Oklahoma reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice requiring the state to share certain private voter information, including partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license details. The agreement follows a lawsuit over the state’s earlier refusal to provide access, and comes amid concerns from groups like the ACLU about voter privacy and potential disenfranchisement. State officials say they aim to balance election integrity with protecting personal data, while advocacy groups are still considering their legal options.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously rejected Gov. Kevin Stitt’s lawsuit challenging a legal opinion that protects tribal citizens’ rights to hunt and fish on reservation land. The court ruled the issue belongs in federal court, where a related case is already ongoing, leaving the attorney general’s opinion in place for now. That opinion states federal law prevents Oklahoma from prosecuting tribal citizens for these activities, a position supported by several tribal nations. The case will now be decided at the federal level, determining the state’s authority over wildlife regulation on reservation land.
Alan Armstrong, a former energy executive, has been appointed as Oklahoma’s interim U.S. Senator following Markwayne Mullin’s move to the Department of Homeland Security. Armstrong says his top priority is reforming the energy permitting process to make it easier to build infrastructure like pipelines and expand energy production. He brings decades of industry experience and aims to influence national energy policy during a time of global supply disruptions and rising fuel costs. With only seven months in the role, Armstrong plans to focus on advancing permitting reform and sharing his expertise with Congress.
Some Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing for a Constitutional Convention that would allow voters to decide whether to rewrite the state’s constitution. The proposal outlines a commission and 149 delegates who would draft changes, which would then require voter approval. Supporters argue it could modernize the constitution, while critics raise concerns about fair representation, partisanship, and limited tribal involvement. If approved, the convention would begin in 2027, marking the first such effort in decades.
An Oklahoma bill known as the “Common Cents Act” would require certain cash payments to be rounded to the nearest nickel due to the phaseout of pennies. The rule would apply only to public cash transactions, not private purchases or electronic payments, with optional implementation until July 2027 before becoming mandatory. Supporters say the change reflects current cash practices and simplifies transactions after penny production stopped. The bill has already passed the House unanimously and is now under consideration in the Senate.
Weekly Wrap Up
Upcoming Deadlines
04/09: Deadline for Sbs/SJRs out of Policy Committees & Appropriation Subcommittees
04/23: Deadline for SBs/SJRs out of Oversight, Admin Rules, Appropriations & Rules Committees
04/23: Deadline to report House measures from Senate committees
05/07: Deadline for Third Reading and Final Passage of Bills and Joint Resolutions from opposite chamber
To see the full legislative calendar, click the link to view the House Calendar and Senate Calendar.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“He’s a strong business leader who understands the power of free markets and limited government,” Governor Stitt said about Alan Armstrong, the newly appointed interim U.S. Senator for Oklahoma. “He spent his career fighting for Oklahoma’s energy industry and providing affordable, reliable energy to all of America.”