Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

Legislation creating an online jobs center through the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) has been sent to the governor's desk. House Bill 3595, authored by Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, would allow the agency to require claimants to take a skills test, create an account and add a resume to the online platform. "House Bill 3595 presents an opportunity to streamline job matching, empower job seekers and close the hiring gap in Oklahoma," Hill said. "Through this measure, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission can better connect individuals with employment opportunities while ensuring accountability in the unemployment benefits system. This legislation marks a proactive step towards a more efficient and effective job market for all Oklahomans." Under the bill, OESC could also require claimants to apply to a minimum number of jobs. Failure to apply or participate would result in the termination of benefits for a full period of unemployment. Additionally, OESC must verify the eligibility of claims filed and may cross-check various state and national databases to verify eligibility. The measure was authored in the Senate by Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson. "With this measure we are modernizing our approach to anti-fraud measures that will benefit Oklahoma employees without burdening claimants," Alvord said. "In fact, the anti-fraud measures in this bill have been recommended by both republican and democrat administrators. HB 3595 strengthens job search opportunities for individuals applying for and receiving unemployment benefits and contains robust protections to stop waste, fraud, and abuse." If signed into law, HB3595 would take effect Nov. 1.

Oklahoma could soon become a frontrunner in digital currency legislation after the Oklahoma House of Representatives sent House Bill 3594 to the governor's desk on Wednesday. The bill was introduced by state Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, and outlines landmark regulations of blockchain applications, which allows transparent information sharing within a business network. Blockchain technology is common in cryptocurrency, as well as other industries. "House Bill 3594 lays a foundation for protecting individuals' rights to their digital assets," Hill said. "By providing clarity and protection now, we can ensure free market practices remain the guiding principles in this burgeoning industry." HB3594 outlines actions that the state and local governments are prohibited from doing to hinder the use of digital assets for purchases, commercial asset mining, home asset mining, staking or operating nodes on a blockchain network. Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, carried the bill in the Senate. "Oklahoma currently has no laws addressing or regulating bitcoin and blockchain, but I hope that’s about to change," Coleman said. "House Bill 3594 will put our state on the forefront of the exploding digital asset industry by ensuring our residents have a right to use cryptocurrency for legal transactions." If signed into law, HB3594 would take effect Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House today adopted Senate amendments to a bill that would require school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with a student to include the student's parent or guardians. House Bill 3958, authored by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, now moves to the governor. "There have been absolutely too many reports of inappropriate digital communications shared between educators and students, whether that be inappropriate pictures or texts of a sexual nature," Conley said. "These have long-term devastating effects for young people and can ruin the lives of educators when they are wrongly accused. It's our desire that teachers and coaches be able to share homework assignments or team communications freely with their students, but including a parent or guardian protects the students and the educators from any potential impropriety. This also keeps parents fully engaged in their child's education." Exceptions may be made in case of an emergency, subject to subsequent notification to the parent or guardian. The measure stipulates that school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians in communications with students. HB3958 specifies that schools shall provide training, developed by the State Department of Education, for school personnel on the student communication requirements within the act. Any school personnel reported to be in violation of the new act shall be put on administrative leave while the school district investigates the incident and notifies the local and state boards of education. If the investigation finds no misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated with the incident noted in the employee's file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the school personnel's employment shall be terminated, and the incident shall be reported to law enforcement pursuant to state statute. The act would become effective July 1. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the Senate author of the measure.