February 14, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 13

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10• SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026 NEWS The Elk City News Senate Notes from Sen. Brent Howard | February 6, 2026 The 2026 session officially commenced on Monday, February 2, as my legislative colleagues and I returned to the Capitol for the second session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature. The session started, as always, with the governor’s State of the State address. This was Gov. Kevin Stitt’s final State of the State as he has reached his term limit. In addition to casting a vision for this legislative session, the governor also presented the Legislature with his executive budget, which will serve as a starting point for budget discussions over the coming months. One of the themes in the governor’s speech was the need for fairness in Oklahoma’s legal and tax systems. He stressed that all laws should be applied equally to all residents, regardless of whether they’re members of a Native American tribe. He also alluded to a lawsuit from Oklahoma that has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which could decide whether tribal members who live and work on their tribe’s reservation are exempt from state income taxes. In his remarks, the governor said that all Oklahomans who drive on our roads, attend our schools and vote in our elections should receive the same tax treatment. His comments come as Oklahoma continues to navigate the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, which I chair, has dealt with a number of these issues in the years since the McGirt decision held that only tribes or the federal government could prosecute Native Americans who commit a crime that falls under the Major Crimes Act on a tribal reservation. Most recently, the district attorneys for Tulsa, Rogers, Craig and Mayes counties came before the committee to discuss how they are still embroiled in litigation stemming from the McGirt ruling. In November, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell ruled that federal law allows Tulsa County prosecutors to exercise concurrent criminal jurisdiction over Native Americans who commit crimes on the reservation. In practical terms, this decision gives the state some authority to prosecute these cases, despite the McGirt ruling. As chair of the joint committee, I introduced a motion to approve a $250,000 expenditure from the State-Tribal Litigation Fund to help DAs cover legal expenses from these drawn-out cases. Ultimately, this issue is likely to advance to the U.S. Supreme Court for further clarification of the McGirt decision. For direct local community news, I look forward to welcoming five local high school students as my Senate pages this legislative session. The Senate page program offers students interested in government and public service a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process. This year’s pages include Foster Tischler, a senior at Altus High School; Katherine Ivester, a senior at Elk City High School; Ella Jewell Hart, a senior at Mangum High School; Gage Winters, a junior at Altus High School; and Tilden Smith, a junior at Navajo High School. Tilden was my page for the first week of the session, and he was a tremendous help to my office during his time at the Capitol. To contact me at the Capitol, please write to Senator Brent Howard, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 427, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at Brent. [email protected], or call (405) 521-5612. ELK CITY We have a champ! Oakley picked up a fall in the first period of the finals! This was 1 of 5 victories for him ending in a tech fall or pin. It’s a great day to be an Elk, congrats Oak! JH 7th grade boys basketball team ends their season UNDEFEATED! Congrats boys! Elk City Elementary School honored a fellow classmate, Oliver Hargues, who was diagnosed with A.L.L (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). Ollie Day was celebrated this past Monday, February 9th. We hope each of you have a great season! Elk City Nursing Home 301 N. Garrett, Elk City 580-225-2811 Good Luck Teams! 1210 S. Main St, Elk City 580-225-0100 www.elksupply.com 580.243.0466 We hope you have a great year! We want to wish you a great season! *UHDW3ODLQV 1DWLRQDO%DQN 2017 W. Third | 1300 S. Main | gpbankok.com 580-225-2265 2017 W. Third | 1300 S. Main | Elk City Wal-Mart | gpbankok.com Good Luck Area Teams! :UG6W (ON&LW\2.   ZZZSL]]DKXWFRP Carry-out • Hut Lane • Delivery &DUU\RXW‡&XUEVLGH‡'HOLYHU\ Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ELK CITY: 2714 W. 3rd St. • 580-225-2580 102 S. Main St.•580.225.2580 https//www.fnbec.bank SAYRE: 711 NE Highway 66 • 580-928-2580