A bill that would remove restrictions for Oklahoma retired teachers who want to return to public school classrooms has moved from the House to the Senate.
House Bill 2288 would eliminate an existing 36-month waiting period, allowing career teachers to continue teaching past retirement age while also drawing their earned retirement benefits.
These teachers currently are allowed to go into a job in the private sector or in a private school, but must wait to return to public schools. This could help us address the teacher shortage, which ultimately would help students.
The Legislature just finished it’s third-reading deadline for bills to advance from their chamber of origin. The House sent 440 measures to the Senate for consideration. That chamber is sending 321 measures to the House. Bills will go through committees first. Those that pass will come to the floor for a vote.
I passed three bills in the House last week.
House Bill 1197 would allow the state treasurer to establish a transactional gold and silver depository in the state. People could buy and deposit their gold and then be issued a transaction card to spend the asset as they wish, just like using a credit or debit card. Software would calculate the price of gold or silver at the time of the transaction.
This would give citizens an additional option for saving and transacting in a way that protects against inflation and economic uncertainty. If enacted, Oklahoma would be the first state to allow a person to use their gold or silver in this way.
House Bill 1199 would recognize gold and silver bullion as legal tender in Oklahoma, but it does not compel anyone to accept it as a form of payment. Current state statute recognizes only U.S. minted gold and silver coins as legal tender.
House Bill 1203 would create the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, allowing Oklahoma’s state savings accounts and pension funds to invest up to 5% into digital assets like Bitcoin. This is a groundbreaking initiative to position Oklahoma as a national leader in embracing sound money principles and cuttingedge fiscal policy. It’s aligned with President Trump’s vision for digital assets and financial stability.
Wind energy was a big topic this week as the House passed several bills establishing setbacks and other regulations for this industry.
Most notably was House Bill 2751, which puts in place a setback of 1.5x the tip height of a wind turbine from the property line or a half mile from an occupied dwelling, whichever is greater, in the counties that meet the following criteria: average wind speed below 9.5 mph according to Oklahoma Climatological Survey and; population density greater than 8.5 per square mile according to the 2020 US Census.
The bill’s author said the intent of the legislation is to provide a foundational regulatory framework for wind energy development in the state while also protecting private property rights. This does not ban wind turbines, but simply says people who put them on their property have to be a good neighbor.
Cody Maynard serves District 21 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes parts of Bryan and Marshall counties.
