A&A Advocates announced that partner Haley Faulkenberry has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Lobbyists (NASL) at its 2026 Annual Meeting. Faulkenberry, who joined A&A Advocates in 2014, has extensive experience in legislative and executive lobbying, including work on child welfare, health care, criminal justice, energy, and environmental issues.
Harold Hamm has committed $150 million to the University of Oklahoma, the largest gift in the university’s history, to expand health education, research, and medical discovery. Of the donation, $50 million will support diabetes research at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, while $100 million will strengthen the broader academic and research programs at OU’s health campus, which will be renamed the Harold Hamm Health Campus. The investment will also support OU’s efforts to recruit leading researchers, expand clinical trials, and improve health outcomes in Oklahoma, a state that has consistently ranked near the bottom nationally in health measures.
The Oklahoma House Rules Committee censured Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, after an investigation found substantiated allegations of sexual harassment and a recurring pattern of inappropriate workplace behavior involving multiple staff members and witnesses. The committee also recommended that Williams resign, withdraw from his reelection campaign, lose committee assignments and staff support, avoid one-on-one contact with House employees, and complete workplace-behavior training. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said the investigation included testimony from 11 witnesses and electronic evidence, while Williams denied wrongdoing and argued that he was denied due process.
The Oklahoma Governor’s Water Conference and Research Symposium will take place December 2–3, 2026, at the Embassy Suites in Norman. The annual event brings together experts in Oklahoma water policy and science from government agencies, industry, academia, and research organizations. Attendees can participate in discussions and networking focused on water-related issues, while opportunities are also available for sponsorship and nominations for the Water for 2060 Excellence Award.
Oklahoma food banks and hunger advocates are urging Congress to delay a new SNAP cost-sharing requirement for states with high error rates, warning that recent program changes are increasing food insecurity. Advocates say more than 140,000 Oklahomans have lost access to SNAP over the past year, while long wait times, staffing shortages, paperwork requirements, and recertification difficulties are creating additional barriers for eligible families. As more people turn to food banks and churches for help, charitable organizations say they are struggling to absorb the increased demand.
Weekly Wrap Up
View the House and Senate interim studies.
Upcoming Deadlines
October 30, 2026: Interim studies must be heard in committee
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I’m very happy to do this job,” Melissa Capps said regarding her opportunity to make the State Auditor and Inspector’s Office more efficient and responsive to Oklahomans as the incoming State Auditor and Inspector. “It’s a very challenging job because as the auditor, obviously you’re not always making people happy … But it’s also exciting because we’re holding government accountable, which is what the taxpayers expect us to do.”