Latest news with #OklahomaHouseofRepresentatives
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Todd Russ formally announces campaign for re-election as Oklahoma's state treasurer
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ has formally announced he's running for a second term in 2026. Russ, a Republican who's from Cordell, made the announcement on Wednesday, June 4, becoming the first person to enter the race for treasurer. He first won election to the office in 2022, capturing 64.8% of the vote to succeed Randy McDaniel, who chose not to run for re-election. Russ, a former banker, registered with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission last September to begin raising money for his 2026 reelection effort. His most recent campaign finance report, for the first quarter of 2025, indicated he had $14,429 in that account. Before being elected as treasurer, Russ represented District 55 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2009 to 2022. During his tenure, he served as chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations and Budget subcommittee and was a member of former House Speaker Charles McCall's leadership team. 'As Treasurer, I use my extensive background in banking and business, along with more than a decade of mastering the inner workings of state government, to help conservatively manage Oklahoma's money and financial resources, significantly improving the state's financial position,' Russ said in a statement. The state treasurer serves on ten boards: the State Board of Equalization, the Council of Bond Oversight, the Teacher's Retirement System, the Public Employees Retirement System, the State Pension Oversight Commission, the Oklahoma College Savings Plan, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, the Capitol Improvement Authority, the Industrial Finance Authority and the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. Russ has more than 30 years of banking and business experience. He once served as president and chief executive officer of the Washita State Bank in Burns Flat and he also has worked in management consulting. He has served on the Oklahoma Bankers Association Board of Directors and as chairman of that organization's Small Bank Council. During Russ' first 2½ years as treasurer, the state's bond rating has twice been upgraded by Standard & Poor's and Moody's, the nation's two largest credit rating agencies and Oklahoma's investment portfolio has posted the highest earnings in the state's history. The state's education savings program, known as Oklahoma 529, is administered by Russ' office and has grown by 21.6%, passing the $1 billion mark in account withdrawals in October 2023. Russ' tenure has not been completely smooth sailing, though. Russ and another statewide elected official, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, have gotten crossways over multiple issues, including legal representation in a case involving a controversial law that blocks Oklahoma from contracting with financial firms that limit oil and gas investments. More recently, a board led by Russ, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Investors, sued Drummond over who has the final say when the state enters into contracts or other legal agreements with investment managers. The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit on Monday, with Russ and Drummond exchanging sharply worded statements criticizing the other. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Todd Russ, Oklahoma's state treasurer, announces re-election bid
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt vetoes bill targeting 'fake' service animals. Is there another solution?
Oklahoma may have narrowly avoided creating a new criminal charge targeting people who misrepresent their pet as a service animal. The proposed law, which has been vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, targeted people who claim their animal is a service dog when it doesn't meet federal guidelines for trained service dogs. House Bill 1178 would have made such an act a misdemeanor. Although it was vetoed by the governor, the state House and Senate could now override the decision and place it into law. That would be a challenging request, however, because an earlier House vote did not reach the number of votes to be considered veto-proof. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are defined as dogs that are trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, or calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder. In his veto message released Wednesday, May 14, Stitt suggested lawmakers find another solution. "While we all might agree that an animal mislabeled as a service animal is frustrating, criminalizing the practice is an overreaction," Stitt wrote. "There are other ways to address this issue without adding more criminal statutes to our code." The bill's author, state Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, said she had been working on the legislation since 2019 and introduced it after constituents who own service animals complained about untrained dogs approaching theirs. "For me, this just says don't lie about what your animal is. Be honest. If the business wants to let you in, they can," Stark said during discussion earlier this year in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. "There are people not getting service animals because it's such a problem; they don't want to have to interact with the untrained 'service' animals that are out there." If the bill became law, Oklahoma would have become one of 35 states that have laws against the use of fraudulent service dogs, according to the Michigan State University Animal Legal and Historical Center. Businesses that serve the public can ban most animals from their premises but cannot turn away legitimate service animals that are properly controlled by their handler. Problems can arise, however, because privacy laws only let businesses ask two questions to determine their legitimacy: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff cannot ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the task. Both Stark and the bill's Senate author, David Bullard, R-Durant, have said that posting a sign on business doors warning about the misdemeanor could be an effective deterrent against people trying to misrepresent their animal's function. If a business owner believed someone was violating the law, they could call the police, Bullard said. "If a person misrepresents (their use of an animal), they would be asked to leave. If not, (the business) could call the police in to do that," he said. Under Oklahoma law, someone convicted of a misdemeanor faces up to a year in county jail or a fine of no more than $500, or both. The bill made it through the Legislature along mostly party-line votes, with some Republicans crossing over to vote against it. Although opponents recognized the issues that both business owners and service animal handlers have faced, they called for better education rather than simply hanging the threat of criminal misdemeanor over someone's head. During debate in the House, Oklahoma City Democrat Forrest Bennett criticized the bill as helping one class of people at the disadvantage of another. "I would love, in certain situations, to ask why a friend needs an AR-15 to walk into a Subway to order a sandwich. But I don't get to come up here and have my friends help me pass a law to make that easier for me to do. I just have to deal with that in public," he said, warning that the bill could also spur unintended lawsuits. "Right now, a business owner with a backbone can say, 'You and your service animal are causing a problem. We have a reason to ask you to leave.' That's a reality in Oklahoma right now." Lawmakers must finish their annual work, including any veto overrides, by May 30. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma bill criminalizing false service animal claims is vetoed
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmaker battling breast cancer ‘stunned' after Stitt vetoes bill requiring insurance to cover cancer screenings
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Gov. Kevin Stitt is under fire after vetoing a bipartisan-supported bill that would have required insurance companies to cover certain screenings that can catch breast cancer early, a decision that has left the bill's author, who is battling breast cancer herself, heartbroken. The bill, House Bill 1389, had rare, unanimous bipartisan support in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and near-unanimous support in the Senate. 'It was amazing,' said Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa). Provenzano said her idea for the bill came about after she got a call from a single mom in her district. She said the woman went in for a routine mammogram, but when her doctor saw something concerning and recommended a second diagnostic mammogram, her insurance wouldn't cover it. 'And it was $1,200,' Provenzano said. Gov. Stitt vetoes bill that would extend Oklahoma eviction timeline The woman told Provenzano something that stuck with her. 'I have to pay my electric after the food on the table, so I was just not going to get it,' Provenzano said the woman told that, Provenzano teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to write the bill, which would require insurance companies to cover diagnostic mammograms at no cost to patients. Early detection, she said, could save countless was around the time she filed the bill that Provenzano got news of her own: She had breast cancer.'December 11th, I was diagnosed,' Provenzano said. 'And that just sort of rocks your world because it's fear of the unknown.'She has been undergoing chemotherapy, once a week, for the past 11 weeks, while the bill made its way through committees and onto the House floor, where it received unanimous approval on March 10. 'I turned around and it was just, you know, dots of pink,' Provenzano said. 'Everybody had something on. And it was moving and human. And it reminded me that we're humans first. And this is an apolitical thing at the end.' Even Republican lawmakers voiced strong support. 'Representative Provenzano — regardless of party lines, I guarantee it, I can speak for everyone… we all care about you,' Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami) told Provenzano after the vote. The bill sailed through the Senate and landed on Stitt's desk on Tuesday. 'I didn't expect a veto,' Provenzano said. But Stitt vetoed the bill Tuesday. 'I was stunned, to say the least, you know, because one in eight women in the United States are diagnosed every year,' Provenzano said. Stitt explained his decision in a video statement on Facebook Tuesday evening. Senate committee rejects immigration rules for Oklahoma schools 'It would have imposed new and costly insurance mandates on private health plans, which would actually raise premiums on Oklahoma families and businesses,' Stitt said. Provenzano said that reasoning is not backed by facts. 'When you have early detection, like I had access to, like all women deserve access to, you're saving dollars and saving money for the insurance companies on the back end,' Provenzano said. For Provenzano, it's hard not to take it personally. 'It feels personal,' Provenzano said. 'But I have to separate myself from that. I just want to say, did you read the bill? Did you understand what it was we're trying to do, and why this will save lives? And I just want to be able to have that conversation.' Provenzano said she still hasn't received a call from the governor. As she heads into her final week of chemotherapy, Provenzano said she's confident the future will hold fewer vetoes—and more moments of unity. 'When we strip away the politics, really beautiful things happen,' Provenzano said. 'And I'll keep working on that.' Stitt was scheduled to hold his weekly press conference on Wednesday, where News 4 planned to ask him about his decision, but it was postponed until Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jon Echols visits Bartlesville on his campaign for Oklahoma attorney general
Republican Jon Echols is officially on the campaign trail for Oklahoma Attorney General, making stops around Bartlesville on April 24 and April 25, introducing himself to voters and outlining his vision for the office. Echols, a former state representative from Oklahoma City, sat down for an interview with the Examiner-Enterprise in between meetings with local police, firefighters and community leaders. "I'm an Oklahoman through and through," Echols said in an interview with the EE. "I believe in a safer, freer, stronger Oklahoma, and I think the Attorney General's office is the best place to make a real difference for the citizens of this state." Echols served 12 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, including eight as majority floor leader, before term limits forced him out in 2024. He announced his candidacy for attorney general earlier this year and says the response has been overwhelming, noting endorsements from more than 18 sheriffs and the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police. The 45-year-old attorney said his goal is to bring a proven conservative record to the AG's office while ensuring that all citizens — regardless of background — are treated equally under the law. "Whether you're from the richest part of Tulsa or the wrong side of south Oklahoma City, like my parents were, you will be treated the same by my office," he said. Echols emphasized that the Attorney General's duties go beyond criminal law enforcement, explaining that a large part of the job involves protecting taxpayer dollars and serving as the legal counsel for state agencies. He pledged to maintain transparency and to prioritize upholding the Constitution. One hot-button issue already on Echols' radar is the use of Flock Safety cameras, which are license plate readers that track vehicles, sparking debate locally and across the state. While some hail the technology as a crime-fighting tool, others worry it could violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. More: Bartlesville City Council approves Flock camera rules after split vote, heated debate Echols said he is taking a cautious approach. "Anytime you're dealing with government surveillance, it has to be done within the confines of the Constitution — both Oklahoma's and the United States," he said. He stressed that he is gathering information and weighing critical questions: how the cameras are used, where data is stored and whether the scope of surveillance is being legally applied. "I'm not a shoot-from-the-hip guy," he said. "Whatever the law is, that's what we're going to follow." Echols acknowledged the complexities surrounding surveillance technology, pointing out that he previously voted to authorize cameras used specifically to catch uninsured motorists — a system he said has operated appropriately within legal boundaries. Local news, sports and more: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Sun-News app With no major challengers yet announced, Echols is the first declared candidate in the race for the 2026 election. He says his campaign is about public service, not political ambition. "If someone doesn't want a conservative Attorney General, I'm not their guy. I mean that and I have the track record to back it up," he said. The filing period for the 2026 elections begins in April of that year. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Jon Echols campaign for Oklahoma AG comes to Bartlesville
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Debate continues over declaring 'Christ is King' in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The debate continues over the 'Christ is King' resolution passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. On Wednesday, those against the resolution held a news conference saying they believe in religious freedom for all Oklahomans. 'Declaring one's God king over another person's God isn't just exclusionary, it's an attack on one's religious freedom,' said Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City. Days before Easter, the House passed a resolution declaring that 'Christ is King' in Oklahoma. 'This has nothing to do with anti-religion. This is about pro-Constitution,' Dollens said. Dollens is one of several voicing concern. He believes it violates the separation of church and state. However Senator Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, is a co-author of the resolution says that's not what it is. 'It's just a very warm, inspirational way to honor Christ and to recognize his role and the foundation of the nation and the important role that he plays in the hearts of Oklahomans all over,' said Jett. He says it's just a proclamation, but others believe it lays the groundwork of a much broader agenda. 'This narrative primes the public to accept future laws that aren't just symbolic, but rather laws that actually take away rights and laws that actually discriminate and do harm to others,' said Dollens. Oklahoma House passes 'Christ is King' resolution Dollens gave some examples during the news conference. 'For example, this building passed the first religious charter school in the United States. We use tax dollars to purchase Trump Bibles for kids classrooms. We have Bible infused grade school curriculum,' said Rep. Dollens. Jett added that he believes there's a misconception with the separation of church and state in the U.S. Constitution. 'It is saying the United States is not going to have a church that is ordered by the state, but it doesn't say that you can't exercise religion. In fact, the opposite is true,' said Rep. Jett. Other Republican lawmakers agree. 'To say that God has no place in the American government is foolishness. You need to go back and look at those papers, you need to go back and look at your history, learn your history,' said Representative JJ Humphrey, R-Lane. On Thursday when the resolution was voted on, there was around two hours of debate. Lawmakers from both parties say that was too long. 'Is that something that we should be wasting our government money on? I don't think so and should we see a lot more important items come up for discussion in front of the people, absolutely, I think, but I will tell you that there's no more important item than whether Christ is king,' said Rep. Humphrey. The resolution is now in the Senate. There's been attempts to pass similar resolutions in North Dakota and in Montana, but both have failed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
