Articles
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion may consume tobacco funds
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to unilaterally expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to include able-bodied adults has left lawmakers scrambling to fund the program. A measure that would redirect Oklahoma’s tobacco-settlement funds to Medicaid is one proposal that has now gained approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Good Government
Government workforce reform remains far from certain
Measures to overhaul the Oklahoma government’s human resources system quietly advanced this week without debate or question from lawmakers. But the bills’ authors indicated much work remains, suggesting the likelihood of significant reform is far from certain.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Law & Principles
Debate pits occupational freedom against regulatory state
To ease the financial barriers facing people who move to Oklahoma, state senators have voted to recognize out-of-state occupational licenses.Ray Carter | March 12, 2020
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Education
Extended use of ‘emergency’ teachers approved
In 2018, Oklahoma lawmakers approved around $600 million in tax increases, in part to fund teacher pay raises officials said were needed to address a teacher shortage that had forced schools to hire emergency-certified instructors who lacked traditional credentials.Ray Carter | March 11, 2020
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Education
Anti-bullying measure advances, but aid for victims remains sidelined
Legislation requiring public schools to take more seriously reports of bullying has gained easy passage in the Oklahoma Senate. But even as lawmakers decry the growing problem of school bullying, efforts to increase the options available to victims of bullying remain sidelined at the Capitol.Ray Carter | March 11, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Senate votes to use marijuana tax for school buildings
The Oklahoma Senate has narrowly approved legislation that would use marijuana taxes to fund building repair and construction in school districts with very little local property tax funding.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Unfunded retirement bill wins House approval
Legislation that increases state payments to retired government workers, but does not include a direct funding source, has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives without opposition on a 99-0 vote. The measure is expected to boost the state’s unfunded liability by $800 million to $900 million.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax
OKPLAC opposes aid for teachers, school security, adoption
In an email sent to Oklahoma lawmakers this month and later posted online, the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (OKPLAC) has urged legislators to kill numerous tax-break measures, including bills that would reduce teachers’ out-of-pocket health insurance costs, improve school security, and support adoption.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles
Senators support judicial nominating transparency
A measure to bring Oklahoma’s judicial nominating process in line with the transparency requirements of many other states has won strong approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Law & Principles
Opioid case prompts cap on attorney fees
Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to cap the amount state agencies can pay to contract lawyers after attorneys involved with the state’s opioid lawsuit were promised millions in return for their services.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020