Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed Aaron Morris as the interim director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, citing his extensive financial leadership experience and previous service as the agency’s chief financial officer. Morris, who currently serves as Oklahoma’s chief financial officer, will replace Clay Bullard, who is leaving the position to return to the private sector after less than a year in the role. Stitt praised both leaders, highlighting Morris’ record of improving accountability and Bullard’s contributions during a critical period for the agency.
Oklahoma has reached a new $44 million settlement with six poultry companies in a decades-long lawsuit over pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. The agreement includes $41.6 million for cleanup efforts, funding for compliance oversight, financial penalties, and a seven-year plan to reduce poultry litter spread in the watershed. The settlement, announced by Attorney General Gentner Drummond, aims to resolve the 21-year legal dispute while protecting Oklahoma’s water resources and providing certainty for the state’s poultry industry. The agreement must still be approved by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before it can take effect.
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is considering new rules that would require political candidates to disclose when artificial intelligence is used in campaign advertisements. The proposal follows concerns from voters who received AI-generated mailers and saw AI-created campaign ads, prompting the commission to study how other states are handling the issue. While any rule would require legislative approval and would not apply to the current election cycle, commission leaders say they are leaning toward broad disclosure requirements to improve transparency for voters.
State Question 846 would add Oklahoma’s existing voter identification requirement to the state constitution, but it would not change the current process or the types of identification accepted at the polls. Supporters say the measure would protect voter ID laws from future legislative changes and strengthen confidence in election integrity, while opponents argue it is unnecessary and could make it harder to challenge future voting restrictions. The proposal will appear on the Aug. 25 ballot, where all registered Oklahoma voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be eligible to vote on the constitutional amendment.
Weekly Wrap Up
Interim studies have been posted. View the House and Senate interim studies.
Upcoming Deadlines
July 24, 2026: Deadline for the Speaker to approve or disapprove House interim studies
October 30, 2026: Interim studies must be heard in committee
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Aaron has proved to be a steady leader through any challenge,” said Gov Kevin Stitt regarding naming Aaron Morris as the next interim director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). “As CFO of the State, he has worked carefully to protect our state’s savings, navigate complicated budget issues, and assist agencies to increase accountability and transparency. He is a trusted member of my team, and I am grateful that he has agreed to step into the role at OHCA for the remainder of my term.”