Credit Trump Campaign
A plan to dedicate a stretch of state highway in Cimarron County President Donald J. Trump Highway hit a speed bump this week.
With an omnibus highway dedication bill up for a floor vote, Oklahoma City Democratic Sens. Kay Floyd and Carri Hicks pointed out under state law, most people must have been dead three years before they’re honored with a highway dedication.
Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) claimed the legislature makes exceptions regularly and could do so for the segment of Highway 287 in Cimarron County from Boise City to the Texas border proposed for the former president s name.
The Oklahoma Senate sent several new abortion restrictions to the governor on Tuesday.
House Bill 2441 bans the procedure after a heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks. House Bill 1102 suspends the license of doctors who provide abortion. House Bill 1904 limits who may perform the procedure to board-certified OB/GYNs.
All three bills passed with overwhelming Republican support. Sen. J.J. Dossett (D-Owasso) voted for each one. Sens. Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain) and Jake Merrick (R-Yukon) voted against the bills. They said the legislation didn t go far enough in banning abortion.
Sen. Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville) is sponsoring several anti-abortion bills this session, including two of the three passed Tuesday.
Oklahoma lawmakers are acting quickly on a plan to help utilities pay off billions of dollars in debt incurred during February’s historic winter storms.
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Accompanied by lawmakers, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation Wednesday afternoon on an open public school transfer policy and a change to the statewide funding formula.
Credit Governor s office
Gov. Kevin Stitt wasted no time in signing bills to implement major education policy reforms he asked for in February during his state of the state address.
The Senate passed HB2078 on a 27–19 vote. It changes the statewide funding formula so it’s based on a district’s attendance the prior year, not the higher of the past two years as is in law currently.
Opponents said the change could trigger devastating cuts if a district sees a sudden drop in enrollment, like some did during the pandemic. Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D-Tulsa) told HB2078 s sponsor, Sen. Zack Taylor (R-Seminole), she’s heard from many constituents who are already anticipating less state funding because of the measure.