Conference Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, today expressed displeasure with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Commissioner’s abrupt announcement that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will no longer provide law enforcement coverage on interstate highways in the state's two largest metropolitan areas – Tulsa and Oklahoma City – beginning Nov. 1. This would leave enforcement to local police departments. "I'm against the Patrol pulling manpower from these densely populated areas," said Ford, who serves as chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Public Safety Subcommittee. "There has to be a better way to address the department's concerns that doesn't involve putting citizens in danger. I worry about increased incidences of driving under the influence and unattended collisions on interstate highways that currently fall under the Patrol's jurisdiction. The fact is, troopers patrolling these highways saves Oklahomans lives.” Ford, a former Tulsa Police officer, said he's confident in the city's ability to pivot and address the areas of shortage left in the Patrol's absence, but it shouldn't have to.  Ford said he'll be working to get more information from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Highway Patrol as well as examining state statute regarding the Patrol's areas of responsibility and whether DPS has exceeded its authority in redistributing Patrol resources.

Oklahoma House Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, reacted to the Monday announcement by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that he would require all school districts in the state to provide free lunches to all students at the cost of employee salaries. The Superintendent does not have the Constitutional or legal authority to direct how individual school districts allocate their budgets. "This attempt to overstep the authority of Walters' office is a threat to the independent decision-making power of Oklahoma's school districts. Regardless, it is nothing more than an empty threat," said Lowe, a former ag teacher. "Addressing student hunger and streamlining administrative costs are both worthwhile endeavors, but these changes must be implemented legislatively, not through an unfunded mandate. State law clearly outlines what districts are required to fund, including minimum teacher salaries and limits on administrative spending, but it does not require free meals universally. That decision rightly belongs to locally elected school boards, who know their communities best and are entrusted with setting district budgets according to local needs. Districts that choose to use discretionary funds to cover meal costs for all students do so voluntarily, not because of any mandate from the state. As such, there is no legal basis for the State Department of Education to retaliate through special sanctions over budget decisions that are entirely within districts' rights. If Walters has legislative goals, I encourage him to be communicative with lawmakers year-round, not after session has adjourned and it's too late for the Legislature to consider any of his proposals." The House has previously considered bills to expand availability of free school meals, including House Bill 1376 in 2023.  Walters' announcement also referred to a potential SDE emergency rule regarding child nutrition standards. Any emergency rule must be approved by the State Board of Education before it can be considered by the governor. If the agency wishes to continue the emergency rule, the rule must be submitted as a proposed permanent rule during the next legislative session. The next regular SBE meeting is scheduled for July 24.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, released the following statements regarding a new mandate from the Oklahoma State Department of Education that requires schools to fully fund student meals. Menz invited the State Superintendent to collaborate with her on her longstanding effort to get free lunches for all public school students. “I was stunned and thrilled when I read about Superintendent Walters' most recent mandate regarding free school lunches,” Menz said. “I have filed and cosponsored legislation, cohosted bipartisan interim studies, published op-eds and held countless meetings all toward the goal of expanding the free lunch program in our schools, and I am glad someone in statewide leadership is finally listening to me. Hungry kids can't learn, and every child deserves access to healthy nutritious meals. I hope that going forward, Mr. Walters will be more collaborative with the legislature, to determine lasting budget solutions to make this program work for our kids.”  Pogemiller said this new mandate is unfunded and comes a week after the deadline for schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.  “The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools to use federal funds to offer no-cost meals to students,” said Pogemiller. “Schools qualify if just 25% of students meet the threshold, making it an efficient way to increase access and improve nutrition for all students. As of the end of 2024, 267 districts and 849 schools in Oklahoma were participating in CEP. Yet the deadline to apply for CEP was June 30—meaning this new potential mandate arrived too late for districts to adjust their plans, and our state won’t have the chance to prioritize this in the budget until next year. Happy to work towards this goal, but the reality is that Walters' approach is an unfunded mandate.” Waldron supports free lunches in schools so long as they don’t negatively impact local districts. “School lunch programs are proven to boost learning, improve test scores and promote healthy bodies,” said Waldron. “House Democrats have worked on this issue for a long time, and we're glad to see OSDE taking this stand. In my district, Tulsa Public Schools already provides free lunches to all. We hope there will be an opportunity to work on this collaboratively, without disruption to local school finances so that every child has a chance to succeed.” -END-