Bills considered by lawmakers face long road to become law

Several House committees got right to work last week following Gov. Kevin Stitt’s State of the State address, approving more than 60 bills.

These measures face a long road to become law, but offer a glimpse into the issues lawmakers will prioritize in the coming weeks.

One of the most notable bills to advance was House Bill 1276 by Chad Caldwell, R-Enid. The measure would require public school districts to adopt a policy banning cell phones and smart watches beginning July 1. The bill notes that the policies should include exemptions for emergency use, including medical issues documented by a physician.

Also moving forward was House Bill 1240 by Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, which would grant legislators unrestricted access to inspect prison facilities. The bill advanced unanimously after an amendment was proposed to move oversight of the Department of Corrections’ Office of Inspector General from the executive director to the Board of Corrections.

Humphrey, who has sparred with the Department of Corrections for years over alleged poor conditions and operational issues, called the bill’s passage a win for transparency. Prison officials have maintained that the measure is unnecessary and lawmakers are welcome to visit facilities at any time.

‘We’re not attempting to visit during a riot or anything like that,’ Humphrey said in a statement after the bill passed. ‘But when we as elected officials hear something, this would allow us to go out and confirm that.’

The Senate focused mostly on budget issues during the first week, but will turn to committee work in the coming days. Also of note this week is Friday’s Board of Equalization meeting, where Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders will learn exactly how much the state has to allocate in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Oklahoma Watch (OklahomaWatch.org) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.