From the Desk of Rep. John Talley, District 33
The end of our legislative session is approaching, and we have some remaining bills left to address. We’re hearing many of them on the House floor, but several have to go through the conference committee process.
A conference committee is the final opportunity for bills to advance in the current legislative session. This is a joint committee tasked with preparing a single version of a bill that previously passed through the two legislative chambers in different forms. House and Senate leadership each select at least three members for the committee. Members of the conference committee then decide whether to approve or reject the final bill language.
If a conference committee agrees, it will propose a Conference Committee Report (CCR). CCRs are submitted for approval before the chamber of origin and, if it passes there, moves to the opposite chamber. Reports can be approved or rejected but not amended. If a CCR is rejected, the two chambers may request another conference with the same or different members. When a CCR version of the bill has been approved by both chambers, it goes to the governor for his signature.
The conference committee process has been delayed this year, as the Senate has said they won’t move forward with conference committees until we finalize the budget.
There are still some sticking points on the budget both with the Senate and the House, but we’re trying to figure it out. The budget is the only thing the Legislature is required to do by the Oklahoma Constitution before sine die adjournment at the end of May. In Oklahoma, we have to pass a balanced budget, and it would be nice if the federal government had to do the same.
One of the bills we finalized and sent to the governor this week was House Bill 3958, which would require school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with a student to include the student’s parent or guardians. This bill was brought forward after numerous reports came out about teachers contacting students inappropriately. This is an excellent piece of legislation, and I hope the governor signs it quickly.
Before I wrap up this week’s column, I want to recognize a very special gentleman from Coyle, Harold Flasch. Harold is turning 100 years old on May 22! He graduated from Coyle High School in 1941 and later served his country in the Army’s Signal Corps near the end of World War II. He was stationed in California, where he showcased his athletic prowess on the Army’s baseball team.
After he returned from service, he worked as a substitute mail carrier for Coyle for 20 years and raised three children alongside his wife Joy, to whom he’s been married for 67 years. He also continued playing baseball for a Coyle/Guthrie sandlot team well into his 70s!
When he graduated from Coyle High School, they didn’t hand out paper copies of diplomas. He is the oldest living Coyle graduate that we know of, and he will be honored at a special school assembly, where he will receive a copy of his high school diploma.
Congratulations to Harold!
As we prepare to wrap up the legislative session, please feel free to reach out to me at 405-557-7304 or [email protected] with any questions or concerns. Thank you for the honor of representing House District 33 at the State Capitol.
