Representative John George

R

District 36

Hi, I'm John George and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 36th District.


representative

News & Announcements

Mar 16, 2026
Recent Posts

Morel One Step Closer to State Mushroom Status

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. John George, R-Newalla, on Monday secured House passage of House Bill 3263 , which would recognize the morel as the Oklahoma state mushroom.  George said each spring, tens of thousands of Oklahomans take part in the tradition of hunting morel mushrooms, a delicacy known for its unique flavor and difficulty to locate. While many like to post about their finds, they are protective of their hiding places. “Most years, I am out there with the many Oklahomans who enjoy searching for the morel,” George said. "Some people consider this almost as important as deer hunting in the fall, with families planning their time around this activity in the spring. Naming the morel as the state mushroom is a fun way to recognize this pursuit, but it also could help communities by promoting tourism and educating people about safe mushroom hunting and consumption.”  House Majority Leader Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, said he and his stepfather would often hunt these elusive mushrooms together. Lawson amended HB3263 to be titled the “David Beyer Act of 2026” after his stepfather, who passed away two years ago.   “My stepfather got me started hunting morel mushrooms, and it was something we really enjoyed doing together,” Lawson said. “It’s incredibly special to me and my family that Rep. George allowed me to name this bill in memory of my stepdad. I’m glad some of my family could be here today as we remembered him, and I’m glad the state is recognizing the importance of the morel mushroom to Oklahoma’s culture.”  George said he hopes this bill will not only serve as a great representation of the morel hunting community but also encourage more people to explore Oklahoma’s diverse landscape.  HB 3263 passed on the House Floor and is now eligible to for consideration in the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain.

Mar 10, 2026
Recent Posts

House Approves Increased Penalties for Domestic Violence by Strangulation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. John George, R-Newalla, this week unanimously passed a bill in the House that would add domestic violence by strangulation to the list of crimes requiring a person to serve 85% of a prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. If enacted, House Bill 3264 would prohibit those convicted from being eligible to receive earned credits toward reducing the length of their sentence to less than 85%. "Strangling an intimate partner is among the most horrific acts of violence and can all too often be deadly," George said. "Yet people convicted of this crime, in many cases, currently only have to serve about a third of any sentence imposed. This legislation would strengthen Oklahoma laws so that anyone committing this type of aggravated assault would be subject to greater punishment." The bill matches a recommendation of the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.  Research shows that strangulation is one of the most common forms of domestic assault and battery and also one of the most fatal. Victims can lose consciousness in less than 10 seconds and can die within minutes. Strangulation victims are more likely to die than victims of other types of domestic assault and battery. Victims who have been strangled are 750 percent more likely to be killed by the same person in the future. Even if a person survives being strangled, there are short- and long-term physical effects, including memory loss, headaches, seizures, strokes, blood clots, even delayed death. In addition, George said Oklahoma has consistently ranked among the top 10 states of women murdered by men in single-victim, single-offender homicides. Despite the seriousness of the crime, domestic violence by strangulation is not yet considered a violent crime that requires an offender to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being considered for release. "We're talking about taking someone's very breath away – the essence of their life," George said. "All I'm asking is for the punishment to fit the crime." HB3264 passed the House on a vote of 89-0. It has been engrossed to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. 

Feb 12, 2026
Recent Posts

Bill Making Morel the State Mushroom Passes First Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Tourism Committee this week passed House Bill 3263 to establish the morel mushroom as Oklahoma’s state mushroom. Considered a delicacy because of cultivation difficulties, several thousand Oklahomans partake in morel hunting every spring.   "I'm one of the thousands of Oklahomans who hunt the tasty morel mushroom each spring," said the bill’s author, Rep. John George, R-Newalla. "I wanted to run this fun piece of legislation to support these dedicated foragers and maybe attract new interest in Oklahoma’s landscape and promote more awareness of Oklahoma’s variety of mushrooms. By implementing a state mushroom, we could even expand opportunities for communities across the state to attract tourists and teach about fungi safety.”  George’s district in eastern Oklahoma County has had many reports of morel sightings.  "I myself am fortunate enough to pick between 200 and 300 or more in good years at a location in my district," George said. The morel, native to Oklahoma, tends to grow in mid-March through early May. Morel mushrooms can be found all across the state, and they grow only under specific temperature and precipitation requirements. However, morels can be toxic if consumed raw or undercooked.  Eight other states have also established state mushrooms.  HB3263 passed out of the House Tourism Committee unanimously and is now available for review by the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.