The Latest in Oklahoma: June 29, 2024
A&A Advocates
Oklahoma’s state superintendent directed all public schools to teach the Bible on Thursday, including the Ten Commandments – following Louisiana’s mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, which was challenged in court. Walters called the Bible “a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system” in his announcement.
For the special session on July 15, Oklahoma state senators are considering Gov. Kevin Stitt’s third nominee for the OSU Board of Regents, Jennifer Callahan. On the same day at 1 p.m., the Senate’s Republican Caucus will meet to vote on their next Pro Tem, as their previous choice, Sen. Greg McCortney, lost his reelection bid during this month’s primaries.
After losing a public battle over cabinet secretaries, Gov. Kevin Stitt quietly renamed them “chief advisors” and has since reinstated his former transportation cabinet secretary as one of his “advisors.” It is not clear, however, if the name change is enough to circumvent the May court ruling that found that cabinet secretaries can’t serve in other state leadership roles.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services unveiled a 10-year plan, “Aging Our Way Oklahoma,” on Tuesday to improve care for older adults and to strengthen the infrastructure for the aging population, as the agency projects adults over the age of 60 are expected to outnumber children for the first time in Oklahoma by 2034. The plan provides 13 goals with pathways to achieve them, including affordable housing, transportation, social connection and the workforce.
What We’re Watching
The approved Senate interim study requests have been posted. View them here.
Brandon Tatum, the chief of staff for Gov. Kevin Stitt, will serve as the next executive director of the Regional University System of Oklahoma, RUSO regents announced Monday.
“Interim studies are a great way for lawmakers to dig into topics that are important to Oklahomans as they craft legislation for next year. These studies provide legislators with the opportunity to thoroughly investigate complex issues, gather relevant data, and engage with experts and stakeholders outside of the of the regular legislative session. This approach allows for informed decision-making, leading to the development of policies that have an impact on our state. Interim studies foster transparency and public participation, as they often include public hearings and solicit input from people outside of the Capitol, ensuring that various perspectives are considered.” – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City announced the approved list of interim studies that will be discussed during the legislative interim.