Representative Denise Crosswhite Hader

R

District 41

Hi, I'm Denise Crosswhite Hader and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 41st District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Caucus Secretary

58th Legislature

Assistant Majority Whip

59th Legislature

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Nov 5, 2025
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House Studies Property Tax Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY – Lawmakers, veterans, those representing seniors and the aging, tax experts and others gathered Tuesday before the House Appropriations & Budget Finance Subcommittee to discuss property tax reform. The combined interim study was requested by Reps. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, and Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore. "Many of us have heard lots of concern about people being priced out of their homes due to rising property taxes," Crosswhite Hader said. "There are some functions government has to fund, but we wanted to bring people together to discuss current law and where we might improve, especially for our veterans and senior citizens." Townley added, "We know this is a big topic and very in-depth. We're so grateful for everyone who joined us for this study. We know that if we do reduce ad valorem in any way in one area, we have to determine how to replace that money to continue vital services for all Oklahomans. At the end of the day, we just want to do better for all Oklahomans." Study attendees first heard from retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stanley Sieg, a 100% disabled veteran. He shared his personal experience with receiving and then losing the veterans' property tax exemption when he moved mid-year within the City of Edmond. He said he was unaware his exemption would not automatically follow him. He was able to work with his county tax assessor to reapply for the exemption and reconcile the amount of back taxes for which he was billed. He asked lawmakers to consider changes in the law to make the exemptions portable or to at least improve communication with Oklahoma taxpayers. Matt Wehmuller, the county assessor for Canadian County, explained that property tax is the largest source of local funding, with 85% going to public education, and 15% going to counties for public safety and other local services, including administration. Property taxes, however, are not used for county roads and bridges. Dr. Brad Ward, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity, showed data exposing the rising burdens of property tax within Oklahoma as opposed to the surrounding region. Ward said while Oklahoma's current property tax rate is competitive with surrounding states, coming in third, the state's rising rate is actually the fastest growing in the region. That is alarming, he said. He suggested some of this might be due to efforts the state made to standardize property valuations among the state's 77 counties, causing a spike for those that had been under valuation for years. Another factor is school bond elections – 43 passed in 2023 and 15 of 19 passed a month ago. Another presenter, Kerry Ross, the county assessor for Carter County, said litigation cases against cities and counties also can play a role in rising property tax rates. Doug Kellogg, state projects director with Americans for Tax Reform, said rising home values are significant as well. Jim Randall, chairman of the Oklahoma State Council on Aging, asked if it's time to bring all parties together to take a comprehensive look at the state's tax structure to see what is equitable for everyone. He said property owners, specifically seniors and others on a fixed income, should be protected from rising costs, while acknowledging local services do need to be funded. Wehmuller explained how property taxes and exemptions are calculated, discussing how annually capping tax increases at 3% and 5%, depending on the type of property owned, until full-market value is reached, protects property owners even more than the standard $1,000 homestead exemption. He also explained the difference between exemptions and freezes and how those who have had their property taxes frozen can still be impacted by large bond elections or litigation. Kellogg shared Florida's zero-income tax structure and a ballot question to remove property tax. He said Florida is known as one of the most tax friendly states in the nation, getting most of its funding through sales and excise taxes. They've also adopted a truth in taxation, or truth in millage, policy that requires public hearings and input before new taxes are assessed. Telling taxpayers clearly when their taxes are going up and where the money will go is essential, he said. State spending is another key, Kellogg said. If local governments had kept spending in line with population growth and inflation, they would be in much better shape today. He ended with a warning against giving local governments a tax revenue source that local voters did not approve. Corey Jager, tax policy manager with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, rounded out the day's discussion with an overview of property tax exemptions, freezes and credits and estimated revenue impacts for changes for seniors or veterans. Much of property tax law is enshrined in the state's Constitution and therefore would require a vote of the people to change. Yager also discussed the loss of revenue that would occur if property tax were eliminated and gave some alternative funding suggestions, including the possibility of taxing services not currently taxed. The full study can be viewed here . 

Aug 19, 2025
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Crosswhite Hader, Hasenbeck Celebrate Signing of Bill Ending Funding for DEI in Higher Ed

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, today participated in a ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 796 , which eliminates public funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs across Oklahoma’s higher education institutions. Crosswhite Hader is the House author of the legislation. The bill was signed into law in May but was ceremonially signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt today. Also attending the ceremony was U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and the bill's Senate author, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. Ceremonial bill signings allow lawmakers and others who are influential in legislation to attend. "Taken on their own, the words diversity, equity and inclusion sound wonderful, but as a philosophy these programs are embedded with an artificial preference system that detracts from the core mission of our higher education institutions," Crosswhite Hader said. "Our students should be focused on academics and workforce training and not delayed by an additional requirement for graduation. "We are not saying these concepts can't be taught, just that the use of taxpayer dollars is inappropriate. I'm grateful to Senator Pugh for his work on this issue and to the governor for signing it into law. I'm also glad that Secretary McMahon was able to join us today for this ceremony." Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, the chair of the House Postsecondary Education Committee, added, "Oklahoma's universities should be centers of academic excellence that prepare students for careers and civic life, not places where taxpayer dollars fund ideological programs. Higher education must remain focused on merit, scholarship and workforce development. Senate Bill 796 protects academic freedom while keeping our institutions aligned with their core mission." SB796 codifies into law the governor’s prior executive order, prohibiting institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from using state funds, property or resources to support DEI positions, programs, hiring practices or activities. It also bars colleges and universities from mandating participation in training or education that grants preference based on race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin. Additionally, SB796 prohibits requirements for loyalty oaths, ideological statements, DEI declarations in hiring or the disclosure of personal pronouns.

Mar 28, 2025
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Crosswhite Hader Bill to Penalize Trafficking of Abortion-Inducing Drugs Moves to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, on Tuesday passed legislation in the House that would outlaw the trafficking of chemical abortion pills. House Bill 1168 would create a felony trafficking offense for anyone who knows or has reason to know that another person intends to use an abortion-inducing drug and knowingly delivers such a drug to that person or who possesses the drug with intent to deliver it. "Women considering an abortion are already in a vulnerable state," Crosswhite Hader said. "They don't need someone willing to skirt the law or to try to profit from such vulnerability and provide them with an abortion-inducing drug that could create great harm to them physically and mentally." Crosswhite Hader said the legislation only addresses those who intend to distribute these drugs to others, not those who are accessing these drugs for themselves. Anyone convicted of trafficking or attempting to traffic abortion-inducing drugs could face a fine of up to $100,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both. This is the same as current law for those performing an illegal abortion. This act does not apply to a pharmacist or a manufacturer or distributor acting lawfully in the usual course of their business or profession. Nothing in this act may be construed to prohibit preventive contraceptives used in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Crosswhite Hader said her goal is to protect women's health. She said there are numerous reports of women being given these drugs by non-medical professionals who do not understand what the medications can do to a woman if administered incorrectly. The drugs are often taken in isolation. This leaves the woman to go through cramping and bleeding and the shedding of her pregnancy with no medical expert on hand to help her through not only the physical pain and after-effects of the drugs, but also the mental anguish that can result from seeing her pre-term pregnancy in a non-viable state. "I'm concerned that a woman given these drugs to take in isolation could die by herself, and they could keep her from being able to carry to term a pregnancy at a later date should that be desired," she said. Even more alarming, she said, are reports that only the second drug in a two-drug sequence are being given in some instances. The first drug is intended to stop the growth of the pregnancy. The second is to evacuate. To give the second drug without the first presents a greater danger to the woman, she said. Just like legislators enacted punishments for adults who give alcohol to minors, penalties are attached in this act to hopefully give people who would distribute these drugs pause, she said. HB1168 now moves to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant.