Representative Chad Caldwell

R

District 40

Hi, I'm Chad Caldwell and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 40th District.


representative

News & Announcements

Nov 7, 2023
Recent Posts

Rep. Chad Caldwell Supports Gov.'s Sports Betting Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, today praised Gov. Kevin Stitt's plan to bring sports betting to Oklahoma. "I wholeheartedly support the governor's plan for sports betting in Oklahoma. As someone who has worked on this topic for some time, I recognize the governor’s proposal is an important step in what I’m sure will be a lengthy process. The governor's plan is an equitable one that benefits all Oklahomans, making it fairer and more inclusive than our current gaming system. By opening the industry to all companies, we are not only embracing new sources of revenue, but also joining thirty-five other states who are already taking advantage of the benefits that come with sports betting. I firmly believe this is a win-win for the state and the tribes, and I look forward to working with Governor Stitt and our tribal partners in the upcoming session to advance legislation for the betterment of our great state.” Gov. Stitt released details of his plan Nov. 2. His plan would allow Oklahomans to place in-person bets at gaming sites operated by federally recognized tribes, protecting tribal investments in brick-and-mortar facilities in the process. It would also allow Oklahomans to place bets on their mobile devices on sportsbooks licensed by the state. Additionally, the plan protects Oklahoma’s student-athletes by prohibiting prop betting and bets on individual student-athlete performance. The governor’s plan prohibits wagers on the individual performance of student-athletes, coaches, referees, player injuries, and prop bets at the college level. With that said, the Governor is actively awaiting input from the NCAA and athletic conferences that impact Oklahoma to see how they choose to regulate the industry. Mobile wagering will be conducted by organizations licensed by the State of Oklahoma, taxed at a 20% rate, and bets may be accepted from anywhere in the state. An initial licensing fee for participating organizations of $500,000 will be required, in addition to a $100,000 annual fee. Pursuant to updated tribal gaming compacts, retail wagering can be conducted by federally recognized tribes, taxed at a 15% rate, and bets will only be accepted in person. A fact sheet on Governor Stitt's sports betting plan can be found here .

Feb 14, 2023
Recent Posts

Curriculum Transparency Portal Bill Passes Subcommittee

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would require the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to create a website allowing parents and others to review and comment on curriculum, textbooks, and library materials used at their local schools passed the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee for Education on Monday. House Bill 2077 is authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid. "As the conversation continues to be about what is being taught to children in our public schools, this seemed a commonsense solution," Caldwell said. "Let's make all curriculum and lessons publicly available through a centralized database while lessening the burden on our teachers and our schools." Caldwell explained to committee members that currently if a parent has a question about a book or material being taught in their child's classroom, the school typically holds a one-on-one meeting with them to answer questions or allow for the review of material. The website created in his legislation would create one place where parents or other community members could see the material being taught by grade level in their local school, and would allow them to comment publicly on the material. "This is about empowering parents," Caldwell said. "But it in no way dictates what the content should be, and it doesn't change any policies. Schools will still have the freedom to choose what curriculum they select and what books they carry in the library. But that will now be more easily accessible to the public." The bill specifies that the website created must include an easy-to-use interface for school district employees to upload content. It must also allow for public and private comment by users with real-time processing of comments, reviews, and feedback. Caldwell said it will be up to the OSDE working with schools to determine policies regarding how public comments will be addressed. HB2077 is now eligible to be considered by the full House A&B Committee. -END-

Oct 19, 2022

Caldwell Still Waiting on Education Accounting for Billions of Federal Relief Dollars

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, said he's been waiting almost two months for information requested from State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister to give an accounting of how billions of federal relief dollars have been spent to benefit Oklahoma students. Caldwell sent a letter Sept. 1 to Hofmeister, copying her general counsel Brad Clark, requesting records related to federal COVID relief dollars. He specifically asked for the total amount of federal dollars received; total amount distributed; how much remains unspent; a description of each program receiving funds and the school districts impacted; as well as a description of the process of how each program was selected, including any related bidding process. He also asked for the total amount of encumbered funds, a list of programs those funds are encumbered for, and the distribution schedule for those funds. He requested the information by Sept. 30, giving the department the entirety of the month to produce the information. ""This is information that should be easy to get,"" Caldwell said. ""Yet the state department has failed to comply with a simple request for information. Legislators hear from our schools all the time about the need for more funding, and it appears we have money that has yet to be distributed to help them meet their needs. Unfortunately, due to the lack of response from the department of education, there is no way for us to know how much we have already spent or what to tell our schools about how much help is still to come. We have no accounting of where we are in the process."" Caldwell said he requested this information at the beginning of the school year. ""We are now more than halfway through the first semester, and I still don't know which schools have received this money or how it will benefit our students. I and other Oklahomans deserve to know how these funds are being disbursed."" Caldwell said he received an email Sept. 2 from Carolyn Thompson, director of government affairs and deputy chief of staff at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, saying his request had been received and the department would begin working to compile the information and hoped to have it to him by the end of September. On Oct. 3, he received a follow-up email saying they were still working on gathering the information requested and he should have it by the end of that week, Oct. 7. He is still waiting to receive the records. ""Unfortunately, this feels like there is a pattern here of the department being less than transparent,"" he said. He pointed to an earlier appeal by himself and 22 other lawmakers that the governor request an audit of the State Department of Education following a report from State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd that noted several deficiencies within the department. That on-going audit was called ""an attack"" by Superintendent Hofmeister. Several reports show the learning loss from COVID was extreme for Oklahoma students, with test scores the past few years well below pre-pandemic levels. The federal dollars were promised toward reading, math and other programs that could help students recover the loss, Caldwell said. ""It's imperative we get this money to our schools to help our students recover from the harm caused from the decision to close down our schools,"" he said, ""It's equally important that Oklahomans know how this public money is being spent.""