For the first time ever, Freedom Oklahoma lobbied at the capitol in support of a bill with momentum that would protect LGBTQ+ individuals. Historically, the nonprofit organization has had to play defense and oppose a slew of bills that would discriminate against the community. The Youth Mental Health Protection Act (House Bill 3872) passed out […]
legislature
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2020 state
The governor’s FY 2021 executive budget is attached below. Gov. Kevin Stitt kicked off the 2020 legislative session last week by delivering his second State of the State address, discussing education, health care, the disagreement with tribes on casino gambling and criminal justice reform. “Let me get right to the point. The state of our […]
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Chicken-Fried News: Not milk?
Oklahoma’s official state beverage and drink is milk — because of course it is — but House Bill 2994, authored by state Rep. Jim Grego (R-Wilburton), would ensure that Oklahomans aren’t officially slaking their thirst with just any old kind of milk. “Milk,” as defined by Grego’s bill, could legally only be “obtained by the […]
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Chicken-Fried News: Vanity plates
It’s almost time for the legislative session, which can mean only one thing: unconstitutional and/or ridiculous bills that will waste lawmakers’ time and energy and distract from more important matters. We’re sure you’ve already seen a few, like the one by a Republican senator to name a section of Route 66 President Donald J. Trump […]
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Not politicians
A coalition of citizens wants to end partisan redistricting. Members argue that the practice, known as gerrymandering, essentially lets politicians pick their voters instead of the other way around. People Not Politicians, the coalition led by Let’s Fix This and League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, filed an initiative petition last week in hopes of […]
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Freedom fighters
Freedom Oklahoma aims to build off a successful year for Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ community by focusing more on diverse sects of the community and advocating for more issues. With October being LGBT History Month, Allie Shinn, Freedom Oklahoma executive director, said the organization is reflecting on recent history to inform what is next to come. The […]
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Retroactive law
Nearly a thousand Oklahomans will be released from prison early — potentially in time for the holidays. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that makes State Question 780, which reclassified simple drug possessions from felonies to misdemeanors, retroactive. Department of Corrections (DOC) must provide a list of eligible inmates to the Pardon and […]
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Health gap
Oklahomans throughout the state are urging lawmakers to expand health care coverage before the legislative session ends. Various organizations within Coalition to Expand Coverage came together to host Rally for Coverage April 24 at the state Capitol. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that has not accepted federal funds for Medicaid expansion. Expanded coverage would […]
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Reform justice
Criminal justice reform is a major agenda topic in this year’s legislative session. A myriad of bills that would implement deep changes to the system have been introduced, and though many were left for dead, several still in the process seem likely to pass. Former Republican state Speaker of the House Kris Steele is now […]
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Capitol CAIR
The Oklahoma chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has seen its annual Muslim Day at the Capitol event grow exponentially since 2015. What started as a somewhat basic introduction to the Capitol has grown into a full-blown day of action and advocacy. Lani Habrock, CAIR government affairs director, said the group began the event […]