Insurcon 2026!!

Mark your calendars and register soon so you’ll have a seat for our Insurance Candidate Commissioner Forum to be held on April 8 at the Omni Hotel in downtown OKC.  Please be sure to understand the cost increase after March 17th, details available on www.BIGiOK.com/insurcon26.  You won’t want to miss this informative session hosted by BIGiOK member, Jeff Berrong.

President Nominates Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security

In a stunning move that could begin an expeditious chase for an open Oklahoma U.S. Senate seat, President Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma junior U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Westville) as the next Secretary of Homeland Security effective March 31. If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin would succeed Secretary Kristi Noem whom the President reassigned to a new position. Noem was previously the governor of South Dakota. Under the Incompatibility Clause of the U.S. Constitution, no person may be a member of either House of Congress while holding an “Office under the United States.” If Mullin is confirmed and sworn in at DHS, he must resign his Senate seat. Cabinet appointments serve at the pleasure of the president.
“Markwayne Mullin has been a fighter for Oklahoma and will fight to keep our nation secure. There isn’t a better choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Oklahoma has been an example to the nation for smart immigration enforcement, and Markwayne will bring that common sense to DHS. I will be looking to appoint a strong, small government conservative voice to support President Trump and protect Oklahomans’ way of life,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. 
Oklahoma law requires the governor to appoint a same‑party interim senator within 30 days of the vacancy. The appointee must take an oath not to run for the seat in the ensuing election. Because Mullin’s seat is already on the 2026 ballot, the state will not run a separate special election. Instead, the winner of the regularly scheduled 2026 election, of which candidates will file April 1-3, is deemed also elected to fill the unexpired term and may take office upon certification of the November 6 general election results. Mullin’s current term runs through January 3, 2027. If confirmed, Mullin is expected to submit a quick resignation which will lead to Governor Stitt naming a GOP placeholder, and then the certified 2026 general election winner will likely step in early to finish Mullin’s term prior to the beginning of their six-year regular term.
Mullin, 48, previously served from 2013-2023 in the U.S. House representing Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District before winning a special election in 2022 to fill the remainder of former Senator Jim Inhofe’s fourth six-year term after the senator resigned the seat in January 2023. Inhofe passed away July 9, 2024 at age 89. 

Hern Announces Senate Bid

First District U.S. Representative Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa) has announced he is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in Oklahoma following the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. Hern has represented District 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2018 and currently serves in House Republican leadership as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. His campaign begins the race with more than $7 million on hand. Hern said his priorities include securing the border, lowering the cost of living for families, supporting law enforcement and the military, and advancing policies aligned with President Donald Trump. The campaign also announced that Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio will serve as a senior advisor. Fabrizio previously served as the lead pollster for Trump’s 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.

Oklahoma Rep. Stephanie Bice (R) said Friday she would not be running for the Senate

“After prayerful consideration, I remain committed to serving the Fifth Congressional District, a place that I proudly call home,” She also stated “President Trump needs strong allies in the House and it is my honor to champion policies that better the lives of everyday Oklahomans. In the next few weeks I will file for re-election, and I’m excited to continue traveling across the district to share our strong America first agenda.”

Congressman Josh Brecheen announces endorsement

Congressman Josh Brecheen announced Thursday he is endorsing Congressman Kevin Hern in Oklahoma’s race for the U.S. Senate, becoming the first member of the state’s congressional delegation to back Hern’s campaign. “Today, I am endorsing Kevin Hern for the United States Senate,” Brecheen said. “We need a principle based U.S. Senator who is fully prepared to take on the duty at this critical juncture for our nation. I believe that person is Kevin Hern.”

BIGiOK member Mark Tedford Announces Congress Bid

State Rep. and BIGiOK member Mark Tedford, a Tulsa businessman, announced Wednesday he is running for the U.S. House in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District after Rep. Kevin Hern said he would vacate the seat to run for Senate.
Tedford thanked Hern and his family for their service to the district and praised Hern for for elevating Oklahoma issues. “First, I want to thank Congressman Kevin Hern and his wonderful family for their service to Oklahoma’s First Congressional District,” Tedford said. “I’m grateful for the leadership Congressman Hern has provided and for the way he has helped elevate Oklahoma’s conservative values on the national stage.”
 Tedford owns Tedford Insurance and is in his second term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives after being first elected in 2022. In a press release, he said Washington would benefit from the kind of “real-world experience” he brings from the private sector.  “I didn’t come up through politics,” Tedford said in the announcement. “I came up through business. I know what it means to build a company, meet payroll and deal with the real-world consequences of government decisions.”Tedford said he plans to support United States President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda while protecting Oklahoma jobs, defending the state’s energy industry and promoting fiscal discipline in Washington.
 
Also running is Republican Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Kim David. She served 12 years in the state Senate from 2011-2023, serving as Majority Leader from 2019-2021. She won an open seat on the three-member OCC in 2022 and is four years into her first six-year term.  If her congressional bid is unsuccessful, she will continue to serve on the OCC.  

Legislature Completes Week 6

The second regular session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature completed its sixth week yesterday as floor activity in both chambers was busy as lawmakers consider policy bills advanced from committees in each chamber. This process will continue until March 26 when bills must be advanced from the floor of each chamber. At that point the cross chamber committee process will begin.  Next week is spring break for most public school districts which traditionally brings a lighter workload at the Capitol. 

State Representative Not Seeking Reelection

Republican State Representative Scott Fetgatter (HD 16) says he will not seek reelection stepping away one term prior to his term limit. Fetgatter was elected in 2016 and reelected in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024. He said the decision comes after discussions with his family and a desire to pursue new opportunities. “I’m ready for some new challenges and to move into my future,” Fetgatter said.

Open Primary Ballot Initiative Fails Signature Requirement

The Oklahoma Secretary of State has ruled that proponents of SQ 836 did not obtain enough valid signatures to have the measure submitted to a future statewide ballot.  The measure, which would have switched Oklahoma’s primary system from the current closed system to an open system, would place all candidates, regardless of party, on a single primary ballot with the top two finishers advancing to the general election.  The Vote Yes 836 campaign submitted over 200,000 signatures January 26 but did not meet the required threshold of 172,993 valid signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. Proponents can challenge the Secretary of State’s order. 

Ethics Commission Launches Campaign Reporting Portal

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has launched an interim local campaign reporting portal amid growing concern that a state law change and an aborted Guardian System upgrade left the public without access to municipal, county and school board candidate finances.
Late last year, the Ethics Commission restored its legacy Guardian System for state candidate committees and lobbyists to file their financial disclosures. The commission had been attempting to upgrade to a system known as Guardian 2.0, but the switch floundered and ultimately fell apart, forcing the agency to change providers and revert to its original system.
In anticipation of Guardian 2.0, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a new law last year requiring local candidates for office to file their campaign reports with the Ethics Commission instead of city and county officials. But the legacy Guardian System to which the agency reverted does not accommodate filing information or data for candidates in county and municipal races.
“Oklahoma voters deserve transparency at every level of government,” Ethics Commission executive director Lee Anne Bruce Boone said in a statement. “This interim portal ensures the disclosure continues without delay while full electronic integration is finalized.”

OTA Audit Released

An investigative audit of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority found no evidence of criminal misconduct but identified areas where the agency should strengthen documentation and transparency in its operations.
The audit was released last Wednesday by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s Office after being requested by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond in March 2023. Drummond sought the review after hearing concerns about the agency’s financial conduct. Auditors reviewed several aspects of the agency’s operations, including contracting practices tied to the ACCESS Oklahoma expansion program. The report found the authority used a group of twelve firms as prime consultants for engineering design work and recommended better documentation of how consultants are selected and how contract pricing negotiations are conducted. Auditors said written justification for selections and documentation of negotiations would improve transparency and help demonstrate that engineering services are obtained at fair market value. The audit also examined the authority’s bond financing process for turnpike projects and found no issues of non-compliance with state law. 
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority said the report confirms the agency complies with state statutes and welcomed the independent review. The authority noted that it worked with the auditor’s office throughout the three-year investigation and said it remains committed to ensuring its policies, procedures and documentation meet state requirements.
OTA officials said they will review the audit in detail and consider steps to strengthen internal policies and documentation where improvements are recommended.

February Tax Collections Report Slight Increase

Oklahoma collected $1.2 billion in tax revenue in February, a slight increase from a year ago, according to the latest State Tax Revenue Report released by Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ. “February’s report reflects moderating revenue growth following December’s peak, with the rolling 12-month total remaining positive and reinforcing Oklahoma’s underlying fiscal stability,” Russ said. 
Total collections rose 0.5% compared to February 2025. Revenues were down 22.5% from January, reflecting typical seasonal changes after stronger start-of-year receipts. Sales and use taxes generated $506.8 million in February, up 0.9 percent from the same month last year. Income tax collections totaled $406.8 million, down slightly by 0.3% year over year. Gross production taxes from oil and gas brought in $87.4 million, down 9.9% compared to early 2025. Motor vehicle taxes totaled $72.7 million, up 20.1% from a year ago. 
Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma has collected $17.23 billion in tax revenue, an increase of $362.9 million, or 2.2%, compared to the previous year.

At the Capitol

We continue to watch the Use & File legislation working it’s way through the Senate and the House.  There are a couple of different versions which are being considered. In general this legislation would shift this framework toward expanded regulatory oversight. The bill would require insurers to submit rate filings 60 days before they take effect, allow the Insurance Commissioner to request additional information, and permit hearings on rate increases exceeding 15 percent, placing the burden on insurers to prove the rates are not excessive.