Articles
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Law & Principles
GOP lawmaker joins Democrats against election-security bill
A bill that would mandate investigation of potential voter fraud has advanced from the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Those voting “no” were mostly Democrats, but state Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, joined them in vocal opposition.Ray Carter | March 9, 2022
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Budget & Tax
‘Fines and fees’ reform clears Senate
Legislation allowing court fines and fees to be waived for certain offenders—and potentially increase the payment of those fees—has won unanimous approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 8, 2022
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Education
Lawmakers mum as mother struggles to find open-transfer spot
Even as parents are voicing frustration with the system, education leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives have responded with silence.Ray Carter | March 8, 2022
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Law & Principles
Senators ban union freeloading on state pension system
Employees of a teachers’ union who do not work for a public school would be banned from receiving state teachers’ retirement benefits tied to their time spent away from the school system, under a bill that has passed the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 7, 2022
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Education
O’Connor seeks answers to feds labeling parents ‘terrorists’
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor is participating in a 14-state effort to force the Biden administration to comply with federal open-records laws regarding an effort to target school parents using anti-terrorism laws.Ray Carter | March 4, 2022
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Criminal Justice
Sentencing reform headed to full Senate
A major overhaul of Oklahoma’s sentencing laws now awaits a vote from the full state Senate after it gained approval in two committees.Ray Carter | March 4, 2022
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma lawmakers vote to bar males from women’s sports
Only biological females could compete in girls’ sporting events at Oklahoma schools under legislation approved by a state House committee.Ray Carter | March 4, 2022
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Education
Major school-choice expansion headed to Senate floor
A bill that would provide the most significant expansion of school-choice opportunity in Oklahoma history has won approval from a Senate committee and will next go before the entire Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 2, 2022
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Education
Student civil-rights protection advances
Legislation to address civil-rights concerns in Oklahoma schools by allowing the state attorney general to investigate complaints has won easy approval in a state House committee.Ray Carter | March 2, 2022
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Education
School choice a major issue for Oklahoma, Texas Republican voters
School choice has become a major issue for Republican voters not only in Oklahoma, but also in neighboring Texas, based on the results of a statewide primary vote in Texas and polling in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | March 2, 2022