Alva Review-Courier -

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 floor work over the next two weeks as we approach our deadline to pass Senate measures out of our chamber and send them across the rotunda to the House.

One of the bills I am particularly looking forward to presenting pertains to 4-H students being given excused absences when participating in 4-H activities. The projects and contests that these students participate in throughout the year teach them valuable life skills, prepare them for future careers, and provide countless leadership opportunities. They shouldn’t be punished for taking part in such activities, and I was shocked to learn that many schools across the state don’t count 4-H events as an excused absence. I look forward to continuing conversations on this bill and working to get it across the finish line this session.

Another piece of my legislation aims to increase transparency for Oklahomans related to medical costs. Often times after a medical visit the patient is surprised with a large bill including unexpected or unnecessary expenses. The patient’s bill of rights ensures that hospitals advise patients on the charges they will incur for their medical treatment.

The last bill I’d like to share addresses the unfair practices Apple has been implementing on Android devices. While the bill did not advance out of committee, we had good conversations throughout the process to bring awareness to these issues. I’ll be holding an interim study this fall to continue these discussions and to better understand how we can prevent this from occurring in the future.

Lastly, I’d like to let those that have been affected by the recent wildfires know that they are in my prayers and that I am more than happy to help them work through the recovery and rebuilding process. You can reach my office at [email protected] or call 405-521-5626. I know that the tenacity of Northwest Oklahoma is strong and that we will all get through this with the help of our neighbors.