News

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation, authored by Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, aimed at modernizing Oklahoma’s vehicle identification number inspection process has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate for further consideration. House Bill 3148 passed the House floor this week by a vote of 83-11. The measure previously received unanimous approval in both the House Public Safety Committee and the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. Gise said she developed the legislation after hearing from several businesses in her district who described delays and unnecessary regulatory hurdles caused by the state’s current VIN inspection process. "Oklahoma families and businesses deserve a government that works for them, not one that slows them down," Gise said. "House Bill 3148 cuts unnecessary bureaucracy while keeping consumer protections in place. When regulations stop serving the people, it’s our job to get government out of the way." HB3148 would modernize the state’s VIN inspection system by removing outdated requirements and allowing qualified sellers and licensed operators to conduct VIN inspections at the point of sale. The bill would clarify who may perform vehicle inspections, update outdated procedures and establish accountability measures for fraud or noncompliance. Gise says the goal of the legislation is to streamline vehicle transactions while maintaining important safeguards against fraud. "I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for their thoughtful consideration and support of this bill as we work to prevent fraud," Gise said. "This is a practical step that reduces unnecessary red tape while still protecting consumers." HB3148 now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Tribal and External Affairs Leader Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, today announced he will not seek reelection for his final legislative term. First elected to the House in 2016, Fetgatter will finish his 10th year in office in November. "I'm ready for some new challenges and to move into my future," Fetgatter said. "This decision comes after much consideration and conversations with my family." "I'm grateful for the decade I've had to serve the daily needs of the incredible people in my House district and to represent Oklahomans all across the state. I appreciate the trust my constituents have placed in me. Even though I haven't been able to agree with everyone 100 percent of the time, I have always tried to make myself available, to listen and to collaborate to find solutions to the many pressing issues that face Oklahomans. "I want to thank my family for their forever support, my legislative assistant, Jamie Layne, and our amazing House staff for all of their assistance. I also want to thank all I've served with in the Oklahoma House, many of whom are my dear friends. Thank you for always supporting me." Fetgatter serves House District 16 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes parts of Muskogee, Okmulgee and Tulsa counties. He's a native Oklahoman, moving with his family to Okmulgee in 1972. After many years of working on tribal issues in the Legislature and being a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert named Fetgatter chairman of the Joint Committee on State and Tribal Relations and leader of tribal and external affairs for the House. He has worked to build bridges with the state's 39 sovereign tribes and to serve as a liaison between the House and Oklahoma's federal congressional delegation. Notably, he's worked with several tribes to improve rural water infrastructure, to enhance economic development opportunities between the state and the tribes, and to negotiate compacts and gaming issues. "My whole life I've believed with 39 tribal nations in the State of Oklahoma that contribute billions of dollars to our local economies, job creation, infrastructure and educational opportunities, the tribes are the greatest partners the state is blessed to have. I would like see better collaboration so this partnership thrives in the future," Fetgatter said. Fetgatter has chaired the House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee for seven years. He currently serves on the full Appropriations and Budget Committee as well as Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances and Business. He's also previously served as vice chair the Wildlife Committee and as a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Appropriations and Budget, Business and Commerce, County and Municipal Government, Public Safety, Technology and the Appropriations and Budget Human Services Subcommittee. He also has served at the speaker's request as the chair of the Oklahoma Ireland Trade Commission and as a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority and the Oklahoma-Israel Exchange Commission. He has focused much of his time in office to promoting economic development and diversity in Oklahoma to make the state more business friendly. In 2021, Fetgatter authored the Filmed in Oklahoma Act, creating one of the most competitive film incentives in the nation. Notable productions following the legislation include "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Reservation Dogs," along with many other smaller films and documentaries. Fetgatter also authored the Automotive Engineering Tax Credit and secured a $4 million investment for the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund, demonstrating his commitment to fostering economic development and stability in Oklahoma. Fetgatter also has taken a leadership role in helping to navigate regulation of the state's medical marijuana industry after state voter's approved its creation in 2018. As a first-year legislator, he was crucial in extending aerospace engineering incentives, and he helped prolong three tax credits for eight years, which created more stability and growth for aerospace companies. Two years after the extension, the aerospace industry became Oklahoma's second-largest economic driver, surpassing agriculture. Before his election to the House, Fetgatter owned a construction company specializing in themed construction. He also has worked in sales and marketing for many years as a salesman, trainer and manager. He grew up working in the grocery business at his father's local IGA. Fetgatter married his wife, Kim, in August 1990. The couple has two children, Meagan and Cody. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation aimed at protecting Oklahoma families and small businesses from higher utility bills tied to new data center infrastructure is now eligible for consideration on the House floor. House Bill 2992 , the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, authored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, passed unanimously in both the House Utilities Policy Committee and the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee. The measure now advances to the next step in the legislative process. "I’m very encouraged to see this legislation move forward with such strong support," Boles said. "As Oklahoma continues to grow and attract new industry, we have to make sure the cost of that growth does not fall on hardworking families and small businesses. This bill is about fairness and making sure Oklahomans are not forced to subsidize the infrastructure needs of large data centers." Rep. Boles' Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act would set guidelines for how electric suppliers and regulators address the rising energy demands of large data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. The bill defines "large load customers" as new facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand and clarifies that residential, commercial and traditional industrial customers are not included in that classification. The legislation aligns with the recent Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation issued by President Donald Trump. Under the pledge, several leading technology companies agreed that as energy demand grows alongside new data center construction, American households should not bear the cost of building the necessary infrastructure. Instead, the pledge calls for the companies developing and operating data centers to build, bring or purchase the energy required to power their facilities and to cover the full cost of associated infrastructure. "The White House is taking steps to make sure Americans are not left footing the bill for massive data center expansion, and Oklahoma is proud to take steps alongside them to protect our ratepayers," Boles said. Several lawmakers from both parties have signed on as co-authors of the measure, including Senate author Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston; Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita; Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene; Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa; Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City; Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa; Rep. Mark Chapman, R-Broken Arrow; Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City; and Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore. The bill is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, issued the following statement celebrating President Trump on his decision to appoint Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.   “I understand why President Trump would choose Senator Mullin for this role. He is immensely qualified and has done a phenomenal job representing Oklahoma in the United States Senate. Under the Biden Administration, every state became a border state. I have no doubt that Senator Mullin will play an essential role in continuing the work President Trump’s administration has undertaken to restore order and strengthen enforcement. He is someone who will step into a position that is critically important for our country right now and serve with strength and provide clarity to the American people. Senator Mullin is a tremendous asset to the United States, and I have always appreciated the strong working relationship we’ve had.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan package of reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of taxpayer dollars and reinforcing ethical standards in state and local government has passed House committees and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor. The initiative is led by Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, who collaborated with members of both parties after concerns surfaced about gaps in government spending oversight. The group worked closely with State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, after an audit revealed $93.4 million in questionable expenditures over the past year. Strom said the findings showed the need for stronger safeguards to ensure public funds are properly documented, transparently reported and used for their intended purposes. "When I read that audit, it was frustrating," Strom said. "Serving as chair of the General Government Committee, I knew we couldn’t ignore it. We sat down with the State Auditor to pinpoint breakdowns in contracting and procurement and began working on solutions that safeguard taxpayer dollars, cut unnecessary costs and prevent abuse. The people footing the bill deserve full confidence in how their money is being handled." After several months of collaboration, lawmakers advanced the measures to address ongoing concerns about government spending. The lawmakers say the proposals would create greater uniformity and clarity when contracts involving public funds are violated, helping ensure stronger accountability for the use of taxpayer dollars. Strom met regularly with Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus; Rep. Denise Crosswhite-Hader, R-Piedmont; Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene; Rep. Preston Stinson, R-Edmond; and Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City. The group worked closely with Byrd, whose office conducted a detailed review of contracting practices, procurement systems and accountability laws to identify weaknesses. "The people of Oklahoma expect their government to operate in the open and within clear guardrails," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. "As a group, we took a hard look at how public dollars move through the system and where transparency could be strengthened. These bills are about closing gaps and making sure accountability is built into every step of the process. They also establish clear guardrails so that once lawmakers appropriate funds, agencies are not simply free to spend that money however they choose. Taxpayers deserve nothing less." Byrd said the lawmakers who are working on these bills are doing a great service for the taxpayers of Oklahoma. "If the bills are signed into law, it would be a great step forward in accountability," Byrd said. "I have spent the last seven years blowing the whistle on government mismanagement but our current laws are not designed to hold bad actors accountable. I highly commend each of these lawmakers for demanding the financial guardrails Oklahoma desperately needs. Even our greatest problems can be solved when our leaders unite behind a singular purpose.” The reform package includes the following measures: House Bill 3419 – Would strengthens state ethics laws by making it a felony for current or former state or local officials, employees or contractors to use confidential government information for personal financial gain. Convictions could include prison time, fines and a prohibition on holding public office or entering into state contracts. House Bill 3413 – Would expand transparency in state agency contracting by requiring agencies to publicly list contractors, contract values and project status. It also mandates posting consultant reports and disclosing whether contracts are for outside services or to supplement staffing. House Bill 3414 – Would direct the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to improve accounting systems to clearly distinguish between service contracts and staff augmentation. It also requires permanent documentation for digital and intangible assets purchased by agencies. House Bill 3415 – Would require vendors to disclose subcontractors, sets stronger documentation standards and mandates post-project reviews to confirm work was completed on time and within budget. The bill also creates a publicly accessible database of state contracts. House Bill 3416 – Would allow counties to seek quotes for certain smaller purchases instead of always using a lengthy bidding process, while maintaining safeguards and documentation requirements to prevent misuse. House Bill 3417 – Would clarify that cities and towns must follow state competitive bidding laws and may not adopt local rules that weaken or bypass those standards. House Bill 3418 – Would update the Public Competitive Bidding Act by refining procedures for public construction projects, clarifying definitions and ensuring consistent bidding practices, including for school district contracts. House Bill 3420 – Would amend the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act to strengthen oversight when contracts are negotiated rather than competitively bid. It would require stronger justification, clearer documentation and public reporting of procurement activity, and directs OMES to publish purchasing reports online for public review. All of the bills are now eligible to be considered on the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, on Wednesday passed a bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives that is hoped to recruit more mental health professionals to serve rural residents. House Bill 2947 would credential behavioral health clinical interns to provide services that are eligible for Medicaid reimbursement under the state's Medicaid plan, provided they operate within their clinical scope of practice under the supervision of a licensed behavioral health provider. The bill also would create a small income stream for clinics to be able to attract interns through financial incentives such as mileage reimbursement, small stipends or hourly wages.  "Our rural areas are struggling for licensed mental health care providers," Grego said. "This legislation would provide some relief for clinics trying to attract graduate students and new professionals. With so many of our behavioral health workforce retiring, this kind of measure is essential to strengthen our capacity to serve Oklahomans who live in our rural areas." Grego reported that 37% of Oklahoma's population lives in rural areas, and almost 90% of the state's landmass is considered rural. "Recruiting behavioral health professionals to these areas is a high priority for our state," he said. Research shows the return on the state's small investment should be strong, Grego said. The hope is that between 30% and 60% of graduate students serving in rural areas will stay to begin their first post-graduate jobs within 100 miles of those locations. He said he examined new data showing that at least four Oklahoma counties currently have no licensed providers, and 10 counties have five or less. Grego said providing services as a clinical intern is a common part of their graduate level training. To ensure the highest level of oversight, these interns would only serve in clinical sites that are also national accredited or certified through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health. Under the bill, behavioral health clinical intern providers must only provide services that are billable through accredited clinical sites in good standing. On-site supervisors may only supervise up to six behavioral health clinical interns at any time. The bill passed the House on a vote of 81-8. It now moves to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation aimed at strengthening protections for homeowners approached at their residences for storm-related repair work is now headed to the Senate after the House voted 82-4 to approve the measure. House Bill 3790 , titled the Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act and authored by Rep. Stacy Adams, R-Duncan, would establish a five-day cancellation period for certain home repair contracts entered into through in-person solicitation at a homeowner’s residence. “I am thankful my colleagues understood the issue Oklahomans face every day,” Adams said. “We are a state that can be hit with storms at any time, and this measure gives homeowners added peace of mind when they are making important decisions about repairs.” The bill is designed to protect homeowners from being locked into contracts after being solicited at their door for repair work. Under the measure, homeowners would have five business days to cancel a qualifying contract, giving them time to fully review the terms before being bound by the agreement. “There is currently no statute that provides this type of cancellation window,” Adams said. “Even without money changing hands, a verbal contract can be enforceable in Oklahoma. This bill brings clarity and fairness to the process. I appreciate Sen. Kristen Thompson for carrying the bill in the Senate.” The Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act previously passed both the House Civil Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee unanimously. HB3790 is now eligible to be heard in the Senate, where Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three measures authored by Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, are now eligible to be heard on the House floor after receiving unanimous approval from House oversight committees. House Bill 4092 , which addresses Oklahoma’s 988 mental health crisis system, passed the House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously. The bill would establish a statewide 988 Trust Fund to support and maintain a comprehensive 988 Lifeline system and calls for improved use of technology to strengthen coordination and data collection for crisis services. The bill would also designate the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the lead agency for suicide prevention and crisis services and require designated 988 centers to follow national standards. "This measure helps ensure the 988 system does not go away, and that the state can properly support it so that it can continue serve as the lifeline for Oklahomans facing a mental health crisis," Norwood said. House Bill 4095 , which updates governance of the Oklahoma 211 Collaborative, passed the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously after previously advancing through the Children, Youth and Family Services Policy Committee. The Oklahoma 211 Collaborative oversees call centers that connect Oklahomans with services such as food, housing, clothing, transportation and medical assistance. The bill would reduce the collaborative’s governing board from 15 members to nine members and establish staggered initial terms to maintain continuity. "The 211 system plays an important role in connecting people with critical services across our state," Norwood said. "This bill would strengthen the governance structure to help ensure the system remains efficient and accountable in meeting the needs of Oklahomans." House Bill 4302 also passed the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously. The bill allows the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to share a complainant’s identity with law enforcement if that individual makes a threat and disclosure is needed to protect public safety. “House Bill 4302 would give authorities the ability to act when necessary to keep the public safe, while keeping the core responsibilities of the office intact," Norwood said. All three measures are now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

Legislation strengthening protections for victims of child sexual abuse passed the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee today. House Bill 4227, known as "Trey's Law," authored by Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City, ensures perpetrators can be held accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. The legislation voids and makes unenforceable any settlement agreement that conceals details related to claims of child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation. The bill maintains confidentiality for identifying information of victims, while preventing abusers and institutions from hiding behind nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). The measure also provides that prosecutions for sexual crimes against children may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense. “Trey’s Law is about making sure justice is never silenced,” said Kannady. “For too long, NDAs have been used to shield predators and powerful institutions from accountability. This bill ensures that victims are not legally bound to secrecy while their abusers avoid the consequences of their crimes.” The legislation follows the highly publicized case involving Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church, who pleaded guilty in October to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child and is currently in jail in Osage County. The charges stemmed from abuse that occurred in the 1980s in Hominy, Oklahoma when the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was just 12 years old. The legislation was amended Tuesday to become the "Cindy Clemishire Act." Clemishire publicly testified in support of Trey’s Law in recent months and was in the committee Tuesday when the legislation passed. Decades earlier, she sought legal recourse but refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would have permanently barred her from speaking about the abuse. Her decision ultimately allowed her to continue pursuing justice. “My hope is that many victims hear my story and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up," said Clemishire said in a statement released to the press after the guilty plea. "I hope that laws continue to change and new ones are written so children and victim’s rights are better protected. I hope that people understand the only way to stop child sexual abuse is to speak up when it happens or is suspected."