Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, issued the following statement after a federal judge declined to approve proposed settlement agreements in the long-running Illinois River Watershed poultry litigation:  "The Attorney General and his team worked to bring forward settlement agreements that would have provided a clearer path forward in this case. Those agreements reflected months of negotiation and an effort to bring stability to a situation that has remained unresolved for far too long.  With the court declining to move those agreements forward, the uncertainty surrounding this case continues, and it's being felt most by the families who rely on poultry production to make a living.  In eastern Oklahoma, poultry growers are family operations that have made significant investments and taken on real financial risk. Without long-term certainty, many of them are now facing difficult decisions about whether they can continue operating.   At this point, I believe it is appropriate to reevaluate the direction of this case. I am urging the Attorney General to consider withdrawing the lawsuit so we can prevent further economic strain on rural communities and avoid pushing more families to the brink."  The Illinois River Watershed litigation, originally filed in 2005, remains ongoing as the court considers next steps following its decision on the proposed agreements. -END- Rep. David Hardin, a Republican, represents House District 86 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Adair County and portions of Cherokee, Mayes and Delaware counties.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Senate Bill 640 by Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, has passed the House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee, which aims at addressing abandoned and improperly maintained medical marijuana grow operations. The measure would require licensed medical marijuana businesses to properly remove and dispose of surface trash, debris and waste tied to their operations. It also would mandate that commercial growers clean up sites within 30 days after a license is revoked, expired or becomes inactive. Failure to do so would classify the property as a public nuisance, allowing for abatement. "Over the interim, I had the opportunity to hear directly from landowners and law enforcement throughout our communities who spoke about the real challenges these abandoned grow sites are creating," Roe said. "We need to set clear expectations and make sure marijuana operators clean up after themselves so these properties do not become hazards." The measure would also establish fines for violations and gives the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority the authority to implement rules and enforcement measures. Roe, who serves as chair of the House Public Health Committee, said the amendment stems from extensive research and input gathered during an interim study. "We learned a lot through the interim study process, and it was clear that stronger standards were needed," Roe said. "This bill is about putting the responsibility where it belongs. It also would give the state tools to address bad actors while supporting responsible businesses that are doing things the right way to protect our land." The measure now moves to the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee for further consideration.

Today the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1778, which strengthens the state’s Strong Readers Act, giving teachers additional training and support and ensuring students can read by the third grade. The legislation includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports; accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade; giving 2nd graders the option of taking the state test; expanded teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes; new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers; a new funding formula that supports all students, while also giving additional funds to students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth; and creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships. To support this reform, the Legislature is making targeted investments to strengthen teacher preparation and student literacy. The budget includes over $43 million for reading instruction and interventions in schools, $5 million in supplemental investment for teacher training academies this summer, and $5 million in ongoing annual funding for teacher training programs. In addition, the state will invest over $5 million in reading at home initiatives and dedicated funding for math and reading screeners to help educators identify and address student learning needs earlier. “Once again, we are making a historic investment into our common education system.” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and House author of the bill. “The difference is that we are implementing strategic programs that have shown to prove real, data-driven results. This bill is not a partisan issue - we all want our kids to read by the third grade." The legislation has received overwhelming support, largely because the statistics around Oklahoma’s reading levels are alarming. In 2015, Oklahoma students performed near the national average in reading. Today, we trail peer states by more than a full grade level. Based on Spring 2025 testing, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are reading at or above grade level. The bill will now be heard on the House floor for consideration.