By Sen. Bill Coleman
Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton recently approved senators’ requests for nearly 75 interim studies that will take place at the Capitol through the late summer and early fall. The House Speaker is still reviewing more than 150 study requests from representatives. Because there’s often overlap between the chambers on key policy issues, a handful of interim studies will likely be conducted as joint Senate and House hearings.
I’m pleased to share that all my interim studies were approved. My next steps include scheduling hearing dates and lining up presenters. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear my interim study exploring recall elections for state and county officials, while my study addressing the ability of municipalities to regulate unoccupied buildings has been assigned to the Senate Local and County Government Committee. Meanwhile, my study on utilizing GPS tracking to protect domestic violence victims will be held in the Senate Public Safety Committee. I also requested a study to explore the numerous institutions that offer workforce services, which are vital to getting people employed and growing our economy. Specifically, I want to empower the leaders of various workforce initiatives to come up with a plan to work together to improve outcomes while reducing duplicative or wasteful services that aren’t moving the needle.
One of the studies I’ll be leading — Sports Betting: Why Don’t We Have It? — will be held in the Senate Business and Insurance Committee, which I chair. This study will be a chance for all stakeholders to discuss the potential pros and cons of Oklahoma becoming the 39th state to legalize sports betting. I anticipate inviting representatives from the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, the Governor’s Office and the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the discussion as we explore a path forward on this important issue that could be an economic boon for the state. The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association holds the keys to sports betting because the group represents many of the state’s Native American tribes, which have the exclusive right to offer gaming in this state. Meanwhile, Thunder officials have expressed an interest in offering sports betting at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and on non-tribal land. More than two dozen other NBA teams have their own sportsbook licenses. Considering the Thunder’s NBA championship win put Oklahoma in the global spotlight, I think now is the perfect time to explore why our state is one of the few that hasn’t legalized sports betting.
On that note, a huge congratulations to the Thunder on their championship victory. This achievement is a major win for the state as a whole. I had a great time at the championship parade through Oklahoma City. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced that level of excitement and positivity in such a massive crowd. With hundreds of thousands of fans lining the streets, the atmosphere was electric, and the joy was truly contagious.
Lastly, I’m growing increasingly concerned about the state of local water infrastructure across my district following the recent water line breaks in Hominy. This comes after severe winter weather did a number on the water service in Tonkawa back in February, and a rural water district in Northern Osage County seems to be hanging on by a thread. Municipal water infrastructure is aging and the cost of repairs can add up, which presents a major challenge for small towns and rural communities. This is a serious issue that demands attention and long-term solutions. I’m planning on making it a priority in the months ahead.
Your comments and concerns are of the utmost importance to me and my office. As always, please email me at [email protected] or call (405) 521-5581.
