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OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Yukon, hosted an interim study examining the history, funding and future sustainability of Oklahoma’s public pension systems.  The study brought together representatives from every state pension system including the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), the Teachers’ Retirement System, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System and others. Three nationally recognized retirement experts, two from Washington, D.C., joined the discussion to share insights on pension design, workforce retention and long-term funding strategies.  “This study was an incredible opportunity to bring everyone to the same table, from state pension leaders to national experts, to understand how these systems work and why they matter,” Kelley said. “When we talk about pensions, we’re talking about people, teachers, troopers, firefighters and public employees who’ve dedicated their lives to serving Oklahoma. Our job is to make sure the systems they rely on remain strong and secure for decades to come.”  Presenters emphasized consistent funding, responsible investment management and the economic impact these systems have across Oklahoma. In fiscal year 2025 alone, more than $700 million in pension benefits were paid to retirees, with 93% of that money staying in the state’s economy.  Kelley said he will continue reviewing potential policy improvements to maintain full funding and protect the retirement security of Oklahoma’s public workforce for generations to come.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, today again asked Oklahoma's attorney general to investigate Steven Harpe, the former director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC). Humphrey said it was reported in April that Harpe had entered into a $1,017 million, one-year contract with AI company LEO Technologies. Six months later, in October, Harpe posted that he had accepted the position of chief product officer with the company. "The attorney general's office is responsible for investigating and holding officials accountable for these types of law violations," Humphrey wrote in his latest letter to the attorney general. He also reiterated that the attorney general has previously ignored his requests to investigate Harpe for "giving himself a $90,000 raise" while he led DOC. Humphrey said he's checked and found no authorization for the pay raise. A response to an open records request he submitted to the department said no documents were available. Humphrey contends the pay raise took Harpe's salary to $275,000 annually, which he says was one of the highest salaries for a corrections director in the nation, even while he argues Oklahoma's DOC is smaller than many nationwide. Humphrey also alleges missing funds and mismanagement of state contracts while Harpe was director of the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). "Harpe removed experienced employees and replaced those employees with his close, zero-experienced extremely overpaid friends," Humphrey wrote. "He has abused his position to enrich himself and his friends. I believe Oklahomans are sick of political appointees, district attorneys, court officials and others receiving special treatment and favors. I hope you will use your office to hold Steven Harpe accountable for his illegal actions." A full copy of the letter can be read here .

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, recently showcased Broken Arrow Public School's Tiger Connect program before the House Common Education Committee. The specialized learning program addresses students struggling with behavior issues in the classroom. Ford suggests the program could be replicated in schools statewide. "In my opinion, this program is a gamechanger for students not only in elementary school, but it will change their trajectory for a lifetime," said Ford, who as a former police officer witnessed many student discipline issues. "This program teaches them life lessons for how to handle situations that may be out of their control." Chuck Perry, who became superintendent for the district in December 2021, said one of his first goals was to talk with teachers. "It was one of the most depressing and eye-opening things I have ever done," Perry said. "There wasn't a site where I didn't talk to a teacher that just said, 'I'm done. I can't do this anymore. I feel just dejected when I leave every day because I don't feel like I'm making the impact that I got into the profession to make.'  "It wasn't because math was so hard to teach," Perry said. "It was because of the behaviors in the classroom that were becoming more of a challenge." This wasn't just happening in his schools, he said, but across the state. Every teacher encounters students that need extra attention, Perry said, but this was becoming eight to nine students in each class. This was preventing the other students from receiving the education they deserve. "I felt like we lost common sense in education," Perry said. "We had lost what I term order in schools." He didn't want teachers to instill fear in students. "But there has to be an environment in the classroom where teachers can teach and students can learn.  Perry made a decision for the 2022-23 school year that restoring order in the classroom would be a priority. This had to happen before the district could see great academic gains. "I'm a big believer, you can spend a ton of money on programs, curriculum, do all these things, but nothing is going to have a bigger impact in that classroom than a great teacher. And we were losing great teachers out of that profession. I felt like as educators, we were pointing to Oklahoma City to legislators saying, 'It's your fault. We don't have enough money.' But I felt like it was time we looked in the mirror and said, "What can we do to change that environment in the classroom?' We all have to take responsibility for what was going on." Derek Blackburn, assistant superintendent over discipline, security and health, and Rachel Kaiser, executive director of enrollment, studied efforts in other states and brought the Tiger Connect program to Perry's attention. He credits its success to them and to other administrators and teachers that have made it work. Perry said a lot of issues stem from trauma or instability that occur in a student's younger years. Instead of dealing with the students in first- or second-grade, however, educators were waiting until middle or high school when more extreme behaviors manifest, and the only discipline options are long suspensions or alternative education. That's often too late, he said. He felt teachers needed to target elementary students that were non-special ed that for whatever reason could not self-regulate and control their behaviors and emotions in the classroom. The Tiger Connect program uses student discipline data with educator feedback to identify students that need extra support. The program lasts at least six weeks and ideally starts with students as young as possible.  Trained teachers, such as Joe Freeman, work with small groups of students in a supportive, structured learning environment.  "We're able to individualize some of the teaching and learning, and we can easily address if there's maybe an issue coming that we can see, and we can take care of that before it escalates," Freeman said. Students receive counseling, help with social skills and staying on task, and parents are brought into the process to be taught how to reinforce positive behaviors at home. The partnership between educators and families is part of the program's success. Parents say the program has been life-changing, reporting their children can now tell them what emotions they are feeling and why and better manage their own behavior. All of this has led to positive changes in student behavior and an enhanced learning environment for all students and teachers, Perry said. The interim study can be viewed on the House website. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, released the following statement following the death of Porum Police Officer Richard Phillips, who was killed Thursday morning in a vehicle accident in Pittsburg County.  “I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Patrol Officer Richard Phillips, who was tragically killed Thursday morning in a vehicle accident in Pittsburg County. Officer Phillips was a proud Marine veteran, a devoted father and a dedicated public servant who served his community and country with honor. He was the kind of officer any department would be proud to have, hardworking, compassionate and committed to the call of service.  My family extends our heartfelt prayers to Officer Phillips’ children, his loved ones and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement as they mourn this tremendous loss. May they find comfort and peace in the days ahead.”  -END-   Rep. Tim Turner, a Republican, represents House District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Haskell County and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Two new laws authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, take effect Saturday, Nov. 1, positioning Oklahoma to better meet the need for skilled professionals who build and serve the state’s communities. House Bill 2260 creates targeted tax incentives to help recruit and retain civil engineers in Oklahoma. The measure offers financial incentives for students pursuing civil engineering degrees and for businesses hiring in the field. “Oklahoma’s civil engineers design, construct and maintain the critical infrastructure at the core of our communities,” Miller said. “With only about 40 percent of engineers graduating from Oklahoma universities remaining in the state after five years, this law invests in our workforce and encourages these talented professionals to stay and build the future of Oklahoma.” Civil engineers design and maintain the infrastructure that supports daily life across the state, including roads, bridges and water systems. Oklahoma has faced a shortage in the field, delaying projects and limiting growth. The new law mirrors successful incentive models used for aerospace engineers to ensure long-term stability in the state’s engineering workforce. House Bill 2261 allows Oklahoma to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, making it easier for out-of-state social workers to practice in Oklahoma without obtaining an additional license. The law helps address the state’s shortage of licensed clinical social workers, which currently meets only about 67% of the statewide need. “When families are in crisis, they shouldn’t have to wait for help,” Miller said. “By opening our doors to qualified social workers from other states, we’re ensuring Oklahomans can access the care and support they need when it matters most.” By joining the compact, Oklahoma gains access to a national pool of approximately 500,000 social workers across 22 participating states including Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Louisiana. The compact ensures regulators can continue sharing investigative records and disciplinary information to uphold accountability. Both laws take effect Saturday, Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, this week submitted a request to the state attorney general asking for clarification and guidance concerning the enforcement and intent of House Bill 1217 . The measure prohibits adult performances containing obscene material in public spaces where children might be present. The bill passed with an emergency clause allowing it to become effective immediately after the governor signed it into law May 9. "We were very clear in our legislative intent," West said. "We want to protect minors and the general public from exposure to obscenity in public settings. This law was pursued to give clear direction to municipalities, event organizers and law enforcement so issues of public exposure can be avoided before they happen rather than punished after the fact." Sen. Bullard said, “Our goal is to ensure that there is no confusion with municipalities about the expectations of this law. Obscene behavior in front of kids is not acceptable, and their job is to protect the kids who are in their public places from obscenities. If a council or organizer hosts an event they have approved then they must, by law, make sure it will not be obscene.” In the request sent to the attorney general, the two lawmakers specified that HB1217 directly incorporates the definition of obscene material that exists in state statute, which codifies the Miller v. California test. "That test exists to thread the needle between rights – acknowledging that individuals have broad constitutional freedoms in how they dress, express themselves, and perform, while also protecting the community's and families' right, and indeed responsible expectation, not to be involuntarily exposed to explicit sexual conduct or imagery in public or 'family-friendly' spaces," the request reads. "This balance is not only the foundation of obscenity law; it is also the proper balance between local discretion and state-level consistency." West and Bullard asked the attorney general to address six specific questions regarding the new law, one of which asked if it is accurate to interpret the bill as being enacted primarily to prevent exposure to obscene material through clear statutory limits and proactive compliance by local governments, rather than to create new grounds for prosecution. The purpose of the questions, they said, was to promote clarity, consistency and prevention. They said a timely clarification for municipalities is needed given that this time of year includes numerous community festivals, holiday parades and public events across the state. A full copy of the letter can be read here .

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill helping to further remove discriminatory and unfair housing regulations from Oklahoma property records takes effect Nov. 1. House Bill 2171 , authored by Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, eases the process for property owners and homeowner associations to remove unlawful land restrictions from property records – many of which were drafted more than a century ago. The measure builds on legislation Pfeiffer authored the last several years that allows counties and municipalities to remove illegal, often discriminatory, covenants from within their charters. The process started with House Bill 2088 in 2023 and then Senate Bill 1617 in 2024. HB2171, passed this year, extends the right of repudiation to individual property owners and homeowner associations. “I’m glad to bring Oklahoma in line with other conservative states like Texas and Florida that have already done this,” Pfeiffer said. "Addressing this ensures offensive and illegal language can now be purged from these records." Pfeiffer explained HB2171 includes language from the Uniform Commercial Code, which standardizes business dealings across states. This will put Oklahoma property covenant language in line with other states that have passed similar measures. The updated language ensures property records match across local jurisdictions and from state to state. Unfair housing restrictions in the past century sometimes specified that people of certain skin colors or ethnicities – most often those of African descent – could not purchase property in certain developments. Some went so far as to specify that land could never be sold, conveyed or occupied by any person other than one of all white Caucasian Blood. The Supreme Court, in 1948, ruled racially restrictive housing covenants were illegal, but property records still retain the outdated language 77 years later. Pfeiffer said the new laws clarify that all property records can finally be updated to reflect current law. Pfeiffer said he worked with Realtors, abstractors, county clerks and others to ensure they had a clear path to eliminate the discriminatory language in covenants, conveyances, deeds and other documents used to transfer property ownership. "I'm glad to clean up the remnants of these horrible practices," Pfeiffer said.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, hosted an interim study examining how sales tax exemptions impact nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma. The study brought together leaders from a range of nonprofits to share how tax exemptions help them serve their communities and strengthen local economies.  “This discussion shed light on the important role nonprofits play in supporting Oklahomans and how sales tax exemptions allow them to stretch their resources further,” Stark said. “I want to thank all the individuals who came to share what they are doing for Oklahoma families and children. Their insight will help guide future policy decisions to ensure these organizations can continue meeting community needs.” Presenters included representatives from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, RG Foods, Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, The Pencil Box, Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch and the Legacy Parenting Center. They discussed how tax exemptions help nonprofits expand services, increase outreach and reinvest in their missions.  Representative Schreiber said “these nonprofits deliver for our communities in so many ways. I’m glad we can look at how make their dollars go further to support the needs of Oklahomans.” Stark and Schreiber said they plan to continue reviewing ways to ensure tax policies support nonprofit work while maintaining accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Reps. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, and Erick Harris, R-Edmond, hosted an interim study examining potential updates to Oklahoma’s child custody laws to better reflect modern family dynamics and support children’s relationships with both parents.  The study included testimony from family law experts and advocates who discussed the state’s current custody framework, which was designed in an era when fathers typically worked outside the home and mothers stayed home to raise children. Although state law requires courts to act in the “best interest of the child,” it does not presume that equal parenting time serves that interest.  “Oklahoma’s custody laws were written for a time that no longer reflects how families live and work,” Tedford said. “Most parents today share both financial and caregiving responsibilities, yet our laws still tend to favor one parent over the other. Establishing a presumption of joint equal custody would reduce disputes, keep both parents involved, and ensure children maintain meaningful relationships with each parent. States like Kentucky have already seen positive results from this approach. It’s time for Oklahoma to put children and cooperation first.” Harris said, “Joint equal custody doesn’t mean parents can’t make adjustments when necessary. Instead, it means we begin from fairness by ensuring both parents are on equal footing, not from the assumption that one parent is a caregiver and the other is a checkbook. It’s time for Oklahoma to catch up with the modern family and put kids at the center of our custody laws.” Tedford and Harris plan to continue working with lawmakers, family law experts and advocates ahead of the upcoming session to modernize Oklahoma’s custody laws and ensure they reflect the best interests of children and families across the state.