Articles
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Education, Law & Principles
‘Ghost student’ reform passes Oklahoma House
Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to restrict schools’ ability to receive state funding for students who no longer attend classes in the district, a practice informally referred to as “ghost student” funding.Ray Carter | February 25, 2021
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Education, Law & Principles
‘Ghost student’ reform advances
Members of a state House committee have voted to rein in school districts’ ability to receive funding for students who no longer attend classes in the district.Ray Carter | February 18, 2021
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Law & Principles
Stitt calls for tribal compacts on McGirt issues
Gov. Kevin Stitt has called on tribal leaders to begin compact negotiations to address the many issues created by the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling, which declared the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s reservation was never disestablished.Ray Carter | January 22, 2021
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Democrats seek removal of gender language
Democratic members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives called for elimination of gender-specific language in the House’s operating rules during that chamber’s organizational meeting on Tuesday.Ray Carter | January 5, 2021
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma House leaders promise ‘big things’
The top two leaders of the Oklahoma House of Representatives promise lawmakers will work on “big” policy measures in the pending legislative session, although they provided few specifics.Ray Carter | January 5, 2021
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Law & Principles
Ethics Commission targets ‘informational materials’
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has temporarily tabled a proposed rule that would require lobbyists and nonprofit organizations to report when they provide certain “informational materials” to state lawmakers.Ray Carter | December 14, 2020
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Law & Principles, Good Government
'Ethics Commission' vs. free speech (again)
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is an agency set up to regulate campaign finances and lobbying of state officials. Unhappy with this narrow but important responsibility, the Commission has a history of trying to expand its own power.Trent England | December 10, 2020
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Law & Principles
GOP leaders support initiative-petition reform
Republican legislative leaders say the state’s initiative-petition process should be reformed so future amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution cannot be sent before voters thanks primarily to funding from out-of-state interest groups that mostly gather signatures in urban areas.Ray Carter | December 10, 2020
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Education, Law & Principles
Attorney General: Oklahoma Department of Education acted illegally
An official opinion issued by the office of Attorney General Mike Hunter concludes the Oklahoma State Department of Education acted illegally when it imposed new regulations on a state scholarship program for children with special needs.Ray Carter | December 3, 2020
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Law & Principles
Officials call on Congress to address McGirt challenges
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is urging Congress to approve legislation that restricts the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding tribal reservations in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | October 21, 2020