TRANSCRIPT
Dick Pryor: This is Capitol Insider - taking you inside politics, policy and government in Oklahoma. I'm Dick Pryor with Quorum Call publisher Shawn Ashley. Shawn, more than 200 new state laws went into effect on November 1st. A few of those stand out. State employees will now be eligible for paid maternity leave for the birth or adoption of their child. It's a bit surprising there hadn't already been a law allowing that.
Shawn Ashley: It is surprising, isn't it? But as a result of Senate Bill 16, full-time state employees who have worked for the state for two years or more are now eligible for up to six weeks of paid maternity leave following the birth or adoption of their child. This bill, of course, was supported by female members of the legislature who discussed how difficult it can be to return to work very quickly after having a child. But the bill received overwhelming support from both male and female members of the legislature. Senate Bill 1121, which took effect July 1, makes six weeks of maternity leave available for teachers who have worked in their districts for at least one year.
Dick Pryor: Another new law relates to ownership of land, and it's aimed at regulating marijuana businesses. What does this new law do?
Shawn Ashley: Well, this law expands on constitutional language that prohibits noncitizens from owning property in the state to include ownership through a business entity or a trust. And that's really where the aspect of the medical...
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