The Senate voted on legislation this past week that has the stated intention of gradually phasing out state income taxes. While I have supported other tax reform proposals...

Shades of Gray (and Red Dirt) lead to political civilityDo you consider your world view as “black & white” versus “shades of gray?”For my entire life, I can only...

We are officially more than halfway done with our legislative session, and bills are still working their way through the process.Thursday was our deadline to pass Senate...

The Senate has officially passed the midway point of this legislative session. March 27 was the deadline for bills to be heard in their chamber of origin. Now, the...

Access to Support Services Vital for Student SuccessWhen it comes to ideas emanating from the State Capitol, there is no perfect solution to problems faced by what a bill...

Oklahoma Children will benefit from Family Foundation InvestmentBeyond the positive legislation that survived the Legislature’s deadline last week, many with overwhelming...

Most months, nearly breaking an all-time tornado record would dominate Oklahoma’s weather headlines. However, March 2025 will be remembered for a different kind of...

This week, the House finished our first major deadline.Thursday was our last day to pass House Bills off the House floor. We spent many, many hours in the chamber voting on...

Since the end of last year’s legislative session, I’ve been deeply involved in conversations about creating a system of business courts in Oklahoma. Those conversations...

Understanding the Budget Process and How to Read LegislationAs we approach the end of March, this week marks the second major in-session deadline for legislation at the...

The Legislature recently passed the deadline for Senate bills to be heard in Senate committees and House bills to be heard in committees across the Capitol rotunda. Now,...

Improvements for Foster Children noted as Pinnacle Plan comes to an endOklahoma received good news last week: the long-running Pinnacle Plan, a settlement agreement for the...

With our committee deadline behind us, legislators are in the midst of several long weeks as we hear hundreds of bills on the House floor.Although we're no longer running...

February started off with a warm and pleasant stretch, reaching a summery 89 degrees in several locations on Feb. 3, breaking the all-time high temperature record for that...

This legislative session marks the third year in a row I’ve worked on legislation to protect funding for hospitals that treat a high number of uninsured and low-income...