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Rep. John George This is the official page for Oklahoma State Representative John George.

Tourism contributes more than 100,000 jobs to Oklahoma, and visitor spending in 2025 is reported to have reached nearly ...
10/16/2026

Tourism contributes more than 100,000 jobs to Oklahoma, and visitor spending in 2025 is reported to have reached nearly $12.8 billion across the state. The House Tourism Committee's work, therefore, is important. Here's a look at a few bills that passed in this committee last session that have been signed into law.

House Bill 3880 made the publishing of the "Oklahoma Today" magazine, by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, optional rather than mandatory. Due to increased printing and production costs that greatly outweigh the revenue generated by the magazine, the department made the decision to discontinue production of the magazine at the end of this year.

There will be no reduction in staff, however. Remaining staff will instead focus on other communications created through the office's Travel and Promotion Division. This bill also allows these employees to earn commission on sales from advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and merchandise related to these publications and additional tourism promotions. This gives additional flexibility to compensate employees in ways that will benefit all Oklahomans.

Senate Bill 1327 restores the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission's powers, including the authority to appoint and set compensation for the executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. This authority was removed about eight years ago, and we saw several negative scenarios as a result of the department not having this additional oversight.

The eight commission members must have experience in a field related to economic growth and tourism development, and the governor must appoint a chair, vice chair and secretary. The commission must meet at least quarterly, with special meetings called by the chair or any three members.

It's hoped that by restoring this oversight, we'll have a better product and more transparency in this important agency going forward.

Senate Bill 2065 creates the “Lucile Morehouse Pollinator Act,” designating key species as official state symbols to highlight their roles in Oklahoma's agriculture and ecosystems. The bill recognizes the following pollinators, beneficial predators and soil-supporting insects that contribute directly to crop production, pest control and land health.

• European honeybee as the state agricultural pollinator;
• American bumblebee as the state native insect;
• Carolina mantis as the state predator insect; and
• Rainbow scarab as the state soil conservation insect.

The bill's House author said that while symbolic, this bill promotes awareness of conservation and agricultural sustainability without creating new regulations or cost to the state.

The legislation is named in honor of Lucile Morehouse, a 15-year-old Oklahoma 4-H State Ambassador and founder of Lucile’s Pollinator Project, which is dedicated to pollinator education. Since launching her project at age 11, Morehouse is reported to have educated millions of people through workshops, educational resources, media outreach, legislative advocacy and partnerships promoting pollinator-friendly habitats across Oklahoma and beyond. This is incredible for someone so young.

Senate Bill 2159 designates wheat as the State Crop of Oklahoma. The bill's Senate author notes that wheat has been a major cash crop since before Oklahoma became a state, and it remains a major contributor to our agricultural industry and statewide economy. Formally recognizing this critical grain as our state crop honors our wheat farmers and celebrates the hard work they put into every harvest.

Please 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.

The House State Powers Committee reviews legislation related to state sovereignty, constitutional authority and specific...
10/12/2026

The House State Powers Committee reviews legislation related to state sovereignty, constitutional authority and specific state-level statutory regulations. The intent is to guard against federal overreach and preserve the powers belonging solely to the state.

The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution makes clear that any powers not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, are reserved to each respective state, or to the people at large.

This committee was very active in 2020 when COVID protocols from state to state and among local governments were being questioned. In Oklahoma, the governor made it clear very early that mask ordinances, school attendance, the ability to gather at churches for worship and at other public events should be determined at the local level, but that we would not as a state be locking down as some other states were doing. The Legislature followed with several important pieces of legislation emphasizing the state's sovereignty in these areas.

This committee also has considered legislation regarding federal overreach in areas such as fi****ms, foreign-adversary oversight and land ownership, among other topics.

Here's a look at a few bills the committee passed this year that have been signed into law.

House Bill 3431 prohibits foreign terrorist organizations and specifically designated nationals, as respectively determined by the U.S. Secretary of State and Department of the Treasury, from owning or leasing land or critical minerals in the state. This is important to the safety of our state residents and protects our resources.

Senate Bill 1287 modifies licensing requirements for abstractors, including adding citizenship and work authorization requirements and clarifying criminal background check provisions. This requires the Oklahoma Abstractors Board to deny licenses to applicants who lack legal authorization to work, do not reside in, or are not physically present in the United States. The measure maintains the existing fee structure with a maximum fee of $150 for abstract licenses and renewals.

Please 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.

The House Rules Committee considers a variety of legislation throughout the legislative session. Here's a look at some o...
10/02/2026

The House Rules Committee considers a variety of legislation throughout the legislative session. Here's a look at some of the bills that passed in that committee this year that are now signed into law.

House Bill 1675 created the state's first statewide youth camp safety law focusing on severe weather preparedness and emergency planning. The legislation came about after the deaths of 27 girls, now known as "Heaven's 27," who lost their lives in 2025 during flooding at Camp Mystic in Hunt, TX. This measure updates procedures for how camps in Oklahoma are to receive emergency alerts and report to parents and local emergency management officials as well as staff training requirements.

House Bill 3499 allows special judges to hear applications involving the issuance of the title for motor vehicles, manufactured homes, vessels or other titled property. This helps reduce unnecessary delays and eases the workload on district courts.

House Bill 3501 allows the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission to issue multiple licenses for manufacturing beverages on the same premises. The bill would still require separate licenses for brewing, distilling or winemaking, but currently these can't be done under the same roof. This would cut some unnecessary red tape and regulation, allowing all three to be done on the same premises if the applicant is in good standing with ABLE and the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

House Bill 4237 requires the court at sentencing to impose any financial assessments and offer to conduct an ability to pay hearing to determine the ability of the defendant to satisfy the financial obligations.

House Joint Resolution 1023 updates workers’ compensation rates, which is routinely done every two years.

House Joint Resolution 1087 resulted in State Question 844, which was on the Aug. 25 primary runoff ballot. The question asked whether to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to change how local governments are reimbursed for a five-year ad valorem tax exemption for manufacturers. The question failed, leaving the reimbursement as is.

Senate Bill 171 requires the commissioner of public safety to commission up to two peace officers within the security team of both the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Commissioned officers must obtain and maintain certification as full-time peace officers. The jurisdiction of the commissioned officers is to be pursuant to state statute and includes all powers of arrest and will be effective only while in the performance of official duties.

Senate Bill 2184 merges multiple versions of state statutes that have been amended and repeals duplicate sections. The measure does not create new law. This is standard legislation we run every year to clean up state statutes.

Please 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.

This week, I write about some of the legislation passed in the House Public Safety Committee that has been signed into l...
09/25/2026

This week, I write about some of the legislation passed in the House Public Safety Committee that has been signed into law.

House Bill 3521 repeals the Oklahoma Financial Transaction Reporting Act in state statute and establishes the Oklahoma Money Transmission Modernization Act, creating a new framework for regulating, licensing and supervising money transmission businesses under the Oklahoma Banking Department. This increases transparency across this industry and puts several important protections in place to safeguard Oklahomans from fraudulent money transactions. These include additional licensing requirements for payment processors, restricting licensing for someone who lost a license in another state, warnings that must be included on digital asset kiosks, among other updates.

House Bill 3982 modernizes how Oklahoma handles temporary license plates for vehicles purchased in state. The measure provides for a temporary license plate for 10 days for Oklahoma residents, 60-day plates for nonresidents in-transit, and 90-day plates for commercial fleet vehicles. This will save buyers and businesses time, reduce waste and create a clearer process for dealers, buyers and the state.

Senate Bill 1636 establishes exact procedures for law enforcement to review cold cases involving violent crimes. This sets up a better procedure for violent crime cold cases to be investigated with the hope this brings many of these cases to resolution. One of the authors of the legislation pointed out that there are at least 1,000 Oklahoma families that have waited for years for justice for their loved ones. This could give them an opportunity to finally have the answers and the justice they deserve.

Senate Bill 1687 allows someone to be issued a Class D license if they had been issued an intermediate Class D license for one year and are at least 18 years of age. An Oklahoma Class D license is a standard, non-commercial driver's license used to operate regular passenger vehicles, SUVs and light trucks. The measure also provides that a certified driver education instructor or designated examiner is permitted to proctor the knowledge written examination.

Senate Bill 1221 requires Service Oklahoma to enact a system that enables an individual to track the mailing status of a driver license or ID card issued to the individual by or before Jan. 1, 2027. The system must electronically update the individual about any change to the mailing status of the credential. The measure also directs Service Oklahoma to create a system that allows individuals to request expedited delivery of the credential at the time of issuance for a $25 fee.

Please 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.

Following is a look at legislation that is now law that passed through the House Public Health Committee. House Bill 393...
09/18/2026

Following is a look at legislation that is now law that passed through the House Public Health Committee.

House Bill 3931 extends the time frame to correct a death certificate. Previously, only one year was allowed. As the author of the measure states, when a family is grieving, paperwork is not always the first thing on their mind. If an error is discovered later, they should still have a fair opportunity to make it right.

House Bill 3934 increases the services dental assistants and hygienists are allowed to perform for patients and expands the list of recognized accrediting agencies. This will help fill gaps in areas where people lack access to dentists. The measure also updates the definition of treatment facility to include a church with a non-profit clinic. In addition, the measure allows a patient of record to be established by teledentistry for emergency or hygiene treatment if the patient is physically located at the office or facility and the dentist is not readily available. Finally, the new law will help strengthen Oklahoma’s dental workforce by streamlining the path for qualified dentists and dental hygienists to practice in our state.
House Bill 4336 clarifies violations for administering unauthorized pain management treatments. A physician practicing interventional pain management without the appropriate license violates either the Oklahoma Allopathic and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act or the Oklahoma Osteopathic Medicine Act. A nurse engaging in similar practice without proper supervision is violating the Nursing Practice Act. Both are subject to discipline that could lead to license revocation.

Senate Bill 206 declares emergency medical services provided by public entities as essential services for the purpose of qualifying for critical federal funding. Ambulance services provided by a municipality, county, ambulance service district or other public entity are considered essential services.
Senate Bill 904 prohibits state Medicaid reimbursement for gender transition procedures and bars the use of public funds or state property for those procedures. This strengthens oversight of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program and ensures responsible stewardship of public funds.

Senate Bill 1344 creates the Oklahoma Insulin Access and Affordability Program to help expand access to affordable insulin and encourage domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Senate Bill 1833 directs the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to submit a request for a federal waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services to prohibit the use of Oklahoma’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks and any other foods the director of the department deems to be an unhealthy food item. This strengthens the integrity of SNAP by promoting healthier food purchases and reducing waste, fraud and abuse in the system.

Please 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.

Whether it's at college, university or one of the state's CareerTechs, higher education plays an important role in prepa...
09/10/2026

Whether it's at college, university or one of the state's CareerTechs, higher education plays an important role in preparing students for future jobs and community involvement. This in turn strengthens the state by facilitating growth and development among existing businesses and attracting job creators to Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education report that every dollar of state appropriations invested in state system colleges and universities generates $17.48 in economic output. The total economic impact of public higher education in Fiscal Year 2024 was $14.61 billion. Oklahoma CareerTech reports 517,752 students enrolled in FY25 and 10,604 companies served.
The role of the House Postsecondary Education Committee is thereby very important. This committee considers legislation that affects policies and funding for these institutions. Here's a look at some of the legislation enacted this year.
Senate Bill 1477 clarifies that concurrent enrollment courses are only for eligible students who are between the ages of 13 and 21.
Senate Bill 1633 brings Oklahoma statute into alignment with federal law. Prior to this, students were able to use applications for U.S. citizenship or an affidavit saying the student would complete an application at their earliest opportunity in order to gain in-state tuition rates, scholarships and other financial benefits at our state higher education institutes. A 2025 federal consent judgment in United States v. State of Oklahoma declared that Oklahoma’s policy allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition is unconstitutional.
Senate Bill 1670 requires the State Regents to establish policies that encourage the development of aerospace and defense technology in state colleges and universities. Aerospace and defense combined comprise our state's second largest industry. It's important we have skilled and trained workers to support growth in these fields. The measure also updates the requirements of the State Regents' model policy on whether university students and staff can own interests in technology they create. The measure requires any such policy to include a tiered system of ownership based on the amount of revenue generated from any new technology. The inventor of any technology must be compensated similarly to other institutions. Such policies must be reviewed every seven years to ensure they remain competitive with other state's institutions.
Senate Bill 1725 protects First Amendment rights on public college and university campuses. The measure prevents public colleges and universities from punishing students for their free speech unless their behavior meets the state’s legal definition of harassment, which is narrowly tailored under state law as behavior that is so unwelcome, severe and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a student equal access to educational opportunities.

Please 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.

The House Insurance Committee considers legislation that affects property, auto, healthcare and other types of insurance...
09/04/2026

The House Insurance Committee considers legislation that affects property, auto, healthcare and other types of insurance. The committee passed the following bills this year that are now signed into law.
House Bill 3781 requires insurance companies to submit proposed rate increases to the Oklahoma Insurance Department for review prior to taking effect, rather than just raising rates without notifying customers. Rate increases will have to be publicly posted so Oklahomans can see exactly what changes are being proposed and when they would take effect. The author of the bill said this will bring transparency to the rate-filing system in Oklahoma. This also gives the commissioner a way to potentially challenge rates that are unreasonably high, discriminatory or unfair.

Senate Bill 1443 provides that all health benefit plans must consider the patient’s physical status and the complexity and urgency of care when determining the necessity of services and calculation of benefit payment amounts for anesthesia services. This just ensures anesthesiologists are paid for the actual work they perform, reflected by the acuity level of the patients they are treating.

Senate Bill 1447 better regulates contracts between pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and state employee health plans. The goal is to safeguard the Oklahoma Employee Insurance Plan. This clarifies that the state maintains ownership of all plan-specific data, complete authority over formularies and utilization management, broad audit rights and the option to choose transparent drug-pricing models. PBMs are prohibited from modifying formularies without state authorization, steering patients to their affiliated pharmacies, implementing less favorable terms for non-affiliated pharmacies, establishing gag clauses limiting the state's ability to share records and unjustifiably excluding certain pharmacies from the network. The measure requires PBMs to disclose any affiliates or subcontractors before the contract is finalized, pass through all rebates, maintain System and Organization Controls (SOC) Type 2 certification and quickly provide claim-level data without added fees beyond fixed administrative charges. PBMs also must submit a report detailing each itemized drug claim and provide impact analyses for each change to the plan design before the change can be approved. Additionally, any non-compliant contract term is voidable by the state, and requests for proposals for PBM services must include proof of compliance with sample contract language.
Senate Bill 1920 increases the salvage rate, or the percentage of cost to repair a vehicle as it relates to returning title to Service Oklahoma, from 60% to 70% of the fair market value of the vehicle. The bill's author says this is good for consumers as most would prefer not to have their vehicle salvaged. It also puts us in better alignment with practices of surrounding states, and it reduces the occurrence of premature salvage.
Please 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.

Here's a look at legislation passed in the House General Government Committee this past session that is now signed into ...
08/28/2026

Here's a look at legislation passed in the House General Government Committee this past session that is now signed into law.
House Bill 4486 authorizes the placement of a Gold Star Family Monument on the State Capitol grounds.

Gold Star families are those that have experienced the loss of an immediate family member who died as a result of active-duty military service.

The House author of the bill explains this monument will give Oklahomans a permanent place at our State Capitol to honor the memory and sacrifice of these service members who gave their lives for our country and the families who continue to carry their legacy. This is hoped to serve as a reminder for generations to come of the tremendous cost of the freedoms we enjoy and of the Oklahoma families who have borne that cost.

The bill authorizes the State Capitol Preservation Commission or its designee to work with private entities to design, construct and place the monument in the northwest corner behind the State Capitol Arch. It will be constructed at no expense to the state.

Senate Bill 1810 will help survivors of human trafficking. The bill provides that in any action in an Oklahoma court, if a party offers evidence of human trafficking, the testimony of an expert witness is to be admissible as evidence. The measure directs the Victims Services Unit within the Office of the Attorney General to provide services for survivors of human trafficking and directs the attorney general to enter into agreements or contracts for shelter of victims.

Senate Bill 1877 requires the Office of the Secretary of State to create and maintain a
centralized filing system to house statutorily required reports and directs all such reports to be
electronically filed within that system. The measure requires the Office of the Secretary of State to notify agencies of any new report requirement. Additionally, the office must notify the governor and legislative leadership of any agency that has not submitted a statutorily required report. The measure also repeals several sections of law, which relate to obsolete reports.

Various pieces of legislation are passed each year that require agencies to report back to the Legislature and often the governor. This just gives us and the public a centralized way to view the reports or see when they are missing.

Senate Bill 1525 authorizes the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to contract for up to $75,000 to organize and promote the one statewide tourism conference that's held every year. The department may charge admission or licensing fees from vendors to cover these costs, so the state would have no direct fiscal impact.

Please 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.

The House Elections and Ethics Committee considers legislation related to state elections, voting procedures and politic...
08/14/2026

The House Elections and Ethics Committee considers legislation related to state elections, voting procedures and political ethics. Below is a look at some of the legislation that passed through this committee this year that has now been signed into law.
Senate Bill 1286 requires political subdivisions for which a county election board conducts elections to furnish a room or rooms in a suitable facility for use as a polling place at no cost upon request of the county election board secretary. This is in the case where a precinct is without a suitable polling place and if the political subdivision held an election conducted by a county election board on or after Jan. 1, 2023. The measure shifts responsibility for providing polling locations to local entities without creating new state-administered programs.

Senate Bill 1451 requires voter registration applications to have a previous voter registration section for the applicant to indicate if they have previously been registered to vote in another county or state and to provide prior registration information. The measure establishes that submission of a voter registration application with prior registration information indicated, is deemed as the applicant's request for the cancellation of any prior voter registration in another county or state. The secretary of the State Election Board must notify the chief election official of the state where the voter was previously registered. Additionally, the secretary of State Election Board is required to issue an annual report with the total number of notices sent and received from chief election officials of other states regarding out-of-state voters, notices sent and received from each state, and voter registrations cancelled due to the voter being registered in another state. The provisions of this measure will be effective for applications created or printed on or after Jan. 1, 2027, or earlier where practicable. This is to help clean up state voter rolls and eliminates the possibility that someone could vote in multiple counties or states for the same election.

Senate Bill 1491 clarifies that if a presidential elector needs to be replaced, the replacement must take the same oath as all the other electors, stating they will cast a ballot for the persons nominated for the offices of president and vice president by the appointee’s political party. The oath must be witnessed by the governor or designee and filed with the Secretary of State.

Please 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.

The House Criminal Judiciary Committee reviews legislation related to penal, crimes and punishment codes as well as crim...
08/07/2026

The House Criminal Judiciary Committee reviews legislation related to penal, crimes and punishment codes as well as criminal and court procedural acts. Below is a look at some of the legislation that passed through this committee this year that has now been signed into law.
House Bill 3244 strengthens punishments for organized retail crime and identity theft. The measure expands the definition and pattern of these crimes to better encapsulate fraud techniques used by criminals. It closes a loophole where criminals exploit vulnerable populations, including the elderly and minors. Third, it greatly enhances Oklahoma identity theft laws by expanding the scope of which items or modes are utilized by criminals. The author of the bill points out that retail, identity theft and overall fraud cases are a growing crisis here in Oklahoma and the nation, and the perpetrators of these crimes are ruthless and unfortunately creative when it comes to stealing personal information and using it to defraud victims of their assets. They also often prey upon the vulnerable to get their participation in their crimes. This law will enhance punishment for these criminals and give law enforcement greater tools to stop their activity.

House Bill 3269 is one of my own. 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 3586 creates the Right to Raise Act, which ensures individuals can't be denied the opportunity to become adoptive or foster parents based solely on their desire to raise or reference a child by their biological s*x. This specifies that such actions alone can't be considered child abuse or neglect.

House Bill 3742, known as the Due Process Protection Act of 2026, updates Oklahoma’s criminal procedure statutes by modifying timelines and requirements related to discovery in criminal cases. These changes will ensure both prosecutors and defense attorneys have adequate time to review evidence prior to trial. This strengthens Oklahomans' constitutional rights and enhances transparency within Oklahoma’s criminal justice system by providing clearer guidelines for courts and attorneys, reducing delays and improving the overall integrity of criminal proceedings across the state. The author of the bill said at its core, this law reinforces the fundamental principle that every Oklahoman deserves a fair and transparent legal process, which is required by the constitution. By improving how discovery is handled before trial, justice can be served efficiently while protecting the due process rights of all parties involved.

Please 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.

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2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK
73105

Telephone

+14055577322

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