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The Oklahoma House of Representatives has advanced House Bill 3742, aimed at strengthening constitutional protections and improving fairness in the state’s criminal justice system. HB3742 , named the "The Due Process Protection Act," authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, updates Oklahoma’s Criminal Discovery Code to clarify disclosure requirements and adjust timelines for resolving discovery issues in criminal cases. Harris said the measure is designed to ensure that both prosecutors and defense attorneys have access to necessary evidence earlier in the legal process, helping prevent delays and ensuring defendants receive their constitutional right to fair and speedy trials. "When prosecutors and defense attorneys have clear rules and timely access to evidence, it helps prevent unnecessary delays and ensures cases move forward based on the facts," Harris said. "The Due Process Protection Act strengthens Oklahoma’s discovery process so both sides can properly prepare while protecting the constitutional rights of defendants." Harris said he collaborated on the bill with numerous stakeholders, including district attorneys, law enforcement partners and attorneys in private practice.  HB3742 passed the House unanimously and proceeds to the Senate for additional consideration. It is authored in the Senate by Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation by Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, which aims to ease property tax burdens for seniors across the state. House Joint Resolution 1081 seeks voter approval of a constitutional amendment to remove the income requirement for seniors to qualify for Oklahoma’s property tax freeze program, allowing more seniors to freeze their home’s taxable value and avoid increases tied to rising property values. "This is about recognizing that many seniors are living on fixed incomes, even if they do not fall under an arbitrary income cap," Manger said. "They have worked their entire lives, paid into their homesteads and should not be priced out of their homes because of rising property values." Under current law, seniors age 65 and older may freeze the taxable value of their homestead, but only if they meet certain income limits. HJR1081 would eliminate that income threshold, allowing eligibility to be based primarily on age and residency. The measure would require homeowners to be at least 65 years old, have occupied the property as a homestead for at least seven years, and have a fair cash value of $700,000 or less. Manger said the decision should ultimately rest with the people, since it is their money. "This ultimately comes down to letting the people decide," Manger said. "This is their money, and they deserve a say in whether this protection is expanded to more Oklahoma seniors." Manger has worked on ad valorem tax relief affecting seniors for more than six years during his time in the House and believes the proposal reflects a commonsense approach to tax relief. "When property values go up, it may look good on paper, but it can create real pressure for seniors trying to stay in their homes," Manger said. "This is why I have worked on property tax relief for several years. This is a meaningful step toward helping more seniors stay in their homes with stability and peace of mind by ensuring their property taxes do not continue to climb year after year." If approved by the Senate, HJR1081 would be placed on a statewide ballot for a vote of the people. The measure is now eligible to be heard in the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, this week secured House passage of a bill that would strengthen mandatory child abuse reporting requirements in schools. This measure would require that any allegation of abuse or neglect by a private or public school employee be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.   House Bill 2959  would require that law enforcement be notified prior to any formal investigation by the school or school board or the questioning of the subject of the accusation. Bashore said this is to ensure that trained individuals are aware of the misconduct and able to properly investigate the situation.   “We want to assure students that when they report an instance of abuse, allegations will be thoroughly investigated," Bashore said. "Our response to these reports needs to be immediate and thorough. It is our job to prioritize and protect our students from child predators. We take this responsibility seriously.”  HB2959 specifies that law enforcement must be notified and have the opportunity to interview the involved parties first, unless law enforcement determines an immediate school response is necessary to protect student safety. It also would not relieve any person of the duty to report to law enforcement because of the resignation, termination, transfer or other separation from employment of the subject of the allegation. Bashore said the measure would not limit the ultimate action or decision-making power of school authorities. It only would require that law enforcement be involved in their current process, so that allegations can be properly investigated. This measure passed the House unanimously March 24. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed House Bill 2933 , authored by Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks.  The measure increases transparency in Oklahoma’s insurance market while strengthening protections for policyholders navigating the claims process.  "We ask people to carry insurance to protect what matters most to them," Tedford said. "When that protection is needed, the process ought to be clear, consistent and easy to follow."  HB2933 requires insurers to submit detailed quarterly reports to the Oklahoma Insurance Department, including data on policies, cancellations, claims activity and dispute resolution efforts. The bill also makes this information publicly available, providing greater visibility into industry trends and insurer practices.  In addition, the measure establishes a Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, improves timelines for claim responses and payments and ensures clearer communication between insurers and policyholders.  Tedford said the bill is about restoring confidence in a system people rely on during difficult times.  "A system works best when everyone understands it and can rely on it," Tedford said. "This puts structure around the process and helps bring a little more predictability to something that can otherwise feel uncertain."  The bill also strengthens enforcement authority for the Insurance Commissioner and updates consumer protections related to policy cancellations, rate increases and claims handling practices.  HB2933 now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where Sen. Aaron Reinhardt, R-Jenks, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today the Oklahoma House passed House Bill 4420 strengthening the Strong Reader’s Act and ensuring our students can read by the third grade.  The legislation includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports; accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade; giving 2nd graders the option of taking the state test; expanded teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes; new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers; a new funding formula that supports all students, while also giving additional funds to students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth; and creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships. “Our goal is to have the strongest reading bill in the country,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and author of the bill. “This bill is not a partisan issue - we all want our kids to read by the third grade. This legislation balances accountability with support for teachers, schools and parents, all of whom play an important role in teaching a child to read. We are taking what we have seen states like Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana do - with similar state demographics - and building upon it to make our law even stronger and unique to our students’ needs.” The legislation has received overwhelming support, largely because the statistics around Oklahoma’s reading levels are alarming. In 2015, Oklahoma students performed near the national average in reading. Today, we trail peer states by more than a full grade level. Based on Spring 2025 testing, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are reading at or above grade level. “Before third grade, students learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. When that transition does not happen, the consequences compound quickly and follow students for life,” said Hilbert. “ We want to talk about career pathways and dream jobs for our students, but our children will be perpetually underemployed if they cannot read. Oklahoma has already taken important steps, and I am proud of the work our educators are doing. But we must be honest about where our current approach falls short and make immediate shifts to ensure more of our students are reading on grade level.” The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 86-6 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, has been appointed to serve on the Human Services and Public Safety Committee of the Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) for a one-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026. "I am honored to be selected to serve on this committee by Speaker Hilbert to represent Oklahoma in these important conversations," Roe said. "Issues related to human services and public safety directly impact families across our state, especially in our rural communities. I look forward to working with fellow legislators to share ideas and develop solutions that make a difference." As a committee member, Roe will collaborate with legislators and policy experts from across the region to address key issues, participate in policy discussions and help guide the committee’s work. Members are responsible for attending meetings and sessions at the annual Southern Legislative Conference, contributing to policy discussions and serving as a resource for their state. "This appointment gives Oklahoma a strong voice at the table as we work with other states facing many of the same challenges," Roe said. "By sharing best practices and learning from one another, we can better serve our constituents back home." Roe serves as chair of the Oklahoma House Public Health Committee and has more than 40 years of experience as a nurse and nurse practitioner in her rural District 42. She is also among the few members of the Oklahoma House with a professional background in health care. CSG South hosts the Southern Legislative Conference each year, bringing together lawmakers and staff from across the region to discuss emerging policy issues, exchange ideas and strengthen partnerships among member states. The 2026 Southern Legislative Conference, which will be held July 11-15 in Lexington, Kentucky.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, on Thursday won unanimous passage in the House of a measure that would send to a vote of the people a question asking to freeze ad valorem taxes for people whose homes have been destroyed by natural disaster. House Joint Resolution 1046 would ask Oklahoma voters to consider freezing property taxes for one year if a home is destroyed by fire, tornado, earthquake or other meteorological events. To qualify for the exemption, the event must render a person's primary residence uninhabitable for at least six consecutive months and would be applicable based on when the damage occurred. If the damage occurs on or before June?1, the full exemption applies during that tax year; if it happens after June?1, the exemption applies in the following tax year. "If a person's home is destroyed, they should not have to continue to pay property taxes until they can live in it again," Smith said. "This common-sense measure would just grant property owners some relief in the event of natural disaster." Smith lost his family home in a fire several years ago. While this measure would not benefit him, he said the experience helped him understand the challenges faced by those who are displaced for long periods from their dwellings. The measure passed the House on a vote of 92-0. It now moves the State Senate where it is authored by Sen. Bryan Logan, R-Paden. If approved by the State Senate, HJR1046 will move to the Secretary of State who would be directed to refer a state question to the people for their approval or rejection on a future state ballot. The proposal would amend Section 6 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation, authored Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, aimed at increasing transparency and seeking public input in the planning of turnpike projects passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives today. House Bill 1939 would establish additional oversight, reporting requirements and opportunities for public input in the planning of new turnpike projects. The measure would require the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to work more closely with local governments, provide additional notice to residents near proposed routes, and hold public meetings on major project decisions in compliance with the state’s Open Meetings Act. Sterling said the bill is designed to ensure Oklahomans have a stronger voice in infrastructure decisions that directly impact their communities. "When you are talking about major projects like turnpikes, the public deserves to be informed and involved from the very beginning," Sterling said. "This bill brings more transparency to the process and makes sure local communities are not left out of decisions that affect their property, their roads and their future." The measure would also require detailed studies before new turnpikes are proposed, including analysis of potential routes, economic impact and environmental considerations. Property owners within a defined area of a proposed project would receive direct notification under the measure. "This is about putting a structure in place that is open to the public and accountable," Sterling said. "We want to make sure these projects are thoroughly vetted and that taxpayers can have a voice during the process every step of the way." Under HB1939, newly authorized turnpike projects would expire if key planning steps are not completed within a set timeframe, helping prevent projects from lingering indefinitely without progress. "This ensures these projects don’t sit on the books without any sort of progress," Sterling said. "If we’re going to move forward with something as significant as these projects are, they need to be done in a timely manner." The measure now advances to the Senate, where Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman is the Senate author.

Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, has passed legislation aimed at protecting parental rights and providing clarity in the state's child welfare and adoption laws through the House. House Bill 3586 , known as the "Right to Raise Act," would ensure that individuals cannot be denied the opportunity to become adoptive or foster parents based solely on the individual's desire to raise or reference a child by their biological sex. The bill also specifies that such actions alone cannot be considered child abuse or neglect. Harris said the legislation reinforces parents’ rights while ensuring Oklahoma’s child welfare laws remain focused on protecting children. "Parents should not have to worry that expressing their sincerely held beliefs or using biologically accurate language could be mischaracterized as a crime," Harris said. "House Bill 3586 provides important clarity in statute and protects the fundamental right of parents to raise their children without unnecessary government interference." HB3586 passed the House with a vote of 75–15 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.