It is truly an honor to serve as the voice for more than 80,000 Northwest Oklahomans at the Capitol. However, in my 10 years of service, I’ve found that this voice is not always heard by the Legislature as rural Oklahoma is often put on the back b...

We began last week with a joint session with the House to honor Oklahoma’s veterans. It’s always an honor to recognize the brave men and women who’ve served our nation and share our appreciation for all of their work and sacrifices. The remai...

This week, we crossed the first deadline of the year and completed hearing Senate Bills in committee. Those that received approval from their assigned committees are now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor. We will shift our focus heavily to...

We’ve now made it through the second week of session and Senate committees have continued reviewing the dozens of bills they’ve been assigned. I’m pleased to share that a few of my bills have already received approval from their respective commi...

Last week, we returned to the Capitol to answer the governor’s special session call for a .25 percent tax cut. The Senate met on Monday but recessed without delivering needed tax relief to hardworking Oklahomans. The special session remains open, s...

The final week of the 2023 regular session was extremely busy. Once the education agreement was reached, that cleared the way for negotiators to complete work on the rest of the budget. I will talk a bit more about budget highlights in the coming...

The final week of the 2023 regular session was extremely busy. Once the education agreement was reached, that cleared the way for negotiators to complete work on the rest of the budget. I will talk a bit more about budget highlights in the coming...

After months of negotiations, leaders of the Senate, House and the governor unveiled the final education funding package this past week, representing the largest investment in state history, including funding for teacher pay raises, rural schools...

We’re now heading into the final two weeks of the legislative session. Oklahoma’s Constitution mandates that we must reach final adjournment no later than 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May. This is my ninth year in the Legislature. I have been here in...

It’s not unusual for the chambers of the legislature to have policy disagreements with one another or with the governor, but overwhelmingly, after thoughtful negotiations with input from all sides, consensus is reached and the people’s business is...

This was the last week for us to vote on bills sent over from the House of Representatives. More than 100 House bills were voted on between Monday and the Thursday deadline, including some of my own. I am the Senate principal author for House Bill...

One of the news stories coming out of the Capitol this past week was the Senate’s override of the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1130, dealing with unused funds within the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). The Constitution delegates the job of...

Until the late 1960s, there was no universal emergency phone number for people to quickly call their local police, fire departments or ambulance service. In 1967, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice r...

I want to express my deep disappointment in House Speaker Charles McCall after he sent out an inaccurate editorial to newspapers here in Senate District 27 that misrepresents Senate changes to House education funding bills. He made claims about how...

At this point in the legislative session, all the bills that were introduced in the Senate, won support in committee, and then by the full chamber, have been sent over to the House, and likewise, we’re beginning to take up the legislation they s...

This past week, we hit our deadline for floor votes on bills that were introduced by members of the Senate. One of my own bills was taken up and passed unanimously Monday, Senate Bill 976, creating the Invasive Species Task Force. Invasive species...

The people of northwestern Oklahoma are the strongest, most resilient you’ll find anywhere. This part of the state seems to be in Mother Nature’s crosshairs more than any other, and yet every time we’re faced with these challenges, we pull toget...

The 2023 legislative session is now officially underway. The main focus of the first day is a joint session in the House of Representatives where members of both chambers gather to hear the governor’s State of the State speech. In this annual a...

Despite the recent round of winter weather, folks have stayed busy at the state Capitol, getting ready for the beginning of the 2023 session, which began Monday, Feb. 6. In recent days and weeks, our appropriations subcommittees have been holding...

The November revenue report from State Treasurer Randy McDaniel is out, and shows gross receipts for the past year set a new record high for the sixth consecutive month. The 12-month gross receipts through last month totaled $17.36 billion, an...

My office has been getting calls and emails from folks who are concerned about whether Covid-19 vaccines are going to be required in order for children to attend school in Oklahoma. The answer is absolutely not. There’s been some confusion because th...

Last spring, during the regular 2022 legislative session, we appropriated $3 million for emergency drought relief. I don’t have to tell you the drought has only worsened since then. Back on Sept. 12, the governor issued an executive order due to t...

The ongoing drought has produced major challenges over the past several months, including wildfires. I want to express my sincere thanks to Mooreland Fire Chief Travis Case, his department, and all first-responders and other volunteers who faced...