By Rep. RICK WEST
Last week, I was surprised by a visit to my Capitol office from several students who attend the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee. One young man, Blake Priddy, from Pocola, had written me a letter and showed up with two of his friends.
Blake is the student council secretary at the school and will run for vice president at the end of the year. Blake also participates in activities at the school such as Jazz band, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Student Council, track and Goalball. He says attending the school has taught him a lot, especially how to live with his visual impairment.
We had a nice visit. I’m thankful they came to learn a bit about their state government and to tell me about themselves and their school.
Also last week, I got to take part in the annual Legislative & Celebrity Showmanship contest at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. This is the world’s largest junior livestock show available to students across the state who are involved in FFA or 4-H. This event helps raise money for scholarships for the students, and it’s always a good time.
This year, I showed a goat with Whitney Reece who attends Bokoshe High School. We had a great time. Agriculture is so important to our state. I’m glad to see how many youth come out for something like this.
I also got news last week that LeFlore County Rural Water District No. 17 qualified for an $800,000 grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. This money will allow the district to replace some water lines and pumps, which is good news for the people that rely on this water for drinking and their households.
This is a deadline week in the House of Representatives. More than 200 bills are up on general order. March 27 is the date by which House bills have to pass to the Senate.
I still have five bills available for consideration.
House Bill 1185 would prohibit the destruction of military weapons of historic value. Instead, they are to be donated to local veterans’ organizations to be used for honor guard salutes at veterans’ funerals or to be used for parts.
House Bill 1187 would clarify that when a state employee opts out of a state-provided health insurance plan, they do not have to be covered by a group health insurance plan. This should save some money.
House Bill 1189 would establish the right of anyone to grow their own garden.
House Bill 1190 would prohibit the certification of a permanent resident alien, in other words a non-U.S. citizen, as a police or peace officer unless the person was trained and certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) and is actively employed as a full-time peace officer as of Nov. 1, 2025.
House Bill 1191 would specify that any farmer or producer could make cheese using milk or cream produced on their farm. It also would add donkey milk to the Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act and would allow donkey milk farmers to advertise their products.
Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.
As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
