Alva Review-Courier -

State Question 820 will be on the ballot in a statewide election March 7. Oklahoma voters are being asked to vote on whether or not to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for those 21 years of...

Our deadline to formally file legislation for the upcoming First Session of the 59th Legislature is fast approaching. I wanted to take a moment to describe several of the bills I intend to file this...

On the beginning of a new year, I would like to share how wonderfully blessed I was this last week and why I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else! Last week, my wife and I were returning home after enj...

God spoke and there was light. Thousands of years later, the Light of the World came to dispel the darkness in which mankind lived. That Light – Jesus – dwelt among us for 33 years, teaching, minister...

One thing people may not realize about the legislative process is how quickly things work for those newly elected to office. Those who win in the Nov. 8 general election, will have only until Dec. 9...

With the Nov. 8 general election just around the corner, I want to encourage my constituents of voting age to take advantage of this most fundamental right to select who will represent them at the loc...

We’re at a point in our nation where engagement in discussion over civil matters between people with opposite beliefs seems to be at an all-time low. If you watch or read the news or try to p...

The governor last week issued an executive order to release up to $3 million for drought relief to farmers and ranchers in Western Oklahoma and other parts of the state that qualify. The funds were...

Business owners in our House district have an opportunity to attend the Second Annual State Suppliers Expo to be held Oct. 11 in Oklahoma City. The purpose of the Expo is to encourage private...

With the Supreme Court's recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the matter of abortion back to the states to decide, I've fielded a number of questions about this from my constituents....

This current drought has caused significant hardship for farmers and ranchers throughout Oklahoma. I know this is a very difficult time for many who rely on agriculture and livestock to make their...

You never know what tomorrow will bring nor what changes can be made in a moment of time. Nothing puts that into clearer perspective than the sight of a huge fire approaching your home. That's what...

The Legislature adjourned regular session May 27, as we are constitutionally required to do. We are still convened in special session, adjourned to a call of the chair. The governor, meanwhile, has...

In my last column, I detailed parts of our state budget that will specifically benefit rural Oklahoma. This week, I'll give a broader overview of the overall budget. The Fiscal Year 2023...

We sent a $9.7 billion general appropriations bill to the governor last week. He has until Thursday at midnight to take action on the measure. This budget contains a lot of stuff for the people back...

All focus is on the state budget this week. All parties have been involved in the discussion at this point, and while we're not in total agreement, we are close. We anticipate budget bills will be...

The governor recently signed three of my House bills into law. House Bill 3821 extends the sunset on apportionment of gross production tax revenue to several state agency or commission revolving...

Another deadline week has come and gone at the state Capitol. April 28 was the third-reading deadline for bills to advance from the opposite chamber. In total, the Senate ended up passing 242 House me...

I want to thank the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Railroad Department for fixing the railroad crossing at Highway 8 near Carmen. I'm glad to see that repaired. It is now in much...

It's bill-killing time in the Legislature. Of the 381 House bills and joint resolutions sent to the Senate, 284 have made it through committee and are now on General Order, meaning they are eligible...

One of the great pleasures of serving as an elected official is getting to recognize groups from home on the floor of the House of Representatives. Last week I had this honor on three separate days....

We're at the midway point of the legislative session. The House has passed 381 bills and joint resolutions to the state Senate for consideration, and we've received 327 legislative measures from that...

The House met its deadline for all measures in chamber of origin last week. This is the date by which all House bills must pass off the House floor to remain alive for this session. It was a very...

Last week, I participated in one of my favorite activities as a lawmaker – the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) Legislative and Livestock Show held at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. I showed a g...

Last week was an incredibly busy one in the House. We heard 158 bills, passing most of those over to the State Senate for their consideration. We'll have a few long days of floor week this week and...