President Donald Trump announced that Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin will serve as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullin will begin as acting secretary on March 31 while awaiting Senate confirmation. His appointment follows criticism of current Secretary Kristi Noem, who will move to a new role tied to a security initiative. If confirmed, Mullin’s move would leave his Senate seat vacant, allowing Oklahoma’s governor to appoint a replacement until a new senator is elected.
Governor Kevin Stitt is pushing for a plan to freeze or limit property taxes in Oklahoma during his final year in office. He suggested options such as capping annual increases or keeping the tax rate the same as when a homeowner first buys the property. Some lawmakers are considering related measures, including a proposal that would limit property value increases used for tax calculations. However, local officials and policy experts worry that reducing property tax revenue could hurt funding for services like schools and local governments.
An Oklahoma mother helped turn her daughter’s death into action with the passage of Rain’s Law, which aims to prevent fentanyl abuse among students. The law was inspired by Rain Reece, a 19-year-old college student who died after accidentally taking a pill laced with fentanyl. It requires fentanyl abuse prevention education for students in grades 6–12 and establishes a statewide awareness week. Rain’s mother hopes the law will save lives by educating young people about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl.
The Oklahoma Senate rejected Senate Bill 2005, which would have added new transparency and oversight requirements for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA). The proposal aimed to require the organization to follow open records and open meetings laws, conduct annual audits, and restructure its governing board. The vote comes as Governor Kevin Stitt continues advocating for major reforms or elimination of the OSSAA. After the bill failed, both the governor’s office and the OSSAA issued statements defending their positions on how high school athletics should be governed in the state.
Weekly Wrap Up
Upcoming Deadlines
03/18-20: Legislative Spring Break-House Not in Session (Senate TBD).
03/26: Deadline for Third Reading and Final Passage of Bills and Joint Resolutions by the Chamber of Origin (House and Senate)
To see the full legislative calendar, click the link to view the House Calendar and Senate Calendar.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Markwayne Mullin has been a fighter for Oklahoma and will fight to keep our nation secure. There isn’t a better choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security,” Governor Stitt said regarding Senator Markwayne Mullin being named as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. “Oklahoma has been an example to the nation for smart immigration enforcement, and Markwayne will bring that common sense to DHS. I will be looking to appoint a strong, small government conservative voice to support President Trump and protect Oklahomans’ way of life.”