Last week marked the completion of the fifth week of the legislative session. Work continued on both the House and Senate floors. The next deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be considered is March 14 when the measures must be heard in their chamber of origin - House bills and joint resolutions in the House and Senate bills and Senate resolutions in the Senate. |
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House Republicans Elect Hilbert Speaker-Designate |
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Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, was elected this week by the Oklahoma House Republican Caucus as speaker-designate for the 60th Legislature.
The speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the body’s chief presiding officer and is responsible for committee appointments, the flow of legislation and the management of the House budget and staff. The speaker also serves as an ex officio voting member on all House committees.
Hilbert, 29, would be the youngest House speaker in Oklahoma state history and only the second Republican speaker 30 years old or younger in any state since 1873.
In Hilbert’s eight-year tenure in the House, he has carried over 40 bills into law. He served three years as vice chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, during which time he helped craft the annual state budget, funding education at record levels and sustaining essential functions of state government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, congratulated Hilbert on the nomination. McCall is the longest-serving speaker in state history.
“I would like to congratulate Speaker-Designate Hilbert on his election as the Republican Caucus’ nominee for Speaker of the House,” said McCall, who is term-limited. “Over the past eight years, I have gotten to know Hilbert and find him to be a member and individual of the highest caliber. The Chamber will be in good hands under his leadership, and I look forward to seeing the House build upon the strong foundation that has been laid over the past decade.”
Under majority caucus rules, the speaker-designate for the upcoming Legislature is selected through a caucus election on the first Monday in March during election years. The 60th Legislature will be seated after November’s elections and convene for its first session in 2025. The entire body of the House will formally vote on its next speaker on organizational day for the 60th Oklahoma Legislature in early January 2025.
Hilbert was elected in 2016 to represent House District 29, which contains portions of rural Creek and Tulsa counties. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Oklahoma State University, where he also served as Student Government Association President. Hilbert and his wife, Alexis, have two daughters, Addison and Dorothy. The family lives in Bristow and are members of Foundation Church in Sapulpa.
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Senate’s budget transparency initiative ramps up with unprecedented, marathon hearing |
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The Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee held an all-day meeting on Wednesday to publicly vet proposed budgets for 55 state agencies. The unprecedented hearing is a result of the Senate’s new budget transparency process.
Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday’s meeting was an example of how the chamber’s new budget process is providing senators, the media and the public a detailed look at building a state budget.
“We’re seeing the process work,” Thompson said. “Every appropriations committee member is asking in-depth questions about spending and personnel at state agencies to make sure we’re doing what’s best for the state of Oklahoma. We’re shining a light on every budget number.”
Members of Senate appropriations subcommittees made recommendations to the full appropriations committee on how much funding should be allocated to each agency in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Later this month, the full Senate will pass a nonbinding resolution to put forth a proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. That will serve as a starting point for budget negotiations with the House.
“These are raw numbers that are subject to change during budget negotiations,” Thompson said. “Although the Senate is updating its budget process, we respect our House counterparts and look forward to working with them to reach a spending plan that addresses the needs of Oklahomans across the state.”
Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, has said creating a more transparent state budget process is one of his main priorities for this year, his final year in the Oklahoma Legislature.
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New Oklahoma education secretary ready to bring unique view to governor’s Cabinet |
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Picture a wooden table with cracks running down its four legs. Pressure bears down from above as a need for reinforcement grows.
That’s how Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new education secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders describes the state of Oklahoma’s public school system.
Sanders, who has dyslexia, thinks in visuals. In this image, the system could buckle without the right support.
“I want to hear and understand why that’s happening,” Sanders said. “Where’s the crack? Where’s that leg eroding?”
In a sit-down interview with Oklahoma Voice, Sanders described each of the table’s four legs like a cornerstone propping up students’ future success. Reading and math proficiency are two of the prongs. The teacher workforce and classroom soft skills are the others.
A majority of Oklahoma students scored below their grade level in reading and math, state test results show. Sanders said low fourth-grade reading scores, which are predictive of future academic struggles, are particularly concerning, as well as teacher turnover in public schools.
As the governor’s chief adviser on school policy, Sanders echoed Stitt’s priorities of innovation and parental choice in education. She said Oklahoma should listen to families, embrace technology, individualize learning to each student’s needs and keep school choice options open.
“I don’t know that there’s one answer here,” Sanders said. “I think it’s an opportunity. That’s one of the things that Gov. Stitt has really tasked me with is trying to understand how do we provide individualized support to every single child in the state. And so, it’s going to take a lot of people coming together.”
Sanders already has left an impact on Oklahoma’s education landscape. As a member of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, she cast one of three majority votes in favor of establishing the nation’s first religious charter school.
St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is expected to open later this year.
The polarizing vote gained national attention, with many predicting the matter to someday land in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I would never limit the scope of what it is that families can receive for their children,” Sanders said. “I can only say that I think that the people of our state know what is needed for the communities that they live in.”
Stitt, a vocal supporter of the Catholic charter school, has said he would like to see other religious schools open in the state. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has sued to put a stop to it, contending the concept of a religious public school is unconstitutional.
The governor appointed Sanders in January to his Cabinet as education secretary, seven months after the landmark vote. The role will pay her $25,000 a year.
The move raised some eyebrows because Sanders, unlike Stitt’s previous two education secretaries, doesn’t come from a classroom background.
Sanders, though, said her life experiences lend her a unique perspective and a “voice that is really needed at the table.”
A native of Washington, D.C., she was the vice president of philanthropy for a vocational and residential care center in Okarche until August, when she became a full-time mom. She previously worked in advertising.
Her husband, Mike Sanders, is the executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office and a former state lawmaker.
They live in Kingfisher with their two sons.
She is an advocate for people with learning differences. Like Sanders, both of her children have dyslexia.
Sanders can imagine the frustration Oklahoma students might have when they come to school unable to read. She experienced a similar heartache when she was held back a grade because of difficulty with reading, writing and spelling.
She said her parents later sent her to a girls boarding school to better meet her learning needs, but the “grit and tenacity” from being underestimated never left her.
“It’s really destructive to a child to not be known for their abilities but (to be) seen as an inconvenience,” Sanders said.
Sometimes, it’s “easy to feel like you’re on an island by yourself” when you have dyslexia, said Chris Farris, the principal of Kingfisher Junior High School.
Farris, who has dyslexia, said it’s comforting to see the governor’s Cabinet add an advocate for students with learning differences.
“I don’t feel quite as alone in advocating for dyslexics when you have a person at her level that also has gone through the same things I’ve gone through,” Farris said.
The principal said he’s gotten to know Sanders in recent weeks and is excited by her technology-focused vision. He said it could benefit future generations of students of all learning types
The governor’s selection of Sanders is evidence of his “deep commitment to student literacy and student achievement,” state Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a statement after she was appointed.
The education secretary position sat empty for six months after a disagreement between Walters and Sanders’ predecessor.
Katherine Curry said she resigned from the post in July because Walters wouldn’t provide her with documents showing how his administration at the Oklahoma State Department of Education budgeted and spent funds.
Walters, the education secretary who preceded Curry, celebrated Sanders’ appointment, calling her a “respected advocate for students and parents.”
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with her to empower parents and get our students Back to Basics,” he said at the time.
Sanders declined to comment on Walters’ job so far at the state Education Department but said she’s had a “very, very good working relationship with all the education branches that I serve.”
“Children are watching the way their leaders work together,” she said.
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McBride passes teacher signing bonus fix |
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Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, this week passed a bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives that he said would fix the State Department of Education’s flawed signing bonus for teachers returning to Oklahoma public school classrooms.
House Bill 4017 directs the Oklahoma State Board of Education to establish a $7,000 annual signing bonus program for teachers who return to teaching in state public schools beginning with the 2024-25 school year and who agree to serve for five years. The signing bonus shall be paid in five equal annual installments not to exceed $35,000 per participant.
“The State Department of Education did wonderful work in recruiting more than 500 teachers to return to Oklahoma public school classrooms,” McBride said. “But this legislation puts some safeguards in place to address some issues with the way the former bonus was crafted. This will protect these teachers going forward so they can still be rewarded for choosing to help our kids but without the fear that their bonus could be clawed back.”
McBride said the legislation was needed after reports surfaced earlier this year of teachers being asked to repay up to $50,000 in new teacher signing bonuses after the State Department of Education acknowledged the teachers were not eligible to receive the award in the first place.
McBride, who chairs the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee for Education, said he worked with Rep. Rhonda Baker, chair of the House Common Education Committee to develop the legislation.
HB4017 would require participating teachers to have at least three years of prior teaching experience and a valid or expired teaching certificate but they cannot have been employed by an Oklahoma public school in the past five years. They also must agree to teach fulltime for a minimum of five years and meet additional requirements set by the board. Verification of eligibility is required each year. The bonus does not count towards salary calculations or retirement benefits. The legislation directs the payment to be made to the teacher by Sept. 1 each year.
HB4017 passed the House on a vote of 79-16. It moves the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who chairs the Senate Education Committee.
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Senate approves bill to develop cardiac emergency response plans in Oklahoma’s public schools |
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The full Senate approved legislation Tuesday that ensures Oklahoma schools are prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency. Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, authored Senate Bill 1921, which requires all public schools across the state to formulate a sudden cardiac emergency response plan. Additionally, the legislation requires athletic coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers to complete annual training focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
“Statistics show that those who suffer a cardiac emergency have significantly better outcomes when AEDs are available and CPR is performed immediately,” Rosino said. “Cardiac events can happen to anyone and are often very sudden, so having more people trained and more resources available creates a safer environment for students as they participate in school activities by improving response times and ensuring proper care is administered.”
SB 1921 has support from various national sports organizations, the American Heart Association, and many families and individuals who have experienced a cardiac emergency first-hand. The measure is now eligible for consideration by the House of Representatives, where Rep. Bob Culver serves as the principal author. If signed into law, the provisions would be effective beginning July 1.
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Sen. Roger Thompson expresses support for Oklahoma’s two-year colleges |
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Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, on Thursday issued a statement to express support for Oklahoma’s two-year colleges as Gov. Kevin Stitt has urged the consolidation of some of the state’s junior colleges.
In his February State of the State speech, Gov. Kevin Stitt called for consolidating colleges and universities that aren’t meeting state workforce needs.
Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, released the following statement:
“Two-year colleges are the engines for workforce development across Oklahoma. These institutions are crucial to training the next generation of skilled workers, and they also drive economic growth in many of the state’s rural communities. Additionally, many students who obtain a bachelor’s degree got their start in higher education at two-year colleges.”
Oklahoma’s two-year colleges account for about one-third of all undergraduate enrollment and undergraduate degrees granted in the state.
Oklahoma’s two-year colleges are Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma State University-Institute of Technology, OSU-OKC, Redlands Community College, Rose State College, Seminole State College, Tulsa Community College and Western Oklahoma State College
A handful of the state’s four-year colleges also offer associate’s degrees.
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Oklahoma minimum wage petition can move forward, court rules |
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The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Monday that an initiative petition asking voters to raise the minimum wage can move forward.
“Initiative petition 446 does not clearly or manifestly violate either the Oklahoma or United States Constitution,” the court ruled in a 2-page order.
The vote was 7-2.
Supporters may proceed with gathering signatures, the order said.
The State Chamber and Farm Bureau Legal Foundation asked the court to toss it out.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in January.
State Question 832 asks voters to gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2029 from the current rate of $7.25. Future increases would be tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Challengers argued the state question would unconstitutionally delegate the amount of the state’ minimum wage to the U.S. Department of Labor by tying annual changes to the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index.
The CPI is an index which is changed on an ongoing basis based on the U.S. Labor Department’s discretion, challengers said.
The Oklahoma Constitution prohibits the Legislature from delegating its authority.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sided with the challengers.
The proposed state question is a change in state law and is not a constitutional amendment.
Supporters need to collect 92,262 signatures to get it before voters. They are seeking to get it on the November ballot.
Supporters argued that the state already ties other things to the CPI.
Oklahoma’s minimum wage is tied to the federal minimum wage.
Supporters say an increase is needed because the minimum wage has not been raised in nearly 15 years.
“We look forward to delivering a victory for all the hard-working Oklahomans who desperately need a win at the ballot box,” said Amber England, Raise the Wage Oklahoma campaign spokesperson. “It’s time to let the people decide.”
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Oklahoma governor sues attorney general over cabinet appointment flap |
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Gov. Kevin Stitt and three of his cabinet members on Thursday filed suit against Attorney General Gentner Drummond, challenging his interpretation of state law.
Drummond recently issued an opinion that said cabinet secretaries could not hold dual offices, resulting in the immediate resignation of two.
The suit was filed in Oklahoma County District Court.
The suit says the Office of the Attorney General’s opinion was flawed.
“Left unresolved by this Court, the OAG’s analysis and Opinion will operate to significantly alter the decades-long, lawful tradition of governors being able to appoint cabinet Secretaries from amongst agency heads with practical experience and necessary subject matter expertise,” the brief said.
The suit asks the court to rule that state law allows the governor to appoint cabinet secretaries from among agency heads, who may also serve both roles.
The suit alleges that Drummond’s opinion runs counter to other Oklahoma Attorney General opinions.
The lawsuit also disagreed with a section of the opinion that said once an agency head accepts a cabinet post, that person vacated the first office.
Cabinet secretaries may simultaneously serve as an agency head within the secretary’s cabinet area, according to the brief.
“The Attorney General stands behind his legally binding opinion and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the lawsuit in a future filing,” Drummond’s office said in a statement.
Drummond’s opinion, issued last week, led to the resignation of Tim Gatz as transportation secretary and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority executive director. He was reappointed executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The OTA earlier this week hired Joe Echelle, deputy director, to serve as executive director.
It also led to Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell’s resignation as secretary of workforce development.
Other plaintiffs in the suit are: Blayne Arthur, agriculture secretary and head of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Shelley Zumwalt, secretary of tourism, wildlife and heritage and Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation executive director; and Dr. Deborah Shropshire, human services secretary and Oklahoma Department of Human Services executive director.
The suit said swift judicial action is necessary to rectify the erroneous opinion.
“Short of judicial intervention, the cabinet structure will remain subject to disruption; agencies whose heads serve as Secretaries will operate with uncertainty; and the professional status and livelihoods of the petitioner agency heads and Secretaries will be in the balance,” the brief said.
Stitt last week blasted the opinion as politically motivated.
“I have the best people in Oklahoma running my state agencies, and it only makes sense to have them as my advisors,” Stitt said Thursday.
He said the opinion is “flat wrong,” adding that the “court will need to fix the mess the Opinion created.”
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Rogers reverses plan, will seek reelection |
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Sen. Cody Rogers announced Tuesday he will seek reelection to the Senate in this year’s election cycle, after announcing in August he would not.
“The opportunity to work on behalf of this great state and its people has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Rogers, R-Tulsa, said in a statement Tuesday. “Over the past few months, there has been considerable speculation regarding my political future. After much deliberation, thoughtful consideration of my family and constituents’ needs, and discussions with colleagues, I have decided to continue service in the Oklahoma Senate. Additionally, I have considered the potential for business conflicts that could arise from a different role, and my commitment is to serve in public office with the highest standards of integrity and transparency.”
Rogers initially announced in August he would not seek reelection to the Senate District 37 seat. Rogers is serving his first term after being elected in 2020.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority governing board hires new director, sets his salary at $240,000
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s governing board on Tuesday appointed a new executive director following the abrupt resignation of its prior leader.
The board promoted the agency’s deputy director Joe Echelle. It set his salary at $240,000 a year.
Echelle said his appointment capped off the “end of a strange two weeks” for him and his staff.
It began when the Attorney General’s Office notified transportation officials that it planned to issue an opinion that prohibited Tim Gatz from holding three transportation leadership posts at the same time.
In response, Gatz resigned as the head of the Turnpike Authority and stepped down as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s transportation secretary. Stitt reappointed him to his current role as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
That left the Turnpike Authority without an executive director.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is now paying Gatz’s $245,000 annual salary. Previously, it had split the salary with the OTA, said an ODOT spokesperson.
Echelle said they received a little bit of pre-notice from the Attorney General’s Office about the opinion, which allowed both transportation agencies time to ensure continuity of operations.
He said it’s always been a career goal to be a director at either state agency, but he never expected it to happen like this.
“Thank you again for the opportunity,” Echelle said. “I will not let you down.”
Board member John Jones said former director Tim Gatz was a “wonderful and successful leader” throughout his approximately eight year tenure.
“Without a doubt, he will be missed,” Jones said. “But OTA has always been bigger than any one person.”
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is responsible for maintaining 630 miles of turnpikes throughout Oklahoma, and Echelle will oversee the 15-year, $5 billion ACCESS turnpike expansion project.
Echelle is a registered professional engineer and began his career with Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 2001. He began working for the Turnpike Authority in 2016 as its director of construction. In that role, he managed the annual construction projects as well as the $1.2 billion Driving Forward Turnpike Improvement Program.
He’s been deputy director since July 2021.
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House bill reverses vote of the people on criminal justice reform |
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The Oklahoma House on Wednesday voted to reverse the will of the people.
House Bill 3694, by Rep. John George, R-Newalla, reverses a portion of State Question 780, which voters approved in 2016 by 58.23%.
State Question 780 reclassified some non-violent drug and theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and was aimed at reducing the prison population.
It raised the dollar amount to $1,000 from $500 for theft to be classified as a felony.
House Bill 3694 reverses that, lowering the threshold back to $500.
George said thefts have dramatically increased since the state question passed.
“If you don’t steal anything, will this bill affect you in any way, shape or form?” asked Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton.
“No,” George said.
George said he was not concerned with the prison population, but was focussed on keeping people and property safe.
A significant amount of retail theft could put a mom and pop store out of business, he said.
“People are tired of having half of the stuff they want to buy locked up because they can’t keep it on the shelf,” George said.
Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, said the Legislature is moving backwards. Previously, lawmakers were decreasing the punishments for these types of crimes, Lowe said.
Lowe said the state needs to properly fund diversion programs.
“We are representatives of the people,” said Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City. “This was a state question passed by the people.”
George said law-abiding citizens need to be protected.
“A yes vote is smart on crime,” George said. “A no vote is soft on crime.”
The measure passed along party lines by a vote of 78-20 and heads to the Senate for consideration.
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OkACTE tracks and monitors legislative bills. These bills can vary from CareerTech education policy, common education policy, education funding, teacher pay raise, tax credits, licensing, Ad Valorem, retirement, state employee pay raise, guns, economic development and much more.
Of these bills, we've compiled a listing of CTE Priority Measures linked below.
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