The Latest in Oklahoma: March 14, 2025
A&A Advocates
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has raised concerns about the integrity of the state’s reading and math test scores. Seven months after releasing the results to families, Walters is now calling for a review and potential rescoring of these assessments. He emphasized that parents, teachers, and students deserve accurate, carefully reviewed results. This development has sparked discussions about the validity of the current test scores and the processes behind their administration.
Oklahoma State University is discontinuing funding for its Innovation Foundation following an internal audit that revealed $41 million in misappropriated state funds. The audit found that $11.5 million was transferred to the foundation without proper contracts and that the foundation relied on state-appropriated funds for 96% of its operating costs. In response, OSU Interim President Jim Hess announced organizational changes, including the realignment of research institutes and leadership shifts, to enhance financial oversight and maintain the university’s financial stability.
The Oklahoma Senate has approved Senate Bill 352, introduced by Senator Todd Gollihare, to strengthen property rights by restricting the use of eminent domain by certain energy facilities. The bill requires high-voltage electric transmission projects (300 kilovolts or higher) to obtain a certificate of authority from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission before exercising eminent domain. It also prohibits wind, solar, battery storage, and hydrogen facilities from using eminent domain without landowner consent.
Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing bipartisan measures to restrict land ownership and business operations by entities associated with foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. House Bill 1546 aims to prohibit individuals linked to these nations from acquiring agricultural or forestry land, as well as property near critical infrastructure or military installations. Additionally, Senate Bill 727 seeks to prevent foreign adversary companies from owning land in the state. These efforts respond to concerns over illicit activities, such as unauthorized marijuana cultivation, and aim to safeguard national security.
Live Links
Ahead of Spring Break, legislators are working to move bills through the legislature. Click here to see the status of a bill, or click the links to access live proceedings in the House and Senate chambers.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I want excellence in Oklahoma education as well. I think too many times we focus on just trying to bring the bottom up, but I want kids to have the opportunity to excel as well,” said State Senator Ally Seifried in an interview regarding her efforts to improve education in Oklahoma. “I would just go back to the quality of what’s in the classroom, that’s why I’m so supportive of the cell phone bill because it costs zero dollars to let them focus on what they signed up for, which is to educate and teach our kids.”