State Lawmaker Encourages Citizen Participation in House Research Projects

After the Oklahoma Legislature adjourns each May, state lawmakers conduct interim studies on issues that could be addressed during the next session, which begins the following February. To encourage Oklahomans to become more involved in state government, state Rep. Joe Dorman used the World Wide Web to solicit their input this year. The response was overwhelming.

"I asked people to turn in ideas for issues they thought the Legislature should address during the interim," Dorman said, "and I had a huge response from people all across the state."

The study proposals submitted as a result of Dorman’s online request include a review of animal cruelty laws affecting laboratories, gasoline prices, the legal definition of mental illness, protection of the state’s water supply, driver’s education classes, global warming, state-funded medical research opportunities, the state contracting process, a proposal to install ATMs on toll roads, creation of a NASCAR race track in Oklahoma, encouraging the production of biofuels from switch grass, and more.

Read the full press release at the House website.