On May 22, 2024, House Speaker Charles McCall bid farewell to his colleagues in the state Legislature with a heartfelt speech on the House floor. After serving for 12 years, the R-Atoka representative is now term-limited. The occasion was captured in a photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel of Oklahoma Voice.
Governor Kevin Stitt has signed over 80 laws that came into effect on Monday in Oklahoma City.
On Monday, a federal court blocked a law in Oklahoma that specifically targets undocumented immigrants. The law aimed to create a new criminal offense called “impermissible occupation,” which would penalize individuals who willingly entered Oklahoma without legal authorization to be in the United States.
Education saw a significant impact on Monday as 30 out of the 82 new laws implemented were related to it.
In order to improve education standards, one law mandates that cursive writing be taught to students between third and fifth grade. Additionally, another law stipulates that electronic communication between students and school personnel must involve a parent or guardian.
The Senate introduced a law mandating the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide an electronic application to all families for free or reduced school meals. This application system aims to streamline the process and make it easily accessible to everyone.
In 2023, the Statewide Charter School Board was established by a law to oversee the virtual charter schools in the state. The formation of this board has gained significant attention, especially after St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School declared that it will persist in its efforts to become a state-funded school, now presenting its case in front of this newly formed board.
Senate Bill 290 is one of the laws that have an impact on elections. The bill raises the pay of election inspectors, judges, and clerks, providing a significant boost to their remuneration. As per the new law, inspectors will now receive $225, which is a significant increase from the previous $110. Similarly, judges and clerks will now earn $200, up from $100. This law aims to recognize the hard work and dedication of these officials who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and fair conduct of elections.
A recent law dictates that incarcerated individuals will not be eligible for state tuition assistance or grants until five years after their release.
On Monday, several appropriation bills went into effect in Oklahoma as July 1 marks the start of the state’s fiscal year.
On July 1, a multitude of new laws will come into effect. This update was originally reported by Oklahoma Voice.