The House of Representatives is considering a number of bills this session that will help us get a better handle on illegal marijuana grows and black market sales in our state.
This comes after the largest drug bust in state history shut down a dozen grow facilities, confiscated $500 million in illegal marijuana and resulted in 13 arrests. The Feb. 22 statewide raids were conducted by agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control coordinated with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. We recognized these groups with a resolution recently on the House floor.
When voters legalized medical marijuana through the initiative petition process in 2018, they did so with the intention that legislation would be created to regulate the industry. Our 12-point plan in the House this year will build on reforms we've adopted the past two years. We want to make the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority a standalone agency and create a grant program for county sheriff's departments to fund law enforcement efforts in every county. We also want to fully implement the state's seed-to-sale system to help us more quickly identify illegal product. We plan to tweak licensing requirements, improve testing and product packaging standards as well as require signage for all medical marijuana operations. We also will require marijuana grows to register as environmentally sensitive crop owners with the Agriculture Department to help with the problem of pesticide drift.
We also have a number of bills this year focused on improving public education. Several bills will require more transparency and stricter guidelines for our publicly funded charter schools. One bill would offer scholarships for students choosing to go into the teaching profession and reward them with extra money their first five years in the classroom. This is on top of several incentive bills that would reward teachers already in the classroom.
This is in addition to Republican efforts over the past five years that have increased public school funding to record-high amounts.
Of the bills I'm running this year, House Bill 3995, passed committee and should be heard soon on the House floor. This is a request bill from the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority. It updates the statutes from when the authority was established in 1981, and it will improve service to communities in Northwest Oklahoma that are served by the authority.
I'm also continuing to work on my House Bill 3994, which will ensure regulated competition in automotive sales and service in all areas of our state.
On a final note, I want to congratulate the Seiling Lady Wildcats as Class A champions. The Leedey boys made the state tournament along with Lomega, Okarche and the Okeene girls.
As of press time, both Kingfisher teams are in the state tournament in class 4A. Great job all around!
It's an honor to continue to represent the people of House District 59 in our state House. Please follow regular updates on my house Facebook page and reach out anytime at (405) 557-7407 o r Mike.Dobrinski@okhouse.go v.