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Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, has passed legislation out of committee to assist inmates leaving state custody with obtaining driver's licenses. House Bill 2364 requires the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to assist inmates in obtaining a noncompliant REAL ID driver license. If an inmate does not or cannot obtain a driver's license, DOC is required to assist them in obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Identification Card. The change updates the Sarah Stitt Act, which Hill passed in 2021 to provide needed documentation and employment services to those leaving incarceration in an effort to reduce Oklahoma's recidivism rate and boost the state's economy. Under the law, DOC is also required to provide inmates with copies of their degrees and certificates, work record, birth certificate, as well as a Social Security card, a resume and documentation that the inmate completed a practice job interview. The act was named for Oklahoma's First Lady Sarah Stitt in recognition for her work to reduce recidivism. "When inmates leave prison fully prepared to enter the workforce and gain housing, our whole state benefits," Hill said. "The likelihood they'll return to prison is significantly lessened because they reenter society with the tools and support they need to make it happen. House Bill 2364 would help American citizens leave Oklahoma prisons with a state driver's license, which will help them access work, housing, grocery stores and other services, and gives them a state ID to be used in securing a job. This not only reduces recidivism but also strengthens Oklahoma’s restorative workforce by helping more people become productive, contributing members of society." HB2364 passed the House Public Safety Committee 5-0 on Wednesday and must be heard by the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee before it may move to the House floor.

The House passed its first bill of the 60th legislative session today prohibiting the use of cell phones by students during the school day. The bill would require Oklahoma school boards to adopt policies prohibiting cell phone use on campus before the start of the next school year. Personal electronic devices, including smartwatches, are also included under the measure. Chairman of the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chad Caldwell authored  House Bill 1276  to eliminate distractions in the classroom and improve student academic outcomes. "The research is clear – cell phone use among young students is not only bad for their mental health, but also hurts academic outcomes," said Caldwell, R-Enid. "To pass legislation this meaningful this early in session with overwhelming bipartisan support is a testament to how important this issue is. Our kids and teachers deserve a phone-free environment at school and we are well on our way to making that a reality." The legislation requires that any policy prohibiting cell phone use must also include a provision for emergency use, including items used for medical issues. The bill also leaves it up to the local district how it chooses to implement the cell phone ban. "This bill protects local control while also allowing kids to be kids and teachers to teach when at school," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "I am proud that our caucus identified this as a priority before session and moved quickly to make this happen." Under HB1276, school boards could choose to allow student cell phone use but the policy must be approved annually. The bill passed the House floor with a vote of 82-9 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Reps. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, and Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, commented on the recent delay in releasing the state audit of Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) and its management of federal relief funds, calling for greater transparency. "I find it unfortunate and deeply frustrating that Tulsa Public Schools delayed the audit findings," Banning said. "I believe many legislators share this concern, and the public has been waiting for two years. They deserve answers and full transparency regarding how their tax dollars were used." The audit, initiated in 2022 at the request of Gov. Kevin Stitt, followed reports of potential financial mismanagement, including questionable expenses within the district's talent management department. Since then, the audit process has faced repeated delays. State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd stated that while her office completed the audit, TPS invoked Oklahoma Statute Title 70, Section 5-127.1, which allows school districts to withhold audit findings for up to two weeks. The report was originally scheduled for release on Tuesday. Hall, whose district includes TPS, commended Auditor Byrd’s work but questioned the district’s decision to postpone public access.   "I appreciate State Auditor Byrd's work on financial transparency in Tulsa Public Schools," Hall said. "It's disappointing that while the audit findings will now be discussed with district officials, the public must wait two more weeks to review these long-awaited findings for themselves." "There has been a long wait for this audit to be released, and it is a disservice to the stakeholders of TPS to not immediately release these audit findings," Tedford said. The full release of the audit is expected within two weeks.

Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, has passed an update to the Successful Adulthood Act, which assists Oklahomans aging out of the state's foster care system, through its first committee. House Bill 2361 adds several provisions to the Act to further assist those Oklahomans as they transition out of foster care into adulthood. It would add a requirement that a child who has been in foster care for at least six months and is about to age out must be provided with their educational transcripts, diplomas and professional certificates earned while under state custody, as well as information on how to obtain health insurance. Additionally, the measure would expand the ages of individuals who can access successful adulthood services after being released from custody due to the entry of an adoption decree or guardianship order. The current age range is 16 to 21, but under HB2361, that age range would be expanded from 14 to 21. "House Bill 2361 strengthens our commitment to helping young Oklahomans smoothly transition out of foster care," Hill said. "By expanding access to resources and ensuring they have the tools they need—like health insurance information, educational records and extended support services—we're empowering them to build stable futures. Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive right here in Oklahoma, and House Bill 2361 means they won't have to navigate this major life change alone." Hill said the bill also includes a new provision modeled after the Sarah Stitt Act, which Hill passed in 2021, which requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide people leaving incarceration with certain documents and identification. Under HB2361, someone in custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) and has since turned 18 and will re-enter society must be provided with certain documentation before being released. Those documents would include an official or certified copy of the United States birth certificate, a social security card, a state-issued driver's license or identification card, any educational transcripts, diplomas, or professional certificates earned while in OJA custody, and information about how to obtain health insurance and personal medical records. "This new addition to the Successful Adulthood Act would ensure that young people leaving state custody have the documents they need to smoothly transition into adulthood and the workforce," Hill said. "By providing these resources, we can ensure they have a significantly stronger chance of securing housing, employment and education, which helps them become productive members of our society and valued members of our communities." HB2361 passed the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee 5-0 and now proceeds to the House Health and Human Services Oversight Committee for consideration.

The Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Committee today approved legislation that would reform the state’s administrative rulemaking process—the system through which state agencies draft regulations to implement laws passed by the Legislature. House Bill 2728 , authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, would establish the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. "This is a crucial first step toward increasing transparency and oversight over an unelected bureaucracy that has incredible influence on how laws are implemented," said Kendrix, R-Altus. "These rules carry the force of law and largely take effect by default, which does not always serve the Oklahoma taxpayers well. This bill will ensure those elected by Oklahomans have greater oversight of the regulations impacting our state." If HB2728 is enacted, all proposed rules would be submitted with an economic impact statement, while proposed rules with a projected fiscal impact of at least $1 million over the first five years would require separate proactive legislative approval. The bill would also establish the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to provide independent reviews of agencies' economic impact statements to ensure accuracy and completeness. This is modeled after many states that have put in place this third-party evaluation system for administrative rules, which has saved millions in cutting excess red tape and ensuring legislative intent is followed. "This simplifies the rulemaking process and ensures agency rules are given a third party thorough review before going into effect," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. HB2728 passed the House A&B Committee unanimously and will next be heard on the House floor. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, today commended the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN) for its dedication to dismantling illegal drug operations across the state. Through relentless enforcement efforts, OBN has successfully executed numerous drug raids, significantly curbing the influence of domestic and transnational criminal organizations. Turner, a former Sheriff and a 22-year veteran law enforcement drug agent, applauds OBN Director Donnie Anderson for his commitment to combating organized crime and illegal drug activity in Oklahoma. “Director Anderson has made it clear—there will be ZERO tolerance for these criminal organizations in our state,” said Turner. "Our OBN agents are on the front lines daily, taking the fight directly to these criminal networks. Their efforts to target and dismantle both domestic and transnational organizations operating within our state are not only commendable but essential to preserving public safety.” In 2021 OBN created full-time Marijuana Enforcement Teams (MET) across Oklahoma to strategically target these criminal operations. The OBN MET Unit has served hundreds of Search and Arrest Warrants as part of numerous investigations over the past three years.   “By 2021, Oklahoma had over 8,400 licensed growers operating across Oklahoma,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “We’ve linked many of these farms to transnational criminal groups from Mexico, China, Armenia, Russia and other countries. Additionally, our investigations into these organizations uncovered evidence of other crimes including labor trafficking, sex trafficking, homicides, fentanyl and precursor drug trafficking, underground gambling operations and world-wide money laundering.”  As a result, OBN registrations for growers dropped from 8,400 in 2021 to approximately 2,400 today. “Oklahoma’s marijuana program is no longer viewed nationally as the so-called ‘wild west of weed,’" said Director Anderson. "Oklahoma now has gained a proud reputation of having some of the most efficient and effective regulatory oversight and criminal enforcement of any medical marijuana state. The industry, itself, has expressed their support and appreciation for our combined efforts to protect the legitimate businesses and drive out the black-market.” House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, also praises OBN, emphasizing their recent impact in his district. “In just the past six months, three major raids have taken place in my district alone, leading to the shutdown of dangerous illegal operations," said Hilbert. "These raids send a clear message—Oklahoma will not be safe haven for organized crime.” Rep. Turner reaffirmed his commitment to supporting law enforcement and ensuring that Oklahoma remains a place where criminal organizations find no safe harbor. “We will continue to provide the necessary resources and legislative support to ensure OBN can carry out its mission effectively. This fight is far from over, but with the continued dedication of our law enforcement agencies, we will win.”

Student athletes with name, image and likeness (NIL) contracts could soon be required to take financial literacy workshops if legislation by Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, becomes law. House Bill 1305 would require colleges and universities to offer financial literacy workshops throughout the year to students with NIL contracts. Student athletes would be required to attend at least five hours of workshops within the first two semesters of participating in NIL activities. Each workshop would include information concerning foundational knowledge of budgeting, taxes, contracts, credit and debt management, savings, investments and entrepreneurship. "NIL opportunities can be life-changing for student athletes, but they also come with serious financial responsibilities," Lowe said. "House Bill 1305 ensures that these athletes are well-prepared to manage their earnings wisely, helping them avoid costly mistakes and set themselves up for long-term financial success." HB1305 would also allow colleges to provide free contract review, tax prep and other financial services to student athletes. Colleges could offer a financial course for credit and contract with third parties to provide the workshops, but HB1306 prohibits promotional referral programs or soliciting. Students who fail to complete the requirements would forfeit their eligibility to participate in NIL activities. HB1305 passed the House Postsecondary Committee 7-1 and may now be heard in the House Education Oversight Committee.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Monday Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, and Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, recognized Lisa Moss, the first woman freed under the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, on the Oklahoma House Floor. "Today, she not only has her freedom but also the chance to be with her great-granddaughter—a moment that wouldn’t have been possible without the provisions we passed to ensure justice could be reconsidered in cases like hers," Williams said. "I’m grateful to the representatives, senators and Governor Stitt for making this a reality. In the end, we choose to forgive because we, too, seek forgiveness." Moss, a survivor of domestic and sexual violence, was granted her freedom on Jan. 8 after 34 years of incarceration. She was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for conspiracy and first-degree felony murder in October 1990 for the death of her husband. The Legislature passed Oklahoma Survivors’ Act in 2024 to allow courts to revisit sentences for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, giving new opportunities to those who were incarcerated under circumstances that were not fully considered at the time of sentencing. Under the Act, her sentence was reduced to 30 years, with credit for time served. That same day, Moss walked out of the courtroom a free woman. During Monday's House session, Williams and Roberts shared Moss’s powerful story of resilience and hope. "We want to extend our deepest gratitude to you Lisa and say welcome to your new beginning in the free world," Roberts said. "Your strength and perseverance through decades of hardship are truly inspiring. Today is not just about regaining your freedom—it’s about reclaiming your future, reuniting with your loved ones and stepping into a life filled with hope and new opportunities. We are honored to witness this moment and celebrate this fresh start with you." Williams and Roberts also recognized the work of The Rise Program, which Moss attended during her incarceration. The Rise Program offers incarcerated individuals a second chance through education and rehabilitation and has achieved zero recidivism for its participants. The group was at the State Capitol Monday for Dept. of Corrections Day.

The House Appropriations Education Subcommittee passed a bill today that would give teachers late in their career the opportunity to earn more money. House Bill 1087 , by House Education Chairman Dick Lowe, would extend the teacher salary schedule through year 35 of service, where it currently caps out at year 25. The legislation aims to encourage teachers who are eligible for retirement yet still in their prime working age to continue to teach. "We know we have a statewide teacher shortage, and we have thousands of great teachers in the classroom we would like to continue to teach past 25 years of service. But currently, there is no financial incentive to do so," said Lowe, R-Amber. "This legislation extends our teacher salary schedule through year 35 with built in step raises so teachers who stay will be financially compensated for their continued service." Right now, a teacher could start his or her career at the age of 22 and reach 25 years of service as early as 47 years old. This legislation would encourage career teachers to stay in the classroom at a time where experienced teachers are needed more than ever. "Many teachers are retiring in their early 50s and going to work in the private sector or for private schools so they can continue to increase their earnings during the last years of their career," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We should be rewarding those career teachers who choose to stay in the classroom and they should continue to see salary increases until they are ready to retire. This legislation should directly help address our state's teacher shortage and keep more quality teachers in the classroom longer." House Bill 1087 unanimously passed out of the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee today and will next be considered by the full Appropriations and Budget Committee.