Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, today issued the following statement commemorating Feb. 4, 2026, as Rose Day, which recognizes the sanctity of life. The House adopted House Resolution 1031 , which stated, in part, that the Oklahoma House of Representatives has "led the nation in adopting legislation to defend unborn children" and that "Oklahoma will continue to lead the nation in the introduction and enactment of legislation to protect unborn children." "Rose Day is a powerful reminder that every life is worth protecting," West said. "Each rose presented today represents a life, a hope and a future. Protecting the sanctity of life means standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves and ensuring compassion and care guide our laws and our communities." Rose Day, held annually near the beginning of the legislative session, draws hundreds of Oklahomans who support the lives of unborn babies. They distribute roses, each symbolizing the life of an unborn child, to legislators and other government officials. This year, supporters gathered in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a short program, where Mia Armstrong featured as the keynote speaker. Mia, who has Down syndrome, is an actress, voiceover artist, author and advocate. She was joined by her mother, Cara.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation that would allow and later require certain public cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel has passed a House policy committee and now moves to an oversight committee. Authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, House Bill 3075 , formally titled the Oklahoma Common Cents Act, would not apply to the private sector and would apply only to public payments made in cash or the portion paid in cash. The measure does not apply to checks, debit cards, credit cards, electronic payments or other digital transactions. "This is a simple, practical bill that modernizes how we handle cash payments without impacting anyone who pays digitally," Hildebrant said. "HB3075 is limited to public cash transactions only. If you’re paying online or with a card, nothing changes." Under HB3075, final cash amounts owed to a political subdivision would be rounded to the nearest nickel. Amounts ending in $0.01 or $0.02 would be rounded down to $0.00, amounts ending in $0.03 or $0.04 would be rounded up to $0.05, amounts ending in $0.06 or $0.07 would be rounded down to $0.05, and amounts ending in $0.08 or $0.09 would be rounded up to $0.10. Hildebrant says the bill was requested by one of his constituents, who is also the Rogers County Treasurer, Jason Carini. "The Rogers County penny analysis showed the rounding approach is essentially neutral overall, and in some years, it resulted in a slight net gain," Hildebrant said. Rogers County analyzed cash transaction data across 2023, 2024 and 2025. The analysis found the rounding outcomes would have been minimal over the three-year period. In 2023, the county recorded 1,517 cash transactions, with rounding resulting in an overall net gain of $0.21. In 2024, there were 1,555 cash transactions, with an overall net gain of $0.75. In 2025, the county recorded 1,542 cash transactions, with rounding resulting in an overall net gain of $0.86. The Oklahoma Common Cents Act mirrors similar legislation currently being considered at the federal level. The federal Common Cents Act would direct the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny and would require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents. Under the measure, from the effective date of the bill through July 1, 2027, political subdivisions could choose to implement the rounding system. Beginning July 1, 2027, rounding would become mandatory for applicable cash transactions unless directed otherwise by Congress. The bill also outlines accounting provisions for ad valorem tax payments and authorizes political subdivisions to determine how overages or shortages are managed within funds under their control. HB3075 passed unanimously out of the House General Government Subcommittee by a 9-0 vote and will next be considered by the Government Oversight Committee.
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, has filed a trio of bills to improve education outcomes for Oklahoma students and to provide greater access to higher learning. House Bill 4358 would require public schools, starting with the 2026-27 school year, to limit to one hour per school day electronic screen time for students in prekindergarten through fifth grade across all subject areas. "Study after study shows that limiting screen time for young children results in better brain function and focus, more creativity, better sleep and so much more – all of which lead to better learning outcomes for our kids," Moore said. "Oklahoma children deserve face-to-face time with their teachers and peers, not instruction through an electronic device. House Bill 4359 would require state academic assessments in public elementary and secondary schools to be held during the month May each year beginning with next school year. "When academic assessments are held too early, students can miss up to a month of additional learning," Moore said. "If state tests are held in April, for example, students might spend the month of May watching movies or only half-heartedly reviewing lessons on which they know they won't be tested. Changing this schedule means our students have more time to prepare for end-of-year tests, and the test results themselves are more accurate and have greater meaning." HB4326 would expand access to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, known as Oklahoma's Promise scholarship, to students of public K-12 school counselors, librarians, school nurses or athletic trainers and those who teach at CareerTechs. This builds on legislation Moore passed last year, House Bill 1727 , that extended the scholarship to children of all educators who are considered in statute as full-time certified teachers who have taught for at least 10 years in Oklahoma public schools. That became effective July 1. "The goal is to ensure more students can go to college," Moore said. "Data is clear that college graduates earn more than high school graduates. That benefits the students and society as a whole. This also serves as an added benefit for those who work directly with students in our public schools." HB 4386 clarifies that a certified teacher includes any full-time classroom teacher who is standard or alternatively certified by the State Board of Education and who teaches a classroom subject as determined by the State Regents. The bill also adds that a certified teacher shall be considered the parent of a student if the teacher is the natural or adoptive parent or the permanent legal guardian of the student. Children of emergency or provisionally certified teachers would not automatically qualify for the scholarship, only if they otherwise meet financial need and other eligibility requirements. The measure also would extend the scholarship to qualifying students seeking admission to CareerTech and to students that were in the custody of the state or a federally recognized Indian tribe. It would raise from 17 to 18 the age of a student in public or private school who may apply for the scholarship beginning in the eighth grade through Dec. 31 of their senior year. Students educated by other means may apply from the age of 13 until they reach 18. These measures are eligible for consideration during the Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature, which convened Feb. 2.