https://www.okhouse.gov/members/District.aspx?District=36

Rep. John George, 2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK (2026)

05/29/2026

In this week's column, I'm continuing to review some of the work accomplished during this year's legislative session.

In last week's column, I wrote about increased funding for education and how that will go toward teacher pay raises, increased insurance benefits, a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers and more.

In addition to more funding, there were several important policy successes for public school students. One is Senate Bill 1778, the Strong Readers Act. This will strengthen early literacy efforts through early reading screenings, targeted interventions grounded in the science of reading, additional training for teachers, stronger accountability measures and improved communication with parents. Reading is the most important skill we can teach our children to help them thrive in school and in their future careers.

Senate Bill 1360 is still awaiting the governor's action. This would create an Office of Mathematics Improvement within the State Department of Education to improve math instruction in elementary grades. The director must have experience teaching math and as an elementary mathematics specialist or coach. Behind literacy, math is the second most important skill we can help our students develop.

We also made the bell-to-bell cellphone ban permanent in state public schools. Parents and teachers say students are thriving without the distraction of their phones during the school day. Academic achievement is improving, as is student interactions with peers and educators.

In the area of public health care, we appropriated money to add a Level 1 Trauma Center in Tulsa under the Oklahoma State University Medical Authority. This will match the center the University of Oklahoma already has in Oklahoma City. We put money toward expanding and refurbishing residence halls and classrooms under the University Hospitals Authority. This will strengthen our healthcare workforce pipeline.

We dedicated funding to establish an Insulin Access and Affordability Program and to conduct more research in ALS.

The budget also includes funding for the Department of Mental Health to support efforts with the ongoing consent decree. This is to reduce wait times for defendants awaiting competency restoration treatment so they can stand trial for crimes committed.

We've also increased funding to the Department of Human Services for the Advantage Waiver. This provides alternatives to placement in a nursing facility for older adults and adults with disabilities, helping them stay independent and close to family and friends.

Funding also will go to childcare teacher recruitment and retention.

We're continuing our crackdown on the fentanyl crisis and strengthening drug awareness efforts. One of these bills is House Bill 1484, which creates Rain's Law, requiring age-appropriate fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness education in schools.

There's much more to report. I'll be tackling other areas of the state budget and policy changes in future columns.

Remember, even though the Legislature is not in session, my Capitol office remains open. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36.

05/22/2026

Now that the legislative session is adjourned, it's time to look back at some of the work we accomplished this year.

The biggest task each year is to pass a balanced budget. We did that earlier this year than anyone can remember in recent history.

About 51% of the state appropriated budget went to education, with about $4.2 billion planned for kindergarten through 12th-grade education. This is a $232 million increase over the current fiscal year and a 73.7% increase over the past decade. This budget included funding to give teachers a $2,000 raise and $23.7 million for increased health insurance benefits for educators. This also includes about $80 million for reading and math programs to help improve student learning.

The budget also includes a cost of living adjustment for most state retirees, including teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, judges and others. This ranges from a 3% increase for those retired 10 to 20 years, and a 6% increase for those retired 20 years or more.

Transportation, health and mental health care, public safety and other areas received important funding as well to provide needed services for Oklahomans.

Aside from the budget, we passed a number of significant reforms this session.

One of the largest issues for my constituents has been the concern over large data centers and the potential effect on local residents. With this in mind, we passed House Bill 2992, creating the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026. This requires data center developers and other large energy users to provide notice to the Corporation Commission, local county commissioners, and neighboring property owners within 60 days of buying land for a project. This legislation requires data centers to cover their electricity and infrastructure costs, and those costs cannot be passed onto Oklahoma ratepayers.

Senate Bill 259 would require data centers to use the closed loop system for water cooling, which should alleviate a lot of the water usage concerns. This bill has been sent to the governor. I'm hopeful he'll sign it into law.

We also adopted a number of public safety initiatives. One is Senate Bill 137, which excludes inmates convicted of driving under the influence that results in an accident with great bodily injury from eligibility in the ankle monitoring program by the Department of Corrections. The prevailing thought of the bill's authors is that those who commit this crime deserve to spend their time of incarceration behind bars where they can't be a threat to the public.

House Bill 4454 requires edible medical ma*****na products to clearly indicate the number of servings of THC in each package and the amount of THC in each individual serving to better educate and protect consumers. More importantly, however, the bill prohibits edible medical ma*****na products from being made in the shape of humans, cartoons or animals, or in a form of commercially available candy. This is hoped to keep children from accidentally ingesting these often potent products.

There's a lot more to look at from this session, I'll unpack additional bills in future columns.

In the meantime, even though the Legislature is not in session, my Capitol office remains open. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36.

05/15/2026

On May 8, I presented citations to state FFA degree recipients at Harrah FFA. Obtaining this degree takes hours of study and being able to demonstrate experience and knowledge in agriculture and leadership as well as participation in official functions and community service. It was an honor to help recognize these recipients who have worked hard for this achievement.

This week, I attended a sendoff celebration at Jones High School to cheer on their Special Olympic athletes as they loaded the bus to Stillwater for the Special Olympic Summer Games. These athletes worked so hard to earn their spot, and they exhibit such joy. It was great to be a part of this ceremony as well.

At the Capitol, the Second Session of the 60th Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday, May 14.

One of the last actions taken in the House was to adopt amendments on House Bill 1370, which should lead to lower gasoline prices here in the state, giving taxpayers some relief. President Donald Trump earlier this week asked Congress to suspend the federal gas tax. An obscure provision in our state law would have required Oklahoma’s state fuel tax to automatically raise by the same amount as any federal tax reduction. The amendment repeals that provision. The bill now moves to the governor with the hopes he will quickly sign this into law.

He already has signed multiple bills into law. Others have become law without his signature.

House Bill 3262 is one of the latter. This would allow sheriffs to increase the fee charged for warrant services from $50 up to $100 if needed. This fee has remained flat for 20 years. With rising costs associated with these services, it was time to allow this increase.

House Bill 3265 is another that became law without the governor's signature. This defines who qualifies as a mental health specialist for the purpose of determining eligibility for disability benefits in the Oklahoma Police Pension Retirement System.

I'm also an author on House Bill 3985, which was signed into law by the governor. This will allow property owners in municipalities with populations over 130,000 to submit compensation claims if a local government fails to address public nuisances or enforce laws against illegal public camping, obstructing public thoroughfares, loitering, panhandling, public urination or defecation, public consumption of alcohol, possession or use of illegal substances or shoplifting. Property owners will be able to claim compensation for a decrease in their property's fair-market value due to these issues.

I am the House author of Senate Bill 1405. This, too, became law without the governor's signature. This re-authorizes the income tax checkoff for donations made to the Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Fund to support wildlife conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, species protection and public education programs.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

05/08/2026

The governor is signing bills into law as the Legislature keeps sending measures to his desk.

My House Bill 3269 has been signed by the governor. This bill allows arrest warrants to be issued by phone or electronic communication in addition to being issued in person by a judge. This mirrors what already is allowed for search warrants. It will help law enforcement get criminals off the street faster.

House Bill 3262 was amended by the Senate and returned to the House for final passage. This would allow sheriffs to increase the fee charged for warrant services. This fee has remained flat at $50 for 20 years, even while costs associated with serving these have greatly increased. I initially requested sheriffs be allowed to charge up to $150, but the Senate amendment changed that to $100. The bill passed the House and has been sent to the governor.

House Bill 3265 has been sent to the governor. This would define who would qualify as a mental health specialist for the purpose of determining eligibility for disability benefits in the Oklahoma Police Pension Retirement System.

Silas Emrich, a senior at Christian Heritage Academy, paged in my Capitol office this week. He is the son of Bob and Felicia Emrich. He is a National Merit Scholar and a recipient of the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award. He plays violin in the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra and is a member of his school's track and field team. His plans after high school are to attend Oklahoma Christian University to study pre-medicine and biology.

While serving in the Capitol, Silas was able to attend legislative sessions and took part in a mock session with pages from across the state. He's a really sharp young man. I enjoyed giving him the opportunity to learn more about state government. We had a busy week trying to finish our work in both chambers, so this was a good one for Silas to attend.

On a final note, several of our district Main Street programs were recognized during Main Street Day at the Capitol this week. Luther Main Street set up a booth in the Second Floor Rotunda alongside other participants from across the state. Workers shared pictures of the community then and now as well as information on Luther Market Days, held the third Saturday April through October, featuring local vendors, food trucks and music. They also advertised the Luther Fire Department Annual Soapbox Derby, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, on Main Street. The free community event features child and adult racing, vendors and food, with proceeds benefiting the local fire department.

Choctaw, East End Oklahoma City and Edmond Main Streets were recognized as Network level programs added since May 2025. The Oklahoma Main Street Center, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, helps revitalization efforts in local downtowns and historic commercial districts, generating greater public and private investment, leading to new jobs, expansion of small businesses and increased economic development.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

05/01/2026

In the Legislature this week, we are finishing up hearing Senate bills in the House, while the Senate considers remaining House bills. Those that pass both chambers move to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.

My House Bill 3269 is one that has been sent to the governor. This bill would simply allow arrest warrants to be issued by phone or electronic communication in addition to being issued in person by a judge. This already is allowed for search warrants and would help law enforcement get criminals off the street faster.

In the House, I passed Senate Bill 1405. This bill re-authorizes the income tax checkoff for donations made to the Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Fund. This supports wildlife conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, species protection and public education.

We passed several other significant bills in the House this week.

Senate Bill 201 would give teachers and other certified school personnel a $2,000 pay raise beginning with the next school year. Raises will not apply to school administrators. The bill was amended in the House, so it returns to the Senate for final passage before it moves to the governor.

House Bill 1276 would require public school districts to permanently adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones on campus during the school day. We adopted this for the current school year, and teachers, administrators, parents and students all report success. Students learning is improving. Students are interacting with each other. It's been positive, and I'm glad to see this move to make this permanent. The bill has been sent to the governor.

Something of interest in our House district might be House Bill 3147, which authorizes the creation of the Route 66 Centennial License Plate. The new plate commemorates the 100th anniversary of U.S. Highway 66, established Nov. 11, 1926. In 2026, Route 66, often called the Mother Road, is being celebrated nationwide throughout the year. A portion of the historic highway runs through our House district and draws a number of visitors. We expect to see an increase this year as we celebrate the centennial. The measure became law without the Governor’s signature after passing unanimously in both the House and Senate.

Also this week at the Capitol, we celebrated Ag Day. Exhibitors from all across the state visited showing some of the products and programs they offer. Agriculture is one of Oklahoma's leading industries, providing nearly 200,000 jobs, and contributing more than $28 billion to our state's economy. Between our farmers and ranchers and our food and fiber producers, our agriculturalists touch every aspect of life in our state. It's always good to have our agriculture producers visit the seat of state government.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

04/24/2026

April 19 was the 31st anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. I think everyone in Oklahoma and most of the nation is aware of the events of that terrible day in 1995, when 168 innocent people, including 19 children, were killed by a brutal act of domestic terrorism.

We observed this anniversary in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday. We recognized several people who served as first responders. Among those was a doctor who served as part of a team that performed an amputation on a woman who was trapped in the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, just an hour and a half after the bombing.

I was working as an Oklahoma City police officer at the time of the bombing and went to the site that morning. I was not part of the search and rescue efforts; I was instead assigned to a specialized unit at the time. But the courage of the first responders and others who performed truly heroic acts to rescue people that day and who aided in the recovery over the following weeks is worthy of our honor.

It's important that we not forget the events of this day, and that we teach the next generation. I'm glad for the efforts of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum toward this goal. They are visiting all 77 counties, planting seedlings from the Survivor Tree and sharing their Journey of Hope and Better Conversations with students.

It was fitting that I had a page serve in my House office this week to take part in this observance. Rory Joseph, a senior at Jones High School, is the daughter of Casey Joseph and Jessica Grigsby. Rory is top 10 in her class and a member of the National Honor Society with a 3.9 grad point average. She's an FFA officer, a 4-H county officer and class vice president. She a member of Jones Against Drugs, MU Alpha Theta, which is the National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society, and Key Club. She serves on the yearbook, plays golf, is on the Science Museum Teen Board and a member of Youth Action Health Leadership, a Kids Against To***co program sponsored by the To***co Settlement Endowment Trust.

After high school, she wants to either attend Oklahoma State University to major in veterinary medicine or go to the University of Colorado in Boulder to study radiology.

Rory was a great addition to my Capitol office this week. She got to participate in a mock legislative session and attend our regular House sessions. She also was at the Capitol for Route 66 Day and 4-H Day.

Route 66 runs right through our House District, and this is the centennial year for the Mother Road, so it's a big deal to celebrate all this road has to offer, including some new attractions in our district like the 30-foot Luther Route 66 sign.

4-H, meanwhile, is a terrific organization that helps our youth develop life skills, show animals, participate in agriculture projects, learn to express their creativity and so much more.

In the Legislature, we're passing the remainder of our budget bills. Thursday is the deadline for all bills from the opposite chamber to be passed out of oversight committees. We'll hear more of those bills on the House floor in the coming week. The Senate will continue hearing our House bills.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

04/17/2026

This week, the House and Senate convened in joint session to recognize the contributions of the nearly 9,000 soldiers and airmen and employees that make up the Oklahoma National Guard. Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, the adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, gave the history of the guard's service, stretching back to 1890, when it was established as a Territorial Militia. But he also spoke of the gravity of the moment for the United States in light of world events.

"We sit here in the safety and comfort of our historic Chamber," Mancino said, "while our military has men and women standing watch in harm's way in the Middle East."

It's sobering. I spent five years in the Oklahoma National Guard and more than 30 years in law enforcement. I'm well aware of the cost of service, and I'm grateful to every person who has willingly put on a uniform and said yes to this duty. Their bravery, dedication and sacrifice is noted and honored. Thank you to these courageous heroes.

Speaking of our veterans, this week, Donald Carl Turnquist, of Newalla, was invited to take part in an Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight visit to Washington, D.C. Turnquist is a Korean War veteran. This organization provides our veterans with an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C. to visit the war memorials built in their honor. The latest group left Monday and returned home Tuesday. I'm grateful to Mr. Turnquist for his service to our nation and his willingness to sacrifice all for our freedom and safety. I'm glad he was invited to go on this trip.

Another hero worthy of recognition is Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Vernon Brake. He was laid to rest Tuesday after he was killed in a crash on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City a week ago. Hundreds gathered for his funeral and to express their support and condolences for his wife and two children. Also killed was a mother and her young daughter. This entire event was tragic. It's always hard to say goodbye to a public servant. My family and I are certainly praying for these families, and will lend support in whatever way we can.

Meanwhile, the Legislature is working its way through the remaining budget bills that specify agency spending for various programs and services to support Oklahomans. We're also hearing remaining policy bills from the opposite chamber in our oversight committees. We'll continue to hear numerous measures on the House floor over the next few weeks. We're hopeful of concluding our session early, but that remains to be determined.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

04/10/2026

The House and Senate this week passed the general appropriations bill to fund state government for Fiscal Year, 2027, which starts July 1.

Senate Bill 1177 now moves to the governor to be signed into law.

Budget leaders point out that this bill is the backbone of the state budget and sets the framework for state agency appropriations. These are included in separate pieces of legislation that detail the limits for how each agency must spend appropriated state dollars.

The almost $12.8 billion budget includes a $232 million increase in common education funding for teacher pay raises and initiatives to help young students learn to read and understand fundamental math skills. Additionally, the budget increases funding for public safety, health care and mental health services while also making targeted investments in critical infrastructure projects and economic development initiatives. It also puts millions toward investments in water infrastructure to give every Oklahoma access to clean and drinkable water.

While no budget is perfect, this is a conservative product that keeps services whole for Oklahomans that need them.

Also this week in the Legislature, we recognized Firefighters Day at the Capitol on April 7. The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association sends members every year to the Capitol to meet with legislators and to help inform the public about the important work performed by these vital first responders. They held a legislative reception and a chili cookoff at the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum. It's always good to have the opportunity to express our appreciation for their service and to hear their concerns and how we can strengthen state laws to improve their working conditions and their lives.

On Wednesday at the Capitol, we observed Sportsmen's Day. Members of the Sooner state's sporting-conservation community gathered to celebrate our shared outdoor heritage and to discuss ways we can protect the rights of sportsmen and women. We had a number of exhibitors' booths in the Second-floor Rotunda to showcase some of what the state has to offer, whether hunting and fishing or conservation efforts. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation works through a nationwide network of bipartisan sportsmen’s caucuses, CSF engages directly with governors, legislators and state agencies to advance smart conservation policy, protect access and opportunity, and defend against threats to our outdoor traditions.

It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

04/02/2026

This week in the House, I helped recognize members of the Choctaw High School Drama Team, which recently earned the Oklahoma Secondary School Activity Association 6A One Act Play Regional Championship, along with the Outstanding Tech Award. The team now has 19 state championships. What an incredible accomplishment.
I, along with Rep. Robert Manger, honored several students on the House floor: Kylee Austin, Brody Bork, Rylie Brown and Jett Campbell. Each were recognized for the highest levels for their performances in the production of "Dracula." Also on the floor were two of the directors, Maryjane Burton and Sierra Posada. The rest of the team joined in the House gallery.
Also this week, I attended the FFA legislative dinner. I was able to sit with members of Jones FFA. This is such a great organization that provides our youth opportunities to excel in agricultural projects, showing livestock and other leadership activities. A tagline on the FFA website says, "Growing the next generation of leaders who will change the world." I wholeheartedly believe this to be true.
In the Legislature, meanwhile, House and Senate leaders announced a budget agreement. We'll still have to run legislation through various committees and on the floor of each chamber, but to have an agreement this early is quite an accomplishment.
This budget includes almost $80 million for reading and math programs in public schools, and $85 million for teacher pay raises as well as $23.7 million to pay increases in flexible benefits.
For public safety, we hope to appropriate $6.75 million to hold a Highway Patrol trooper academy and $1.8 million to help the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training update critical operations software. We also plan to increase the contribution to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, and we want to put additional money toward the District Attorney's Council and raises for court workers. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation would receive $20.2 million for a forensic center and warehouse, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs would receive $28 million for a new headquarters and warehouse.
The budget includes a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for participants in state pension plans. Generally, the COLA is structured as a 3% increase for those retired 10 to 20 years and a 6% increase for those retired more than 20 years.
The state election board would receive $12 million to upgrade voting software. We anticipate spending $3.7 million for critical dam repairs and $10 million for rural water grants to be managed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. There are many other facets to the budget as well, including funding for health and mental health care, transportation and more. This is a fiscally responsible budget that includes about $3 billion in savings for the future even as we've been able to cut state taxes by about $1.6 billion over the last few years.
It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

03/27/2026

This is deadline week in the Legislature. All bills have to advance from their chamber of origin in order to stay active this session.

I was able to send all nine of my priority bills to the Senate in advance of the deadline. I'll be working with Senate authors to get these bills passed in that chamber and sent to the governor to be signed into law.

Two of my bills passed the floor this week.

House Bill 3265 defines who would qualify as a mental health specialist for the purpose of determining eligibility for disability benefits in the Oklahoma Police Pension Retirement System.

House Bill 3267 would make the crime of breaking and entering an occupied dwelling a stand-alone felony offense. Currently, under state law, law enforcement has to prove there is an intent to commit another crime before this can be charged as a felony.

Another bill that passed this week in the House that's been watched closely by my constituents is House Bill 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026. This aims to shield Oklahoma families and small businesses from higher utility costs tied to large-scale energy users like data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and artificial intelligence facilities. The bill defines "large load customers" as new facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand and clarifies that residential, commercial and traditional industrial customers are not included in that classification.
House Bill 4420, the strengthening the Strong Reader’s Act, also passed this week. This bill, authored by the speaker of the House, is about ensuring Oklahoma students can read on grade level by the time they finish third grade. The legislation includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports, among many other supports for children. Reading is not just another subject, it's a survival skill needed for all other learning. We have to have strong readers if we want children to succeed in school, work and life.
On Wednesday of this week, I recognized Dr. Arlen Foulks, DO, as the Doctor of the Day in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Dr. Foulks is from Choctaw. He has degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Since 2011, he has served as an assistant professor at the OU Health Sciences Center and, since 2015, as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at OSU Center for Health Sciences. Nationally, Dr. Foulks is chair of the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics and sub-chair of the AOBP Neonatal Board Examination. At the state level, he serves on the Medical Advisory Committee for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, acts as neonatal medical director for critical care transports at OU Health, and is medical director for the Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Stillwater Medical Center. He regularly delivers lectures on neonatal-perinatal topics throughout Oklahoma.
It was a pleasure to recognize Dr. Foulks on the House floor and have him serve with us for the day.
It's an honor to serve the people of District 36. Please feel free to continue to reach out with any thoughts or concerns on legislation. I can be reached at (405) 557-7322 or at [email protected].

Rep. John George

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

05/15/2026

05/08/2026

05/01/2026

04/24/2026

04/17/2026

04/10/2026

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03/27/2026

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