[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6354722,"mediaKeyId","2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf","parentId",2219680,"title","Committee adopts PCS to let nonresidents sit for CPA exam and enable national background checks","audioSeconds",116,"startMs",1555789,"endMs",1672055,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf&start=1555&end=1672","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf/thumbnail_1555789.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6354722/Oklahoma/Committee-adopts-PCS-to-let-nonresidents-sit-for-CPA-exam-and-enable-national-background-checks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354722-6bb3e94e86dd0005abe91bf9b4d2d1bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145986&Signature=Z5xdCuNmmNGm2fCTlicQpEVAswXOyc6BpGxJNzBA5hkvFpxwoSSOxFBEz4qw8xxIrzmCV~tZHAgyBkNVrAFxQs5yNyYtklqEiOG5U49ViE1BIE3e0MGt0X97T61Oh0IvCqGT1GfqEjn-U3DVuyxIsyEgfk9fvvbO-GWrrA-jo~ygr8zI0RUkELCeg3abO62QyMEcyBqlfk~Et9ox2Xr7R0WE-iR8z8U1UfXUnkICmyPxhIJWgnDHX~EpwUVuRhNb068CXtWsTIvu-LYPZD8DTMHUhSIVIpgKSSJQUop7JGeZBNeVUTFg~~WU8hWymbd8nHPB0lCiP3lRX1CpO-LZWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","OK State Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Kendrick presented a committee substitute to House Bill 2736 that would remove the residency requirement to sit for the CPA exam and add language permitting national background checks. Kendrick said the CPA exam is a national test taken in all 50 states and that removing the residency requirement would allow students studying outside Oklahoma to sit for the exam and have their results treated as passing in Oklahoma without a new application process.

Kendrick also said national background checks were added to statute in 2010 but had not been implemented; the substitute would adjust statutory language to allow the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to proceed with national checks.

The committee adopted the PCS without recorded objection, moved the bill, and later the committee clerk recorded the vote and declared the bill to pass in committee.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2736 (PCS) — committee adopted the PCS and recorded the committee vote as 9 ayes, 0 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Business 2025-02-04","oneSentenceSummary","A committee-passed committee substitute for House Bill 2736 would remove a residency requirement to sit for the CPA exam and change language to permit national background checks that were previously placed in statute but not implemented, the sponsor said.","taxTitle","Business and Commerce, House of Representatives, Legislative, Oklahoma","taxId",27074,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354726,"Committee advances change allowing consideration of financial crimes in CPA license renewals",95,1456325,1552015,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf&start=1456&end=1552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf/thumbnail_1456325.jpg","/articles/6354726/Oklahoma/Committee-advances-change-allowing-consideration-of-financial-crimes-in-CPA-license-renewals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354726-0e0580aa24249912df06d4ddf428d559/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145986&Signature=me09CR-LR4cwWnzfUQaACPP1u0Pzz6Z3s9RNIBD6CFB5GuQ8GKZUXUKVfJKYYjCy-FwLG~rlllMY9FgEeaaZyi~Uve9a1xm925XSpzoXTWgcUB6ssssBog7zTPQYr0WyVuyRhJOAPnUunzCL-Ji82wTiDEMkEr21onlvQDRMBo-ZdOG9gNh75g2oFTnL9Ct7wqMkrT4QweXHg2UHbzt~EsOZ3b0~dT66JpK-Mv22LrA-EopIXuAUYNv4FLpJHugmzMrc1rpP45fIyRNY~6Cj0yE506zBPWEvBoY0p4o5itNC8aXxlX4N2oIfYdLMi8CNI22xwe0zojrQ-5LUa0HQUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Kendrick presented House Bill 2735 to the House Business Committee, saying the bill responds to a 2022 statute change that disallowed considering criminal convictions when renewing licenses. Kendrick said the measure would allow boards to consider convictions “when crime is of a financial nature” — for example, embezzlement — when evaluating CPA license renewals.

The sponsor told the committee that a CPA’s role in financial matters justifies making financial crimes a factor in renewal decisions.

There were no questions recorded that altered the bill’s scope in the excerpt. Committee members moved and seconded the motion to adopt, and the clerk recorded the vote and declared the bill to pass in committee.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2735 — motion to adopt moved by Representative Kendrick; committee vote recorded as 9 ayes, 0 nays in the transcript.","House Bill 2735 would restore or authorize consideration of financial criminal convictions in CPA license renewals after a 2022 statute change, the sponsor said; committee passed the bill unanimously.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354732,"Bill to create voluntary storm-chaser licensing with emergency-light privileges advances after questions on liability and scope",797,650025,1447410,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf&start=650&end=1447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf/thumbnail_650025.jpg","/articles/6354732/Oklahoma/Bill-to-create-voluntary-storm-chaser-licensing-with-emergency-light-privileges-advances-after-questions-on-liability-and-scope","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354732-5eddf5b3a7a2db9f4940f79bcd077b1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145986&Signature=PBAdxIlfS-tN0aDjzD~pUrDvW9c1rqx3-L0YenxKR3L9DpFNtxKj0XqA38kUOyTQbKW94pxP5LPfBv9U62he-eqaCCpc7Sem~PObU60fDRjSRmNZd34vKuIxc9GkmuYK~6z9tRUUpoVvUZZr-pBFFzUr1oRrOO8-9ASP83vQztvYYw2J4eOsKZqulq8UqknUTu-v4mNuV-3ObVqx38VXR9VCtyxxCtWFAVueVvl84JxxK50drbrrbjYQU6rmgs0PMtltfhMfrmoVYPXZq0Cvm-mF8mG~VYf~hQrPi2yG-R3G-4tTUwKvOzIzExNzMUMEl8vwC31-jK-npjNUO350rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Fagan described House Bill 2426 as a voluntary licensing program for “professional severe weather trackers” that would permit qualified participants to use emergency lighting under regulated conditions. “It is not a mandate. It's a choice of a storm chaser to participate in a licensing program through the state where they could potentially run with emergency lightings,” Fagan told the committee.

The sponsor said the bill grew from conversations with storm chasers and a desire to improve public warning in places that sometimes receive no local warning. Fagan recalled a 2023 incident near Morris, Oklahoma, when a longtime storm spotter’s report supplied local warning information that did not appear on broadcast alerts; he argued licensed trackers could increase timely reporting.

Committee members pressed on multiple points. Representative Bowles asked whether recreational storm chasers would be affected; Fagan replied, “It will have no effect on you,” and reiterated that the program is optional and would not change ordinary storm-chasing activity for hobbyists or news outlets.

Members also raised whether the bill would restrict media coverage or require stations to use only licensed trackers. Fagan said the bill as drafted limited eligibility to television stations and university research programs but that the sponsor was considering expanding and clarifying the eligible categories and the training and liability rules.

Representative Provenzano and others questioned liability for a chief meteorologist who signs off on a license applicant; Fagan acknowledged the legal exposure question and said the committee should examine how liability would be handled.

Representative Eaves asked about a state “revolving fund” referenced on page 7 and the expected fee structure. Fagan said the fund would hold licensing fees and that he believed the fee in the draft was about $500, but said details remained under discussion.

The committee moved the bill for adoption and, with no recorded debate afterward, the clerk announced the vote and declared the bill to pass in committee.

The record shows the bill remains a work in progress on eligibility, training and liability safeguards even as the committee advanced it.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2426 — motion to adopt moved by Representative Fagan; committee vote recorded in transcript as carried (9 ayes, 0 nays).","House Bill 2426 would allow a voluntary state licensing program for professional storm chasers to use emergency lighting and run red lights under defined conditions; sponsors say it is optional and aimed at safety and improved warnings, while members asked about liability, media inclusion and a proposed revolving fund.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354737,"Committee OKs bill letting pharmacy board consider criminal convictions when licensing",71,575464,646690,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf&start=575&end=646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf/thumbnail_575464.jpg","/articles/6354737/Oklahoma/Committee-OKs-bill-letting-pharmacy-board-consider-criminal-convictions-when-licensing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354737-e1d7999f5b22adeed33da93077411427/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145986&Signature=mq8lilcl1VmPx-jvQw~zfDO7WtpptWuk6fqUpcb5xfE1pv96Wdo06LQp-XMMYzf8tGFtYeDbkXkR4tLZB2mHR3GJSmSNYE-yCAPAwV4OVJA6oOI-FVXCK1O286Wb0gzj3v1Jg1V-NxfMeMqF0PkEwAQyejsPEz88pDZR~kuEkmB~y0yHTp5SNvT9eqMGU9TWkCWGyi6td-VCfTJI3ML4IgnevKrvI9tlH2AtYh17yTphPkkPDxHx1Npkd~sApQdBOPeB94Uk2ldLxIRP6IABxcNzZ1roN0roxJvLUhFyUKQbkj9NxtNQVhD4ZdAAYBsPbPGufFX8rSdy0fkCKq9msg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Marty presented House Bill 2802 to the House Business Committee and described it as “common sense legislation.” The sponsor said the bill “authorizes the state board of pharmacy to consider criminal convictions prior to issuing a license,” and noted other boards already have that authority.

The nut graf: sponsors framed the bill as bringing the pharmacy board into the same practice as other licensing boards — for example, boards that consider convictions for professions such as medicine, optometry and law — and the committee voted to advance the bill.

There was no extended debate recorded in the transcript. A motion to adopt was made and seconded; the clerk announced the vote as 9 ayes, 0 nays and the bill was declared to pass in committee.

Representative Marty thanked committee members after the vote.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2802 — motion to adopt moved by Representative Marty; committee vote recorded as 9 ayes, 0 nays.","House Bill 2802 would allow the State Board of Pharmacy to consider criminal convictions when deciding licenses, aligning pharmacy with other professional boards, and it passed the committee unanimously.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354742,"OK bill would add state exams to funeral-director licensing, sponsors say it removes a cost barrier",548,160,548845,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf&start=0&end=548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219680-ce584c15fc8f499ca9b1d14b1857c2bf/thumbnail_160.jpg","/articles/6354742/Oklahoma/OK-bill-would-add-state-exams-to-funeral-director-licensing-sponsors-say-it-removes-a-cost-barrier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354742-f2e7eea2bbfb01dae5eddcb42ce563e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145986&Signature=ikSOQa3YgBFMlF2nMDgqLF28JCPtZYa2-RG9t3d1HspSRlb1ka6TP13NbYWN3FQN07S6sFlEBJ~d2umo3njiEytQyjBEPrSQYOffkB2tKfzDinOq269z5A20JGCPrgimNWXDrc21lCavpHrLDxCZAo2lJO-P3MoiwJdl24PlOsJkfSmOH4W6tzbfOY3awaAqvEZK6njCE4ks8RNGzv80aVEHVT82GQgCrXa5XF4yHtCFZ6hus1aHtNbq6tEP5DPOqVEskor995mHbqTJtcAVaEGbMCSYzK8Lt~DD4usa1OtkK6XKgenpQj-Oxwz5rBl74DOQsjguOLteFWBEa8RO4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Colvin explained House Bill 1365 to the House Business Committee, saying the measure “adds new national boards to the list of accredited boards a funeral director or an embalmer must pass to be licensed in the state. They also must pass with a score of 75 or better.”

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the change would allow the state to recognize alternate examinations after concerns that the national exam had become costly and that schools lacked feedback about student weaknesses. The nut graf: backers said the change is meant to reduce testing costs for students and help bring more young people into the funeral profession, while opponents raised questions about whether Oklahoma-only certification could limit reciprocity with other states.

Representative Provenzano asked whether the tests referenced in the bill already exist and how much they would cost. Colvin replied that the national board exam runs “about $750, dollars 800,” and that the Oklahoma option would be “around $250, about a $450 savings.”

Representative Blansett pressed whether adopting a state-level exam would remove the requirement for national certification and therefore prevent graduates from practicing across state lines. Blansett said she was concerned that “if we remove the requirement for national certification, the ability to practice for that student will be contained within the state of Oklahoma.” Colvin responded that many professions maintain state-level licensing and that he was not “100% sure” about reciprocity but would investigate.

John Arms, speaking for the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, described a workforce shortage and said cost is a barrier: “Basically what we have is a workforce issue. We're trying to get more young people in the business. There are some barriers. One of the barriers is the cost of the test.” Arms singled out the University of Central Oklahoma’s mortuary program as “very good” and said the association did not see pass rates as a major problem.

Committee members then moved the bill for adoption and conducted a voice/recorded vote. The clerk announced the vote and the bill was declared to pass.

The discussion distinguished policy intent (reduce testing costs and ease entry) from unresolved questions (reciprocity with other states and whether institutions should change instruction). The sponsor agreed to follow up on reciprocity and on how pass rates are measured.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 1365 — motion to adopt moved by Representative Colvin; committee vote declared carried (tally recorded in committee as 9 ayes, 0 nays in the transcript).","A House Business Committee bill would let Oklahoma require passage of new state-level exams for funeral directors and embalmers, a sponsor said, while supporters said the change aims to reduce national exam costs that limit workforce entry.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts PCS to let nonresidents sit for CPA exam and enable national background checks

Committee advances change allowing consideration of financial crimes in CPA license renewals

Bill to create voluntary storm-chaser licensing with emergency-light privileges advances after questions on liability and scope

Committee OKs bill letting pharmacy board consider criminal convictions when licensing

OK bill would add state exams to funeral-director licensing, sponsors say it removes a cost barrier