OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Senate approved legislation modifying the Taxpayer Transparency Act to include federal funding for state agencies.  Senate Bill 1342, by Sen. Greg Treat, would provide more transparency into how federal funds are utilized by state agencies.

“When crafting the budget, we need to know all of the funds, both state and federal, that the state is receiving but, unfortunately, this information hasn’t been readily available to us,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.  “Oklahoma currently receives nearly $7 billion in federal funds.  That’s more than the entire annual state budget.  The legislature and the public have a right to know how that money is being used by state agencies.”

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Legislation the House of Representatives passed Monday to clarify the Corporation Commission’s authority to respond to emergencies is long overdue but didn’t go far enough, state Rep. Richard Morrissette said.

House Bill 3158 by Speaker Jeff Hickman directs the Corporation Commission, to respond immediately to “emergency situations having potentially critical environmental or public safety impact and resulting from activities within its jurisdiction,” would be empowered to take “whatever necessary action, without notice and hearing, to promptly respond” to that emergency.

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