House, Senate make appointments to Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Pro Tem Greg Treat makes Senate appointments to Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, on Thursday announced the Senate appointments to the newly created Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).

Previously, Treat named Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, as co-chair of the joint committee made up of members from the Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The Senate appointments to JCAR are:

• Sen. Julie Daniels, co-chair
• Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, co-vice chair
• Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City
• Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair
• Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City
• Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
• Sen. Tom Dugger, R-Stillwater
• Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton
• Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa
• Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond

Senate Bill 913 created the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to ensure a more transparent and thorough process before administrative rules are approved or repealed.

“The Legislature lacked an effective method to stop executive branch agencies’ encroachment on legislative authority, until now,” Treat said. “This is a monumental shift at the state Capitol, and one that is long overdue. With the creation of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, the Legislature has a powerful and effective tool to protect legislative authority and stop executive branch overreach. I am confident that Senator Daniels and the other members of JCAR will be thorough and diligent in their work to review administrative rules moving forward.”

Daniels said she is working with Senate staff on preparations for the committee’s work.

“I am honored to be named by Pro Tem Treat to co-chair the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. Not only will this be an important tool to protect legislative authority and ensure the checks and balances of our system stay intact, but it will also serve to provide a transparent and open process of reviewing administrative rules before they are approved or repealed,” Daniels said.

House appoints JCAR members

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House members on the newly-created Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will be the same members on the existing House Administrative Rules Committee, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, announced Thursday.

Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, will serve as co-chair of the joint committee, made up of members from both legislative chambers as prescribed in legislation enacted last session. 

The House appointments to JCAR are:

• Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, co-chair
• Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, co-vice chair
• Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin
• Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow
• Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond
• Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Sallisaw
• Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa
• Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman
• Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville
• Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton

Senate Bill 913 created JCAR to ensure a more transparent and thorough process before state agency administrative rules are approved or repealed.

Gann, who served as chairman of the existing House Administrative Rules Committee, said the joint committee will enhance legislative oversight of executive branch agencies.

“Elected officials set policy for the state, but unelected agency officials too often institute rules that go beyond or are inconsistent with the enabling language set by the peoples' elected officials,” Gann said. "The House has extensive experience through its existing committee at digging into these rules, and we are thrilled to now jointly engage in that process with the Senate. Oklahoma is dramatically strengthening legislative oversight of executive branch agencies, which will produce better government for all."

Committee members and legislative staff are preparing for the joint committee to begin its work soon.