Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Sen. Kelly Hines, R-Oklahoma City, recently hosted an interim study examining the growth of unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility in Oklahoma and what the state can do to remain competitive as the technology continues to develop. Aerospace and defense currently contributes $52.5 billion in economic impact to Oklahoma and supports more than 250,000 jobs. As the advanced air mobility environment becomes increasingly significant and evolves rapidly, the study examined how Oklahoma can build on that foundation while protecting critical infrastructure, supporting emerging technologies and positioning the state for continued growth. "The advanced mobilities environment in Oklahoma is changing quickly, and there is a real opportunity for us to be intentional about how we grow with it," Miller said. "This study gave us a chance to look more closely at where Oklahoma is positioned today and what we should be paying attention to as these technologies continue to develop. I want us to be thoughtful about the decisions we make now so we are ready to support the opportunities ahead." "Advanced air mobility has the potential to open new doors for Oklahoma’s aerospace industry, particularly when it comes to manufacturing and job creation," Hines said. "We want to see more of these technologies developed, tested and built right here in our state. Growing that kind of industry means more opportunities for Oklahoma businesses and workers, while strengthening an industry that is already a major part of our economy." The study highlighted investments already underway in western Oklahoma, at Camp Gruber and in the Tulsa area to support testing, radar systems and other infrastructure needed for emerging aviation technologies. The discussion also focused on the role of research, testing and infrastructure in attracting additional development and manufacturing to Oklahoma. Presenters said those efforts can help position the state for long-term growth in aircraft and component manufacturing. Federal regulations were another major part of the discussion. Participants discussed anticipated Federal Aviation Administration rules that could expand commercial drone operations and the importance of having infrastructure and policies in place so Oklahoma is prepared as those opportunities become available. Public safety and airspace protection were also addressed, including how increased unmanned aircraft activity could affect critical infrastructure and other sensitive locations. Hines said at the beginning of the study that he and Rep. Miller wanted to better understand how Oklahoma can continue expanding its presence in the industry and whether ideas from the discussion could help shape policy in the upcoming legislative session.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, and Tim Turner, R-Kinta, held an interim study before the House Public Safety Committee examining pay for correctional officers, support staff and administrators at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Hardin chairs the committee and had an almost 40-year career in law enforcement.  "Having a strong and dependable corrections workforce is an important part of maintaining public safety across our state," Hardin said. "We need to understand the challenges the Department of Corrections faces in recruiting and retaining employees, as well as what is working in Oklahoma and elsewhere. The information gathered through this study gives us a clearer understanding of those challenges and a stronger foundation for considering how we address them moving forward." Turner, a member of the committee, spent more than two decades in law enforcement. "Every day, our correctional officers walk into an environment that most Oklahomans will never experience," Turner said . "They face dangerous situations, unpredictable behaviors and tremendous responsibility. Yet far too often, their compensation does not reflect the risks they take or the sacrifices their families make. And we cannot forget our support staff. From medical personnel and administrative employees to maintenance workers, food service staff, and everyone who keeps these facilities operating, they are essential to our mission. Adequate pay is not simply about rewarding employees. It’s about recruitment, retention, safety and accountability." The lawmakers invited Justin Farris, director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), to give an overview of the department, current pay and challenges to recruiting and retaining correctional officers, administrators and support staff. "Staffing levels at ODOC are critical," Farris said . "We have recognized this for a long time" Farris said when he began as a correctional officer in 1999, each prison had two to three correctional officers per housing unit. Now, there is one officer per unit, traditionally. "This is not at all how we want to operate, which is why I'm here today. I'm here not only to highlight our dedicated and hard-working staff but also to advocate for them. They are an integral part of public safety, and really the thankless part that often goes unnoticed. Yet they are no less dedicated to protecting public safety and building a stronger Oklahoma than any other law enforcement agency in our state." Farris said over the last several years the department has worked to improve the culture of the work environment, and they are seeing the result of that. "Retention rates are up, but we need a pay raise for all of our employees to keep up with this," he said. "We're not only losing our security staff to other states and entities that pay more, we're also losing experienced support and administrative staff to other state agencies that offer higher salaries for positions with less supervisory responsibility." Farris said a pay raise would help stabilize the workforce and undergird the improvement efforts the department has undertaken. Since 2023, the department hired over 3,300 employees agencywide. However, they lost more than 3,100 during the same period. That leaves the department with a gain of just 194 employees. Currently, agencywide, the department has 641 open positions. Jeannine Morton-Brown, director of Human Resources with the department, showed the disparity of pay between Oklahoma and surrounding states. Correctional officers between tiers two and four earn on average between 18% and 21.7% less than peers in surrounding states including Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas. Only in tier two is the state higher in pay than Arkansas. It is less in all the additional surrounding states. She also discussed the gap in DOC pay versus other state agencies. Donald Thurmond, who serves as the chief of security at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and Jackie Brannon Minimum Security Unit in McAlester, asked study attendees to ask themselves what $21.48 an hour – the starting pay for most Oklahoma correctional officers – would purchase in today's economy. He then graphically explained what an officer is asked to do for that wage. "We ask them to supervise individuals convicted of violent crimes," he said . "We ask them to intervene in fights. We ask them to confront individuals armed with homemade weapons. We ask them to respond when an inmate attempts to take their own life. We ask them to remain professional when they're threatened, cursed at, spit on or assaulted, and we ask them to protect the lives of the very people who may have just attempted to hurt them for approximately twenty-one dollars and forty-eight cents an hour." Thurmond said he's watched good, experienced correctional officers walk away from careers they love because they could not afford to stay. Additional presenters included Mike Thompson, director of the nonprofit Safe Inside Project, who discussed improving life and work behind prison walls, and Mary Babcock, director of Human Resources for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She described efforts the department has pursued that has resulted in better compensation, better retention of staff and an overall safer environment for officers and inmates. Turner closed the study saying , "Respect must reflect in our actions, our budgets and ultimately in our paychecks of those that are serving behind those walls. These employees aren't asking to become wealthy. They're asking to earn a fair wage and provide for their families and know the state they serve values their sacrifices. As we move forward to the next legislative session, I hope we remember the testimony that we've heard today and we recognize that adequate compensation isn't just an employee issue, it's a public safety issue, it's a retention issue and a responsibility that we have as state leaders." The entire study can be viewed on the House website under News & Media, live proceedings, then search the calendar for Oct. 21 Public Safety starting at 1:02 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, was among a group of Oklahomans who traveled recently to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to view firsthand the Angola Prison Rodeo, the only remaining prison rodeo in the United States. "The purpose of this trip was to gain ideas about what they are doing and how we might apply some of this knowledge as we make an attempt to revive our own prison rodeo at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester," Grego said. "Angola really has their stuff together," he added. "This is so much more than just a rodeo. It is an event drawing 10,000 visitors to each sold-out rodeo." Grego said one estimate shows a total local impact of $1 million for each rodeo held at the prison. Traveling with Grego was his wife, Sandy; Braedon and Kristie Oquin, the latter serves as the chair of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo Restoration Committee; Kevin Beaty, committee vice chair; Willis Pettit, warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester; Michael Davis, CEO and president of Oklahoma Finance Authorities; and Josh Beaty. The group had the opportunity to visit with the commissioner and the first deputy of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Grego said, as well as the warden at the state penitentiary, known as Angola. Grego said for many years, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary held a rodeo that was very popular with inmates and their families as well as staff. It drew visitors from across the nation to Southeast Oklahoma. "The rodeo was discontinued due to a lack of funding and deterioration of the grounds," Grego said. The last rodeo at the prison was held in 2009. Grego has authored legislation the last few years to create a revolving fund to restart the rodeo, but the bills have not made it through the full legislative process. Grego said the measures have support, including from the Department of Corrections, which previously committed to putting $1 million toward the project. Both the City of McAlester and the McAlester Chamber of Commerce are supportive as well, Grego said. The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and recreation also previously committed to promoting the rodeo if it were to again operate. Grego said many professional cowboys also have expressed an interest in holding events at the McAlester prison once the rodeo grounds are restored. He said the Oklahoma Department of Commerce agreed the event would have a positive economic impact on McAlester and surrounding areas of Southeast Oklahoma. "This could bring a return on investment to the Department of Corrections and the state and local economy, and we could all reap the economic reward it would bring," Grego said.