Rep. Cody Maynard
This past week, FFA students from across the state visited the State Capitol as did students involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the House also adopted a resolution recognizing the day as Scout Day at the State Capitol.
I was pleased to be able to meet with a group of students from Calera FFA who stopped by my Capitol office.
These organizations do a lot to offer young people leadership opportunities as they learn agriculture and consumer science education. They also give youth the ability to participate in many hands-on activities such as showing livestock or participating in outdoor and public service projects. Learning the value of hard work and getting to express one’s creativity are valuable life skills.
I’m thankful for the many educators and volunteers who take part in leading local chapters. These opportunities are particularly valuable in places like rural Oklahoma.
In the House this past week, we met our first major committee deadline. All bills had to advance from a policy committee or an Appropriations and Budget subcommittee in order to stay active this session.
I was able to pass two of my major policy bills in advance of the deadline.
House Bill 3544 would protect children when interacting with artificial intelligence chatbots that are designed to simulate emotional or human-like relationships. There have been multiple incidences reported across the country where children have committed self-harm after these chatbots have encouraged it. I am asking that the Oklahoma Legislature be proactive in putting some common-sense policies in place. These include ensuring chatbots that exhibit human-like features are inaccessible to minors by using an age-verification system.
House Bill 3548 would create the Oklahoma Youth Entrepreneurs Promotion and Development Act of 2026. The measure would exempt sales tax for businesses owned and operated primarily by individuals who are under the age of 18. The exemption would extend only if the business receives limited assistance from adults and if it generates gross revenue of less than $1,000 during the calendar year.
I heard of an instance in 2016, in which a young person’s lemonade stand was shut down by Okmulgee police until the city’s permitting process was updated.
This legislation would allow a child to run a lemonade stand for a week without having to purchase city permits. This would encourage real-world learning by allowing young people to operate small businesses without being buried in taxes and unnecessary red tape. I’m asking my fellow lawmakers that we teach our kids entrepreneurship before we regulate them.
Now that bills have passed initial policy committees, they face an oversight hearing. Only then are the eligible to be scheduled for consideration by the full membership of the House.
There’s a long way to go in the process, but it’s good to have the first step behind us.