https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=21

Rep. Cody Maynard, 2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard 341, Oklahoma City, OK (2026)

04/24/2026

Weekly Update

Carson Veenstra returned to page in my Capitol office this past week for his second year in a row.

Carson has shown himself to be a highly motivated and capable young man. He has taken full advantage of our concurrent enrollment options, taking college courses at Southeastern Oklahoma State University while also attending Durant High School. He'll graduate high school this year and enter college as a sophomore. Pretty incredible.

He's already been accepted into the University of Oklahoma where he'll study political science and pre-law. In high school, he's achieved a 4.25 grade point average and is on the Honor Roll. He's a member of the National Honor Society and the Oklahoma Honor Society. He's also on the Vice President's Honor Roll at Southeastern, where he serves in student government and has won an award in that role. He's a member of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature as well.

While at the Capitol, Carson was elected speaker for Pageville, a mock legislative session run by pages from across the state. Pages write, present and debate their own legislation, and they elect their own leader. It's quite an honor to be chosen from among this talented group of young people. Carson has a very bright future ahead, and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes next.

In legislative matters, House Bill 4319, of which I am a House author, has been signed into law. The bill's principal author, Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, has done a great job at improving the administrative rules process these past several years. This bill is another step at ensuring our state agencies do not exceed the authority granted to them by the Legislature. Too often we find agencies expanding their authority through the rule-making process, and this law will help make sure this no longer happens.

Also signed into law this week was Senate Bill 1778 that will strengthen Oklahoma's Strong Readers Act. This makes historic investments to ensure each Oklahoma public school student is reading on grade level by the end of third grade.

The legislation demands statewide early reading screenings, targeted interventions grounded in the science of reading, additional support and training for teachers, stronger accountability measures and improved communication with parents about their child’s reading progress.

Under the new law, schools will identify reading deficiencies earlier and provide evidence-based interventions to help students improve before they fall behind. The legislation also expands teacher training opportunities, increases classroom support for educators and establishes new expectations for colleges of education preparing Oklahoma’s future teachers. Data proves these programs get results.

Reading is not just another subject. It's a survival skill, the building block for all other learning. If we want kids who are ready for the challenges of higher learning, desirable careers and a better overall life, it starts with giving them the education they deserve, and early literacy is a cornerstone.

04/11/2026

Weekly Update
Roosevelt Bridge Project Moving Forward

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission this week announced approval of the joint venture of Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros., Inc. to move forward with the replacement of the US-70 Roosevelt Bridge over Lake Texoma. The commission says the project will deliver a modern structure designed to improve safety, reliability and long-term connectivity across the region. The next step will be for the selected team to deliver final design and construction services for the bridge replacement project.

The $408 million project will include:

Construction of a new four lane bridge across Lake Texoma;
Improvements to roadway approaches along US-70
Enhanced safety features, such as full shoulders and lighting
Coordination with local communities and regional partners throughout construction

Construction is expected to begin later this summer, with completion anticipated in the fall of 2029. The commission said the replacement project will modernize the aging structure while supporting continued travel, tourism and economic activity along the Lake Texoma corridor. The bridge currently carries 8,500 vehicles per day.

Also recently, House and Senate members launched the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Caucus. The caucus is comprised of lawmakers who are alumni of RUSO institutions or who support the RUSO system.

Our initial meeting brought together legislators, higher education leaders and campus representatives to discuss ways to keep public higher education affordable and high-quality across Oklahoma. An important role of higher education is to prepare students for careers critical to the state’s future, including teachers, nurses, business leaders, public servants and other workforce professionals who drive economic growth and strengthen communities statewide. I look forward to our continued conversations through this caucus.

The House and Senate this week passed the general appropriations bill, Senate Bill 1177. This overarching bill sets the framework for funding various state services and programs, from public education and childcare, to roads and bridges, water systems and other public infrastructure, to public safety services, health and mental health care and more. There will be other budget bills presented that specify how funding at each state agency is to be spent. But passing this main budget bill sets us up to potentially end our legislative session early this year.

The budget includes a $232 million increase for common education, supporting teacher pay raises and investing in initiatives that strengthen early literacy and ensure students build a solid foundation in math; a significant increase in common education funding.

This budget is a step in the right direction. While it is not without flaws, and I believe it could be more conservative, it makes meaningful investments where they matter most – education and infrastructure. From strengthening early literacy and supporting teachers, to improving roads, water systems, and rural access, this plan focuses on the core responsibilities of government while avoiding unnecessary expansion.

04/03/2026

Weekly Update
Focus on the State Budget

House and Senate leaders came together with the governor this week to announce budget agreement has been reached. It's the earliest date such an announcement has been made in anyone's recollection.

The almost $12.8 billion state budget will fund state services for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts July 1. This is a 1.27% increase from the current fiscal year.

It's important to note this budget was accomplished even as the Legislature has cut taxes by $1.6 billion over recent years.

With revenues remaining strong, we've been able to promise a large investment in education. This includes $85 million to fund a teacher pay raise, and a $27.3 million increase in teacher health insurance benefits. It also directs $80 million for reading and math initiatives, including efforts such as the Strong Readers Act, aimed at improving literacy in our state's youngest pupils. This will lead to better academic success for our students, and in turn better life outcomes.

Also appropriated is $15 million for Lake and Industrial Access Grants. These grants are important in our House district, where multiple projects have been funded over the past four years, helping us to resurface many of the roads around Lake Texoma.

The budget increases funding for health and mental health care and human services. At the same time, however, the Legislature is pursuing reforms to ensure these programs are sustainable in the future and that public support goes to those who need it most.

There's more money for public safety efforts, such as for a new Highway Patrol trooper academy and critical operations software updates for the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training as well as new facilities for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

This budget also maintains savings of about $3 billion to help us through any potential rainy day.

Every agency is held whole with the exception of the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which is taking a voluntary $3 million cut. The Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System also will receive a lessened allocation of only 7% as the system is currently funded at 107%. The only cuts were one-time expenses for the current year that will not carry forward.

No budget is perfect, and I want to be honest that there are parts of this agreement I still have questions about. I believe it is important to carefully review how every dollar is spent and make sure we are being responsible with your tax dollars. That said, much of this budget reflects the priorities I hear from folks back home. It invests in education, supports public safety, and maintains strong savings to protect our state in the future. While I do not agree with every line item, I believe this is a responsible overall budget and one I can support as it moves forward.

Budget bills will still be drafted and heard in House and Senate committees and then on the floor in each chamber, but we have a solid product to move forward.

03/31/2026

Weekly Update
More than 400 House Measures Sent to Senate

March 26 was the third-reading deadline for legislation to advance from its chamber of origin in the Legislature. All House measures had to advance to the State Senate, and all Senate measures had to move to the House in order to stay viable this session.

It was a very busy week with the House, hearing several hundred bills during our floor sessions. In total, we've sent 456 House measures to the Senate. Those bills now will be assigned to committees, and those that pass will be eligible for consideration on the floor of the opposite chamber. Only bills that pass in both legislative chambers are sent to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.

Here's a look at two of the bills I passed in the House during the week:

HB3552 would give childcare providers the ability to bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement rates and their standard tuition rates, while protecting the federal funding they receive through the Department of Human Services. We are one out of 10 states that do not currently allow this. It would help providers stay financially viable so they can continue serving families in our communities.

HB3544 would prevent minors from interacting with social artificial intelligence chatbots that are simulated to act like companions, expressing human-like emotions. There have been multiple incidences reported around the country of minors committing acts of self-harm after interacting with these bots. This bill would not limit the use of educational or therapeutic resources.

Another bill that now moves to the Senate is House Bill 4420, the strengthening the Strong Reader’s Act. 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.

The bill also includes accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade. Second graders would have the option of taking the state test. It would expand teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes. It includes new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers. A new funding formula would support all students, while also giving additional funds for students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth. It creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships.

Reading isn't like any other subject taught in school. It is the foundation of all other learning. We've watched as states like Mississippi implemented and stuck to rigorous reforms such as this, and we've seen the success of their students. We want that for Oklahoma kids. This is a significant piece of legislation that should help improve outcomes for our students for years to come.

03/06/2026

Weekly Update
Week 4: House Oversight Committee Deadline Met

The deadline for House bills and joint resolutions to pass out of oversight, Appropriations and Budget or rules committees was March 5.

We started the Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature with a total of 1,578 House bills and 50 House joint resolutions filed. We've cut that to about 500 measures eligible for third reading in the House.

A few measures have already been approved by the full membership of the House, but the next three weeks will be devoted to hearing those that remain. Bills must pass in both the House and Senate before they are sent to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law.

Here's a look at my bills that passed in committee during the week.

HB3548 passed the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee on Tuesday. The measure would exempt sales tax for businesses owned and operated primarily by individuals who are under the age of 18. The exemption would extend only if the business receives limited assistance from adults and if the business generates gross revenue of less than $1,000 during the calendar year. This will give youth a great way to get some business experience without being regulated or taxed by the government. If children want to run a lemonade stand for a week, neither they nor their parent should have to purchase multiple permits for them to sell lemonade in their front yard.

House Bill 3552 passed in the Health and Human Oversight Committee. This would give childcare providers the flexibility to bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement rates and their standard tuition rates, while protecting the federal funding they receive through the Department of Human Services. Oklahoma is one of ten states that do not allow this. It would help providers stay financially viable so they can continue serving families in our communities.

Also during the week, I had the pleasure of introducing Dr. Jantzen J. Faulkner as the Doctor of the Day for the House of Representative. Dr. Faulkner is an osteopathic family medicine resident physician in Durant, where he practices at Alliance Health Durant Hospital and the Durant Family Medicine Clinic. He is a native Oklahoman who grew up in Ardmore and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Oklahoma Baptist University and achieved his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Presently, he serves as the resident member of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees and is in the process of completing his residency training with OSU Center for Health Science Durant Family Medicine Program. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a fellowship in hospice and palliative care before returning to practice in rural Oklahoma. He aspires to provide quality and specialized care for the underserved and rural population of Oklahoma.

02/27/2026

Weekly Update
Week 4: House Passes SECURE Act bills

The House on Thursday, Feb. 26, passed two bills to ensure taxpayer dollars benefit only American citizens and those in the country legally and not those here illegally. The measures are part of the state’s commitment to Safeguarding Eligibility, Compliance and Use of Resources Efficiently (SECURE) when administering state and federal assistance.

House Bill 4422 specifies Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients are American citizens. Applicants would be verified through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements (SAVE) system.

House Bill 4423 is the same concept applied to Medicaid.

I am co-authoring both measures alongside the speaker of the House who spoke about the legislation on the House floor Thursday.

The speaker said the bills are not intended to target anyone but instead to protect American taxpayer dollars so that this assistance goes only to the American citizens and those in those in the country legally for whom it is intended.

This legislation makes clear that children who are eligible for these benefits continue to receive them. If a child's parents are here illegally, however, they risk the consequences of breaking the law.

We cannot afford to pay for this type of assistance for those in our country illegally. Even for legal recipients, this type of help is intended to be temporary, not as lifelong support.

It's been widely reported that big cuts are coming to the state in federal Medicaid matching dollars. Despite such warnings, state voters in 2020 amended the state's Constitution to expand Medicaid, adding an estimated quarter of a million residents to the program. Now, roughly one in four Oklahomans are enrolled in the state's SoonerCare program.

Also widely reported is our high rate of error in the handling of SNAP assistance. There are nearly 700,000 enrolled in SNAP. The state auditor said because of the state's "embarrassingly high" error rates, the state could lose $235 million a year if we do not correct course. This risks putting strain on many other areas of government – schools, roads, childcare, to name a few.

A recent editorial in The Oklahoman characterized the situation as akin to watching a train wreck in slow motion.

The point was made Thursday that eventually you run out of other people's money. Every Oklahoman is directly impacted by the expenditure of their tax dollars, and there are consequences to the state if those legally receiving these dollars must share them with those here illegally.

An argument was made that there is no evidence that undocumented people are receiving this assistance. If that were true, then no one would be harmed by the passage of these bills.

But the truth is, it's reported that 61% of households headed by those in our country illegally use at least one welfare service and possibly more.

Our country is a country of laws. To continue to live in harmony and safety, we must uphold our laws. Breaking the law is not the way to improve your situation or that of your children.

These bills both passed on straight party lines with votes of 80 to 18.

My colleagues and I agree with our president that the first duty of American government is to protect American citizens. It is not unreasonable that when we are prioritizing the needs of those in our state that we put the needs of those here legally first.

02/21/2026

Weekly Update
Week 3: FFA, FCCLA and Scouts Visit Capitol

This past week, FFA students from across the state visited the State Capitol as did students involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the House also adopted a resolution recognizing the day as Scout Day at the State Capitol.

I was pleased to be able to meet with a group of students from Calera FFA who stopped by my Capitol office.

These organizations do a lot to offer young people leadership opportunities as they learn agriculture and consumer science education. They also give youth the ability to participate in many hands-on activities such as showing livestock or participating in outdoor and public service projects. Learning the value of hard work and getting to express one's creativity are valuable life skills.

I'm thankful for the many educators and volunteers who take part in leading local chapters. These opportunities are particularly valuable in places like rural Oklahoma.

In the House this past week, we met our first major committee deadline. All bills had to advance from a policy committee or an Appropriations and Budget subcommittee in order to stay active this session.

I was able to pass two of my major policy bills in advance of the deadline.

House Bill 3544 would protect children when interacting with artificial intelligence chatbots that are designed to simulate emotional or human-like relationships. There have been multiple incidences reported across the country where children have committed self-harm after these chatbots have encouraged it. I am asking that the Oklahoma Legislature be proactive in putting some common-sense policies in place. These include ensuring chatbots that exhibit human-like features are inaccessible to minors by using an age-verification system.

House Bill 3548 would create the Oklahoma Youth Entrepreneurs Promotion and Development Act of 2026. The measure would exempt sales tax for businesses owned and operated primarily by individuals who are under the age of 18. The exemption would extend only if the business receives limited assistance from adults and if it generates gross revenue of less than $1,000 during the calendar year.

I heard of an instance in 2016, in which a young person's lemonade stand was shut down by Okmulgee police until the city's permitting process was updated.

This legislation would allow a child to run a lemonade stand for a week without having to purchase city permits. This would encourage real-world learning by allowing young people to operate small businesses without being buried in taxes and unnecessary red tape. I'm asking my fellow lawmakers that we teach our kids entrepreneurship before we regulate them.

Now that bills have passed initial policy committees, they face an oversight hearing. Only then are the eligible to be scheduled for consideration by the full membership of the House.

There's a long way to go in the process, but it's good to have the first step behind us.

02/13/2026

Weekly Update
Week 2: Durant Teacher in Running for State Award

Congratulations to Kasey Bennett who teaches science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses at Northwest Heights Elementary in Durant. She was named one of the 10 finalists for the 2026 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The award will be announced in June. If she wins, she will have a chance to compete for the National Teacher of the Year Award. I applaud her for this distinction.

This week, in the House of Representatives, I passed several bills out of subcommittees.

House Bill 3551 would ensure Oklahoma would no longer offer in-state tuition to those in the country illegally. Federal law does not permit this, and our current state law was in conflict resulting in a lawsuit. This would ensure compliance going forward.

House Bill 3545 would establish responsible standards for state agency use of artificial intelligence (AI), requiring human oversight for any high-risk decisions. The measure also would require transparency when AI content is used and annual reporting detailing what AI is used for in the state.

House Bill 3546 would make it clear that AI systems and other non-human inanimate objects will not be granted personhood in Oklahoma. This might sound like science fiction, but it's a real concern. This would ensure rights remain with people and prevent AI from being used to claim legal standing or avoid accountability under our laws. This reinforces a foundational principle reflected in the Declaration of Independence: that our rights do not come from government but are endowed by our Creator and recognized by our Constitution. Machines are created by man and must never be elevated to the status of the people they were designed to serve.

Feb. 19 is the deadline for all house bills to advance from subcommittee. We will see a drastic reduction of the number of bills that are still alive after that.

Also this week, the State Board of Equalization met to certify revenue for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts July 1. The board certified the Legislature will have the authority to appropriate almost $12.2 billion for FY27, which is down slightly from the more than $12.7 billion appropriated for FY26. Recurring revenue, however, is actually up: almost $11.1 billion for FY27 vs. $10.6 billion for FY26. This all has to do with General Revenue Fund carryover and how much our actual prior-year collections outperform our estimates. Recurring revenue signals true revenue growth year to year.

The takeaway for me is that we've been able to cut the state grocery tax and a quarter percent from the individual income tax, and our revenue is still very stable. This proves that when we allow taxpayers to keep more of their earnings, it still goes back into the economy.

The House budget team now will be able to earnestly begin negotiating with the State Senate to determine how much money will go to each state agency to provide services and programs for all Oklahomans. Traditionally, education gets the largest share of state funding, followed by public health, human services, transportation, public safety, natural resources and more.

02/06/2026

Weekly Update:
Week 1: Rose Day

During the first week of the legislative session each year, hundreds of supporters of sanctify-of-life and anti-abortion legislation gather at the State Capitol to deliver roses to elected officials. Each rose symbolizes the life of an unborn child. It's a reminder to us to treasure such life and to pass meaningful legislation to protect this most amazing gift from God.

This year, the House adopted House Resolution 1031, which stated, in part, that the Oklahoma House of Representatives has "led the nation in adopting legislation to defend unborn children" and that "Oklahoma will continue to lead the nation in the introduction and enactment of legislation to protect unborn children."

We also heard a presentation from keynote speaker Mia Armstrong, an actress, voiceover artist, author and advocate. Mia, who has Down syndrome, was joined by her mother, Cara. She recently told reporters she wanted to be a voice for babies like her who often don't get the opportunity to be born. Her story is touching and a stark reminder that all life is precious and valuable.

Also, this first week of session, I hosted a page in my Capitol office. Maddie Mueller is a senior at Colbert High School and the daughter of Micah Mueller and Crystal Bourque. Her academic achievements include securing an Oklahoma State University Partner's Board Scholarship as well as being a Kiwanis Scholarship nominee. She serves as vice president of membership for Oklahoma Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She's also a member of Student Council and on the newspaper staff at her school.

After high school, Maddie plans to attend OSU to study family and consumer science education with a minor in political science. She hopes to one day teach family and consumer sciences and become an advocate for career and technical education.

Maddie is an exceptional student and a great example of what hard work, determination and courage can accomplish. One of the best parts of serving at the Capitol is working with pages like her. Sometimes I am not sure who learns more from the Page Program, the students who come to experience state government, or me, as I get the opportunity to meet and learn from such impressive young leaders from our area.

Maddie’s involvement in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America has clearly played an important role in her growth It's a terrific organization that helps prepare the next generation of leaders in Oklahoma. Programs like this, along with the Page Program, give students a firsthand look at how government works while building the confidence and leadership skills they will carry into their future careers and communities.

The first week of session was a good opportunity for House pages as they got to listen to the governor deliver his annual State of the State address. While the governor outlined his priorities, it will be up the Legislature to pass bills that become law and create the state budget for the next fiscal year. That's a process that will take us through the remainder of our session.

06/07/2025

With our legislative session complete, it's time to review some of the significant legislation that was passed.

One major concern I hear regularly—especially in our district—is the condition of Oklahoma’s roads. This year, we took meaningful action by passing House Bill 2758, which creates the Preserving and Advancing County Transportation (PACT) Fund. This fund dedicates $71 million to improve county roads and bridges across all 77 counties. It raises the base county funding to $4,000 per road mile, helping address long-overdue maintenance and to enhance safety on our rural roads. This won’t fix every issue overnight, but it’s a significant step in the right direction—and at the very least, your coffee might survive the drive.

With the $324 million secured for the Roosevelt Bridge, it was also critical to start advancing other infrastructure priorities in our region. This year, we successfully secured $7 million to develop tournament-ready boat ramps at Lake Texoma, a project that will boost tourism and create regional jobs. We also secured $3 million for a new air traffic control tower at Eaker Field, strengthening our aviation economy and supporting local aviation education programs.

Another win was coauthoring and passing House Bill 2728, which creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. Every year, after legislation becomes law, agencies draft administrative rules to implement it. The problem comes when unelected agency directors or boards write rules that go beyond legislative intent—or worse, cost Oklahomans millions of dollars. This law stops those rules from taking effect unless first approved by the Legislature.

This year, I also served on the Administrative Rules Committee. One of the most urgent issues we addressed wasn’t a bill but a critical need for families and business owners across the state. Multiple daycare providers in our district alerted me that DHS had changed its rules in a way that would have significantly reduced funding for local childcare centers. This type of unchecked agency rule is exactly what the REINS Act is designed to catch—ensuring these decisions don't go into effect without legislative oversight. The change would have forced closures statewide, creating a crisis for working families. I met directly with the DHS director, secured an extension to the accreditation timeline and successfully negotiated grants to help centers cover the cost of compliance. This effort kept childcare providers open, affordable and accessible for working parents across our community and the state.

House Bill 2764 is another measure I’m proud to coauthor. It delivers a quarter-percent income tax cut for all tax brackets beginning in tax year 2026, restructures the brackets from six to four, and ensures the bottom bracket pays zero. It also establishes a clear path to eliminate the state income tax altogether if future revenue targets are met.

We also passed Senate bill 638, eliminating the mandatory 6% markup on many everyday goods like gasoline, groceries, and over-the-counter medicine. This unfair policy hurt consumers. This gives businesses more flexibility to set prices while still preventing large retailers from using predatory pricing to harm small businesses.

Another important measure signed into law is House Bill 1217, which prohibits sexually explicit or obscene performances in public places or anywhere minors may be present. It also blocks local governments from using public property to host such events. This protects children and ensures our public spaces remain safe and family-friendly. Violators can face up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

After months of oversight hearings, the Legislature also took decisive action to address serious concerns at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. We voted to remove the agency’s director, and the governor has appointed Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic as interim director. Admiral Slavonic previously served with distinction as director of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In total, more than 500 bills and joint resolutions were advanced to the governor and signed into law. A full summary of key legislation can be found at okhouse.gov then resources, publications, resource publications, then 2025 Highlights.pdf.

Rep. Cody Maynard

04/24/2026

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03/31/2026

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