Representative Jim Grego

R

District 17

Hi, I'm Jim Grego and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 17th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Whip

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Oct 27, 2026
Recent Posts

True Grit Trail Legislation Takes Effect Nov. 1

OKLAHOMA CITY – A law establishing the True Grit Trail in Southeast Oklahoma takes effect Nov. 1. House Bill 1411 is authored by Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton and Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain. "'True Grit' is such a classic American story," Grego said. "It's a tale of determination, a fight for justice and to see wrong's righted, and it contains a fascinating cast of characters from the young and fiery Mattie Ross to the onery and cantankerous but effective Marshall Rooster Cogburn. And much of the story was set right here in Oklahoma. This new trail will give us a way to show off the places made popular in the story and hopefully will draw new visitors to this area of the state. This could positively impact our local hotels, restaurants and other businesses." "True Grit," a novel written by Charles Portis, has since been turned into several movie adaptations. It follows the story of 14-year-old Mattie Ross who hires U.S. Marshall Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn and a Texas Ranger to avenge the murder of her father. The trio trace the murderous gang into what was known as "Indian Territory" in 1878. The movie role of Rooster Cogburn was first played by John Wayne in 1969 and in a 2010 remake by Jeff Bridges. Kim Darby played the original Mattie Ross. Hailee Steinfeld played the character in the 2010 film. Towns and places of interest along the trail include: Sallisaw, Spiro, Bokoshe, McCurtain, Kinta, Quinton, Krebs, McAlester, Hartshorne, Wilburton, Red Oak, Bengal, Talihina, Robbers Cave State Park, and the Talimena National Scenic Byway. "I'm thankful to all those behind the scenes who have worked on establishing the trail so that when the law takes effect, we can get on our way to welcoming visitors" Grego said. Mike Cathey is one of those who has aggressively worked on the trail for the past three years, as the state designation was finding its way through the legislative process. Cathey, a constituent of Grego, provided much of the inspiration for HB1411. He writes a weekly newspaper column and an annual tourism column. This year, with the passage of the True Grit Trail bill, he encouraged readers to find their way to Dardanelle, AR, the fictional home of Mattie Ross, and then traverse the near 260 miles along Arkansas State Highway 22 to Fort Smith, were Mattie travels to engage Deputy Cogburn to help find the man who killed her father. Rooster and Texas Ranger LeBoeuf cross the Arkansas river into Indian Territory (now Oklahoma, traveling through what is now Sallisaw to Spiro and then Oklahoma State Highway 31 as they head toward McAlester, in search of the murderer Tom Chaney as he has been recently seen at J.J. McAlester’s Store. "This journey finds the traveler in the beautiful San Bois Mountains valley, in the now Lake Eufaula region, and following a visit to J.J. McAlester’s Olde Town stomping grounds, into the outlaws’ Robbers Cave and finally in the Winding Stair Mountains of the Ouachita National Forest of southeastern Oklahoma," Cathey writes. "And there is so much more as Charles Portis, I believe, purposely set his novel to parallel the Trail of Tears and the Butterfield Trail." HB1411 was ceremonially signed into law by the governor in August. Cathey and others from Southeast Oklahoma came in costume to the bill signing at the Capitol, each person representing a different character in the story of "True Grit." Cathey said since that time, some dialogue has occurred between the True Grit Trail in Oklahoma group, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department related to signage.  HB1411 requires ODOT to post signs along Oklahoma state highways directing visitors to sites along the new trail. ODOT and the Tourism Department are then required to collaborate to maintain information regarding the True Grit Trail on an online platform. "This is a work in progress," Cathey said.  Cathey and others also have been working on some local events highlighting the trail, such as taking part in the Haunted Homestead Treasure Hunt, which runs again from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, At the Edwards Store and Edwards-Hardaway Homestead, eight miles northeast of Red Oak, along the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail. The group also has worked with the Latimer County Tourism Authority to promote the trail both in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The group also hosts a monthly podcast: "Tales of the True Grit Trail." An additional exciting accomplishment for the group is the integration into the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System's Big Read program , which this year is honoring 250 years of the American story by coming together to read the novel "True Grit" by Charles Portis . The program kicked off Sept. 26 but features many events through the remainder of this year and into 2027. A current primary focus of the True Grit Trail is the population of data and information along the trail from all of the local communities, towns, and cities across Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma, Cathey said. More information about the trail can be found on the website, truegrittrail.com .

Oct 21, 2026
Recent Posts

Grego Visits Angola Prison Rodeo

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, was among a group of Oklahomans who traveled recently to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to view firsthand the Angola Prison Rodeo, the only remaining prison rodeo in the United States. "The purpose of this trip was to gain ideas about what they are doing and how we might apply some of this knowledge as we make an attempt to revive our own prison rodeo at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester," Grego said. "Angola really has their stuff together," he added. "This is so much more than just a rodeo. It is an event drawing 10,000 visitors to each sold-out rodeo." Grego said one estimate shows a total local impact of $1 million for each rodeo held at the prison. Traveling with Grego was his wife, Sandy; Braedon and Kristie Oquin, the latter serves as the chair of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo Restoration Committee; Kevin Beaty, committee vice chair; Willis Pettit, warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester; Michael Davis, CEO and president of Oklahoma Finance Authorities; and Josh Beaty. The group had the opportunity to visit with the commissioner and the first deputy of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Grego said, as well as the warden at the state penitentiary, known as Angola. Grego said for many years, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary held a rodeo that was very popular with inmates and their families as well as staff. It drew visitors from across the nation to Southeast Oklahoma. "The rodeo was discontinued due to a lack of funding and deterioration of the grounds," Grego said. The last rodeo at the prison was held in 2009. Grego has authored legislation the last few years to create a revolving fund to restart the rodeo, but the bills have not made it through the full legislative process. Grego said the measures have support, including from the Department of Corrections, which previously committed to putting $1 million toward the project. Both the City of McAlester and the McAlester Chamber of Commerce are supportive as well, Grego said. The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and recreation also previously committed to promoting the rodeo if it were to again operate. Grego said many professional cowboys also have expressed an interest in holding events at the McAlester prison once the rodeo grounds are restored. He said the Oklahoma Department of Commerce agreed the event would have a positive economic impact on McAlester and surrounding areas of Southeast Oklahoma. "This could bring a return on investment to the Department of Corrections and the state and local economy, and we could all reap the economic reward it would bring," Grego said.

Oct 12, 2026
Recent Posts

Pogemiller, Grego Study Effects of Kratom, THC Drinks on Youth

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, on Monday hosted an interim study on the effects of the marketing and sales of kratom and THC drinks on Oklahoma children. The study, held before the House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee, explored methods of regulation and advocacy in order to better understand the nature of these products and how to protect the state's youth from substances, some of which have been shown to carry high health risks, including death. “I am grateful to the committee for hearing this study today and to Representative Grego for joining me on studying this important issue," Pogemiller said "It’s my responsibility not only as a state representative, but as a mother to ensure Oklahomans are aware of the dangerous and addictive products such as kratom sold in our state that are being advertised to our children. We have work to do to ensure these products are not reaching our youth and that Oklahomans understand the devastating and harmful effects these products have. I’m thankful to all who testified and presented research on this as we look at policy solutions this upcoming legislative session that work to protect Oklahomans from dangerous and accessible substances.”  Grego said he requested to join the study because many of his constituents have shared similar concerns. This included Pittsburg County resident Steve Covington who told study participants about his son who is still undergoing rehabilitation to be free of the effects of kratom and its derivatives. "Hearing Mr. Covington's story about a son whose entire life changed because of this substance, was one reason I asked to be a part of this discussion," Grego said. "Here's a young man who has a wife and children, who had a good job, a nice house and so much more. Yet addiction to this product that was marketed as a natural substance that could boost his energy and help with soreness has almost ruined him. We've got to consider what we can do as a state to better address this." Study presenters, including Donnie Anderson, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, shared that kratom is marketed as a plant-based herbal supplement made from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Consumers claim it can be an energy booster, a mood lifter, a pain reliever or a relaxant that can have both sedative and stimulant effects, depending on dosage. Kratom is often paired with additives such as mitragynine, an active alkaloid, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. The products are easy to find in convenience stores and gas stations across the state, and they are easy for teens to purchase, according to numerous study presenters. The products themselves, especially with derivatives combined with other substances, however, can carry high risk of addiction and negative health consequences, including death, according to Chief and Deputy Chief Forensic Toxicologists Dr. Jesse Kemp and Dr. Kacey Cliburn with the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Cliburn shared that mitragynine was listed as a contributory factor on 44 Oklahoma death certificates from 2021 to 2025. Between January 2025 and June this year, mitragynine and or an alkaloid were listed as a factor in 42 deaths, so the problem is growing. She said the laboratory began identifying more cases with the potent alkaloids in early 2026 and issued a public service alert in May. Mitragynine is now among the top five drugs listed for cause of overdose death along with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol. "Our office has never experienced a situation like this, in which an uncontrolled, over-the-counter commercial product has displaced a drug in the top five listed in the cause of death," Cliburn said . Several constituents of the representatives shared personal stories during the study. Angela Goins spoke of the death of her brother who she said became addicted to kratom pills that had dangerous additives. She said the research she had to do to discover the true effects of the derivatives was overwhelming and said it is too hard for law enforcement or lawmakers to keep up with the constantly changing over-the-counter products that are available to Oklahomans. "For my family, this isn't an abstract discussion about chemistry, it's the reason my brother is gone," Goins said . Tiffany Sprague said her daughter became addicted to a kratom drink that was marketed to her as a natural herbal supplement that could help her with energy, weight loss and pain relief as she pursued competitive dancing. Her daughter, Isabella Gardner, and 19-year-old Braxton Bunch shared stories of addiction, detox and the long fight for sobriety. Presenter Frank Turner said he's worked in the field of addiction for more than 25 years, and he's the guy that gets the call from family members asking for help. "Drugs are killing our kids," Turner said. "And how many of us have to die for us to make some drastic changes? There are more drugs in schools than on the streets of Oklahoma. We send our kids to school and think that they're learning, but what they're learning in school is how to get high." Judge Kenneth Stoner, a district judge who works in Oklahoma County Home Treatment Courts, shared additional statistics and risks. Tane Webb, a substance use policy analyst with the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, which has offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, explained that while kratom products are readily available over the counter in many Oklahoma gas stations and vape shops, many consumers are unaware of undisclosed synthetic ingredients that carry significant risk. Webb said that while Oklahoma has a Kratom Consumer Protection Act on the books, enforcement of regulations has not kept pace with the changing landscape. His recommendations include increasing the legal purchasing age to 20-plus and prohibiting free or promotional distribution; updating Oklahoma law to limit legal kratom products from natural plant material; establishing consistent standards for alkaloid limits and measurement of concentrations; broadening the scope of enforcement beyond kratom and expanding state capacity for product testing; and increasing education among health care providers, vendors and the public; among others. Michella Carter, technical manager of the Seized Drug Unit, and Melissa Brous, technical manager of the Forensic Toxicology Unit with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, shared costs of kratom testing in Oklahoma – almost $2.7 million in one-time costs and almost $800,000 annually recurring. Former Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, also addressed study participants saying state residents have been down this road plenty of times in the past with marijuana, opioids and other substances. "If you are really interested in saving Oklahoman's lives; if you are really interested in keeping Oklahoma families from being destroyed, then outlaw all of it," he encouraged. The study can be viewed on the House website under News & Media, Live Proceedings. Search the calendar for Oct. 12, Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances, 9:30 a.m. -END- Ellen Pogemiller serves District 88 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes part of Oklahoma County. Jim Grego serves District 17, which includes Latimer County and part of Pittsburg County.