OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed legislation to protect the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans and prevent further federal overreach.

“The feds are continually looking for ways to circumvent the Constitution and trample our fundamental rights,” Dahm said. “The arbitrary and onerous pistol-brace rule set by ATF – an agency filled with unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats – is just the latest example. We clearly cannot count on those in the swamp to protect our rights, so we must do it ourselves.”

Washington, D.C. (January 23rd) – Congressman Josh Brecheen announced today his selection to serve on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Budget Committee for the 118th Congress.

 OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 814, the Oklahoma Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibiting credit card companies from sharing information about lawful firearm and ammunition purchases. His legislation would allow citizens and merchants to file lawsuits and seek damages against those who violate SB 814’s provisions. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, has filed three pieces of legislation related to state parks and their operations.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, this week filed a bill to prohibit the abuse of non-disclosure agreements, providing greater transparency in government.

House Bill 1378 would require businesses of any kind seeking state or local incentives to fully disclose who they are and what they do and also would prevent government officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa, has filed Senate Bill 131, which amends the Parents’ Bill of Rights. SB 131 authorizes parents to file a civil action against a person or governmental entity for a violation of the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

“Updating this measure furthers parents’ involvement in their child’s education and requires written consent for decisions related to physical or mental health decisions for the student,” Rogers said. “Clarifying this will ensure parents know their rights when it comes to their children’s health and can remain in control of what their child is being exposed to at school.”

Fiscal crisis can prompt good policy

Oklahomans may live far removed from Washington, D.C., but that doesn’t mean the negative repercussions of bad federal policy are not felt by families in all parts of the state. Out-of-control federal spending and government overreach has fueled constant tax increase attempts, historic inflation and widespread hardship.

But one of the few upsides to the federal fiscal crisis is that is has prompted good policy responses at the state level.

As with the legislation from last year (Treat's SB 1647), this sounds good... but the devil can be in the details -- especially as it relates to protecting homeschooling freedoms from government interference. I'll be watching this bill and the entire school choice debate in Oklahoma with interest, and a wary eye.

Senators file education freedom bills for Oklahoma families

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, have filed universal school choice legislation to benefit children in all corners of the state. Daniels’ Education Freedom Act, Senate Bill 822, provides parents the option of tapping into a portion of their child’s education dollars to pay for a variety of education services, including tuition.

As best as I can tell, the Oklahoma Legislature has set a new record for amount of legislation filed in advance of a legislative session, with 3,079 bills and resolutions submitted.

• 2023: 3,079
• 2022: 2,299
• 2021: 3,049
• 2020: 2,240
• 2019: 2,815

You can research filed legislation by visiting OKLegislature.gov. Here are the details from the House and Senate: