senator Thompson has done a tremendous job as appropriations chairman and has a firm handle on the state budget. He has been an invaluable appropriations chairman and I have the highest regard for Sen. Thompson. However, as we continue our transition i ..read more

Governor Kevin Stitt has named Jenks Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Heather Turner as the next executive director for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “Heather’s time at Jenks Chamber of Commerce is marked with impressive vision and growth. Her work advocating on behalf of businesses in Jenks has created an environment where companies can thrive,” said Stitt. “She knows what it takes to make Oklahoma a Top Ten state for business, and I’m excited for her to bring that drive to Commerce.” Turner was named the head of the Jenks Chamber in October 2022. She’s also the founder and owner ..read more

If Congress ever passes a law to allow states to decide if they will continue to use Daylight Saving Time and standard time, Oklahoma will lock the clock in DST. That’s because Governor Kevin Stitt has signed Senate Bill 1200. The bill’s author, Senator Blake Cowboy Stephens, has been trying to get this legislation across the finish line for a couple of years. “I am incredibly appreciative of my fellow lawmakers on both sides of the rotunda who voted in favor of this measure, landing it on the governor’s desk. Further, I extend my appreciation to Governor Stitt for his approval of this legisla ..read more