Carl's Capitol Comments

Our deadline to formally file legislation for the upcoming First Session of the 59th Legislature is fast approaching. I wanted to take a moment to describe several of the bills I intend to file this year.

One bill would allow 14-year-olds to be licensed to drive on their family farm and to and from work or school. Many of our farm kids already drive vehicles on the family farm or ranch. This just makes it legal and adds the privilege to drive to and from school or work. This would act as a graduated license, giving these young people some experience in driving on our roads before they get a license without restrictions. It would also ease the burden for parents who sometimes have long commutes to get kids to and from work and school multiple times a day.

Another bill would give Oklahoma patients the ability to schedule telemedicine visits with doctors from out of state specialty facilities. This would allow access to care from places like the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas or the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. This would allow patients to have follow up visits without driving hours away from home.

Another bill would allow peace officers receiving state retirement to be hired by a municipality with a population of 4,500 or less without it affecting their benefits from the Oklahoma Police Pension Retirement System.

Additional legislation would update the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act. Any municipal government that has made an attempt to comply with a newspaper publication requirement established under state law shall be deemed in compliance with the publication requirement even if the newspaper fails to publish the notice and the failed publication was due to no fault of the municipality.

I also plan to run legislation that would specify that any petition audit circulated in this state must be submitted to the clerk of the appropriate government prior to circulation. Once circulation has commenced, no changes may be made to the petition. If any changes are made to the language of the petition, the petition shall be void and dismissed.

I'm looking at additional legislation as well, such as amending pesticide application regulations and broadband easements as well as reimbursing doctors who prescribe pregnancy monitors for patients that need them. I'll keep you updated on the fate of these bills and any others as they get filed and advance through the legislative process.

If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. You may reach me by email at carl.newton@okhouse.gov, or phone me at 405-557-7339. God Bless you and the State of Oklahoma.