OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Hispanic Culture day at the Oklahoma Capitol looks a bit different this year. Legislative leaders and advocates moved the event to the steps of the Capitol because of the size of the crowd ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma Survivors' Act may have a second chance of becoming law. "Oklahoma women are struggling," said Angela Beatty, Vice President of Programs and Engagement at the YWCA. Beatty said domestic abuse survivors often have to protect themselves when all other avenues fail. "Over 51 percent of women in the state of Oklahoma experienced some sort of violence, abuse or coercion," said Beatty. "The Oklahoma Survivors' Act is very much needed legislation in Oklahoma." Majority Floor Leader, Rep. Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City), and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - As lawmakers are up against the wall on finalizing a budget by the end of May, the Governor called for a last-minute budget summit that didn't end in many agreements. Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma House of Representatives have been pushing for a quarter of a point personal income tax cut, but the Senate has stood firm in not taking up the issue. The regular legislative session is supposed to end May 31, which means the FY25 budget also has to be finished by that time. However, with lawmakers hitting a wall on the personal income tax cut, the budget has not been f ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KNWA/KFTA) — Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a new law earlier this week that may affect your next trip to the liquor store. "Odell's Law" was signed into law on Thursday removing the requirement for businesses to check IDs before serving alcohol to customers. The law is named after a 90-year-old man who was denied a beer because he didn’t have his ID on him, according to Rep. Robert Manger (R-Oklahoma City). “Odell's Law would remove the cumbersome requirement to check somebody’s ID before selling them alcohol, allowing people over the legal drinking age to purchase alcohol even if the ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Lawmakers are down to the wire as the regular session is three weeks away from concluding, but a budget has yet to be finalized which is causing concern in the Governor's office. The Senate released its FY25 budget proposal in late March. It looks to spend $12.3 billion. As for the House, it released a $12.6 billion budget plan accounting for a quarter-percent income tax cut. That plan was released in April after the Senate claimed the House refused to show its numbers. "At this point in session, everyone, both the House and the Senate, should know where their membership ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A new law will bring change to driver's education programs with the hope of protecting teens getting behind the wheel for the first time, after one Oklahoma City family suffered heartbreak and tragedy. "I think that is what kept us going all the years," said Charla Shaffer ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Tuesday, Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 2035 into law, which changes state car tag laws in an effort to minimize traffic stops on the side of the road that could put Oklahoma drivers in harms way. The bill has been called the Mason Treat Act, named after Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat's son who was critically injured in a high-speed wreck during a traffic stop in January. Provisions for SB 2035 include: Provide a method for dealers to electronically enter required purchaser information for each vehicle purchase and submit information to Service Oklahoma every 24 ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat told reporters Thursday a state audit revealing how certain state agencies misspent federal funds caused him “grave concern.” News 4 reported earlier this week the audit revealed two state agencies— where Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism Shelley Zumwalt previously served in leadership roles— awarded an IT-company no-bid contracts worth millions of dollars beginning in 2020. In total, the state has paid the company—Oklahoma City based ‘Phase 2’—more than $21 million from the no-bid contracts. Golf, Pickleball and cooking class ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – After spending the legislative session hearing and voting on numerous bill the Senate won't be deciding on a bill that would call for some stricter criminal sentencing. House Bill 2946 (Lauria & Ashley's law) would require anyone convicted of accessory to murder to serve 85% of their sentence. The bill is named after Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. The two 16-year-old's disappeared in 1999 in Craig County. Although rescue teams searched the area where the girls were last seen, the trail went cold for years. Recent evidence linked Ronnie Busick, Warren Phillip W ..read more

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 1200 on Tuesday, April 23, allowing for Oklahoma to adopt a permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST). The author of the bill, Senator Blake Cowboy Stephens (R-Tahlequah) showed his appreciation of the support from both the Legislature and Speaker Charles McCall. “This legislation has come as a result of input from Oklahomans, lawmakers, health professionals, public safety officials, and countless other individuals who are passionate about ensuring our state lands on the right side of this issue. Practicing permanent Daylight ..read more