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OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, on Tuesday passed legislation in the House that would increase punishments for foreign terrorists or non-citizens who commit crimes in the state. House Bill 3764 would double the time and fine for individuals convicted of committing a crime who were a member of a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the U.S. Department of Justice, at the time of the crime. Under House Bill 3765 , any non-citizen convicted of a felony would face a five year term in prison and a fine of at least $1,000. Additionally, they could be required to forfeit any land they own. "These measures put on notice anyone associated with a foreign terrorist organization or anyone illegally owning property in the state, that they will face enhanced fines, prison time and loss of their property," Turner said. "Any non-citizen in our state should either be here through legal method or be applying for citizenship through the proper process." HB 3764, titled the "Foreign Terrorist Organization Felony Enhancement Act," would provide penalty enhancements for anyone convicted of a felony offense who are proven to be a member of or acting on behalf of or supporting a designated foreign terrorist organization. The sentence would be at least twice the maximum sentence that could be imposed for a first offense, while the fine is to be at least twice the maximum fine for the underlying felony offense. HB3765 specifies that any non-citizen who unlawfully acquired title to or owns land through a business entity, trust or foreign government enterprise could be required to forfeit any land or property if convicted of a felony crime. Both bills now advance to the state Senate. HB3764 is authored by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain. HB3765 is authored by Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House that would require all youth camps to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment prior to licensure or renewal and to develop an emergency action plan. The plan specified in House Bill 1675 must include response protocols for each severe weather hazard applicable to the site, evacuation routes and other items outlined in the measure. "We all watched in horror last year as a catastrophic flood took the lives of 25 young campers, two counselors and a director at a camp in Texas," Cantrell said. "In Oklahoma, we're all too aware of the threat of severe weather. Camp should be about making memories, having fun, enjoying some of the best days of your life. By having these site-specific emergency plans in place ahead of licensing, we give parents and all involved more peace of mind that campers will be taken care of in the event of severe weather. We all want camp to be the enjoyable and safe experience it's designed to be." Under the measure, youth camps would be required to maintain two independent methods of receiving severe weather alerts, an internal communication system, procedures for notifying guardians, and provide access to shelters. Potential threats of severe weather and emergency response procedures must be disclosed to all participants. Camp staff are required to receive annual emergency procedure and hazard recognition training and conduct periodic drills. A copy of the emergency action plan must be kept on file with the applicable local emergency management agency. Local emergency management agencies are authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions and can impose corrective action plans, civil penalties, and suspend or revoke licensure for material noncompliance. HB1675 advanced from the House on a vote of 91-2. It has been referred for engrossment to the State Senate where it is authored by Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, on Tuesday secured House passage of a bill that would increase the services dental assistants and hygienists are allowed to perform for patients. House Bill 3934 also would expand the list of recognized accrediting agencies.  "We're attempting to fill some gaps throughout all of Oklahoma where people lack access to dentists and hygienists," Smith said. "If this bill is signed into law, it would mean people could get necessary dental care where they are instead of traveling long distances or suffering without treatment." Smith explained the bill was put together with the help of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, the Oklahoma Dental Hygiene Association and the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Among other changes, the measure would remove language that would permit a dental assistant to assist the dentist only under the direct supervision or direct visual supervision and control of the dentist. A dental assistant instead would be allowed to work under general supervision of a dentist to assist a dental hygienist with a procedures that the hygienist is allowed to perform under general supervision. The measure also seeks to update the definition of treatment facility to include a church with a non-profit clinic. In addition, the measure would allow a patient of record to be established by teledentistry for emergency or hygiene treatment if the patient is physically located at the office or facility and the dentist is not readily available. The bill passed the House on a vote of 94-1 and now advances to the State Senate where it is authored by Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously passed the Common Cents Act, which would allow and later require certain public cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel. Authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, House Bill 3075 , would apply only to public payments made in cash, or the portion of a payment made in cash and would not affect private sector transactions. Payments made by check, debit card, credit card or other electronic methods would not be subject to rounding. "This is a simple, practical solution that reflects how people are already using cash today," Hildebrant said. "This idea came directly from a constituent of mine, Rogers County Treasurer Jason Carini, who recognized the need for clear statutory authority allowing state agencies and political subdivisions to round cash transactions following the discontinuation of the penny. I appreciate my colleagues for their unanimous support in moving this forward." Under the measure, political subdivisions could choose to implement cash rounding from the bill’s effective date through July 1, 2027. 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 allows political subdivisions to determine how any overages or shortages are managed within their funds. HB3075 now moves to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, this week secured House passage of House Bill 3047 and House Bill 3057 , a pair of measures aimed at improving transparency, organization and efficiency of state agency reporting to the Legislature. House Bill 3047 requires state agencies to submit statutorily required reports electronically to the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), which will create and maintain a centralized online system to track and store those reports.  Under HB3047, LOFT will index required reports, track whether they’ve been submitted and notify lawmakers when reports are available, making it easier to access important information in one place.  House Bill 3057 works alongside HB3047 by eliminating outdated and functionally obsolete reporting requirements currently in statute. In many cases, the reports are tied to programs that no longer exist, creating unnecessary work for agencies.  "Right now, reports can be hard to track down because they’re spread across different places," Tedford said. "That slows things down. At the same time, we’ve got agencies spending time on reports tied to programs that don’t even exist anymore. These bills clean that up, put everything in one place and help us focus on the information that actually matters."  Tedford said the measures are a practical step toward modernizing state processes without adding cost to taxpayers.  "We’re not reinventing the wheel here," he said. "We’re just using the tools we already have to bring some order and accountability to the process. It’s a simple fix that will save time and improve transparency for both lawmakers and the public."  The measures have no anticipated fiscal impact and can be implemented using existing staff and resources.  HB3047 and HB3057 now move to the Senate for further consideration. Senate authors are Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, for HB3057 and John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, for HB3047.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation authored by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, to support first responders who suffer serious medical emergencies after strenuous duty work passed the Oklahoma House floor today. House Bill 4260 would allow firefighters, peace officers and emergency medical technicians to receive workers’ compensation benefits if they experience a heart attack or stroke within eight hours of completing a shift involving strenuous emergency response activity or training. "I am glad my colleagues understand the importance of this bill and that when our first responders run toward danger, they put more than their safety on the line," Hays said. "The physical strain of fighting a fire, pursuing a suspect or responding to a medical emergency can take a serious toll on the heart. This bill simply recognizes that reality and ensures they are not left fighting for benefits after giving everything on the job." Under the bill, qualifying incidents must occur following activities such as fire suppression, rescue operations, law enforcement response, hazardous material incidents or emergency medical care, as well as related training exercises. The legislation would apply to first responders employed by the state or a political subdivision and does not include clerical or administrative duties. HB4260 also includes a sunset date of Nov. 1, 2031, to allow lawmakers to review the fiscal impact of the policy. If signed into law, the measure would take effect Nov. 1. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan, filed a concurrent resolution recognizing Oklahoma native Chuck Norris for a lifetime of achievement and contributions to the state and nation. The measure was heard on the House floor Monday and adopted. "Chuck Norris is one of our own, and his story is something Oklahomans can really take pride in," Adams said. "From serving our country to becoming a global name in martial arts and entertainment, he’s always carried himself with strength and character. This resolution is just a small way to recognize all he’s accomplished and the example he continues to set." House Concurrent Resolution 1021 honors Norris, who was born March 10, 1940, in Ryan, for his impact as a serviceman, martial artist, actor and philanthropist. Norris served in the United States Air Force, where he first demonstrated the discipline and commitment that would define his career. He later became a world-renowned martial artist, earning multiple championships and helping bring martial arts into the national spotlight. He went on to achieve international recognition as an actor, starring in numerous films and the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger," becoming a cultural figure known across generations. In addition to his work in entertainment, Norris has supported numerous philanthropic efforts, including programs focused on youth development and character education. Through HCR1021, the Oklahoma Legislature formally honors Norris' contributions to the arts, athletics and charitable causes. The measure now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan package of reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of taxpayer dollars and reinforcing ethical standards in state and local government passed the House floor today and now heads to the Senate for further consideration. The initiative is led by Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, who worked with members of both parties after concerns surfaced about gaps in government spending oversight. Lawmakers also collaborated with State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd following an audit that identified $93.4 million in questionable expenditures over the past year. "I appreciate the House’s support and recognition of the need for these bills," Strom said. "Ultimately, the responsibility to act falls on us as lawmakers, and as chair of the General Government Committee, I take that responsibility seriously. These measures are about identifying inaccuracies, addressing them directly and eliminating fraud, waste and abuse within our agencies. When we approve funding, we must ensure those dollars are going exactly where they are intended. I look forward to advancing these measures to the Senate and working with Senate authors to get them across the finish line and signed into law." Lawmakers who worked alongside Strom on the bills include 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 reform package includes the following measures: House Bill 3413 would expand transparency in state agency contracting by requiring agencies to publicly list contractors, contract values and project status. It would also mandate posting consultant reports and disclosing whether contracts are for outside services or to supplement staffing. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville. House Bill 3414 would direct the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to improve accounting systems to distinguish between service contracts and staff augmentation clearly. It also requires permanent documentation for digital and intangible assets purchased by agencies. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City. House Bill 3415 would require vendors to disclose subcontractors, set stronger documentation standards and mandate post-project reviews to confirm work was completed on time and within budget. The bill also creates a publicly accessible database of state contracts. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. 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. The Senate author of the measure is also Sen. Daniels. 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. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson. 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. The Senate author of the measure is also Sen. Alvord. House Bill 3419 would strengthen 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. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Jack Stewart, R-Yukon. 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. The Senate author of the measure is Sen. Carrie Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. A video of Strom presenting the bills on the House floor is available here .

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed House Bill 4425, authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, establishing the Good Faith Reporting for Child Protection Act to encourage prompt reporting of sexually inappropriate conduct involving minors while protecting those who report in good faith. House Bill 4425 provides civil liability protection for charitable organizations and volunteers who report suspected sexually inappropriate conduct involving a minor, provided the report is made in good faith and follows clear reporting guidelines. To qualify for the protections, the report must be made within 72 hours to both law enforcement and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The legislation also creates a presumption of good faith when a report is made in accordance with an organization’s established reporting policy defining sexually inappropriate conduct. The immunity does not apply to individuals reporting their own misconduct. Speaker Hilbert said the bill is designed to ensure adults feel supported and obligated to speak up quickly when a child may be in danger. “Protecting children must always come first,” said Hilbert. “This bill makes it clear that when someone sees warning signs of inappropriate conduct involving a child, they should report it immediately. By protecting those who act in good faith, we’re removing barriers that might prevent someone from speaking up and ensuring potential abuse is reported as quickly as possible.” Representative Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, also helped champion the legislation. “House Bill 4425 sends a clear message that protecting children must always come first,” Duel said. “This bill empowers people to speak up when they see suspicious behavior involving a child and establishes clear standards for how those reports are made. Just as importantly, it protects those who act in good faith and ensures law enforcement receives critical information quickly so potential threats can be addressed before a child is harmed.” Both the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptists applaud this legislation. "I commend Speaker Hilbert's legislation and his leadership in protecting children from abuse," said Archbishop Coakley. It is imperative that we encourage all adults aware of potential abuse to swiftly report their concerns without fear to proper authorities to ensure children are protected." “It is essential that children are protected from harm, and a key to help in that is to create a culture of timely reporting and accountability," said Dr. Todd Fisher, Executive Director-Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists. "This bill does just that.”  House Bill 4425 now advances to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.