It’s the end of my first year in office representing District 15. It’s been very interesting to say the least. I wouldn’t trade this time for anything.

In addition to helping with numerous constituent requests, I was able to get eight pieces of legislation signed into law on which I was the House author. This included four House bills and four Senate bills. One of the most significant bills I authored was Senate Bill 599, which strengthens Oklahoma’s legal response to heinous crimes against children. The new law grants prosecutors the authority to pursue the death penalty for individuals convicted of child rape on a first offense. Additionally, it allows judges to sentence individuals found guilty of lewd molestation of a child under the age of 14 to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Criminals who commit these crimes don’t deserve a second chance. Our children have a right to this protection.

Another bill signed into law clarifies that resource officers and secu- rity guards employed by a school can be charged with the crime of rape when the victim is a student. These contract positions were previously left out of statute. This closes the loophole.

Senate Bill 861 cleans up Oklahoma statutes defining street gangs and gang-related offenses, adding human trafficking and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.

Other bills lengthen the timeline for forensic reviews, reduce transport costs for Oklahoma sheriffs, help with the auditing of inmate commissary accounts, modify the registration of controlled dangerous substances, and clean up the state’s emergency pursuit statute.

Bills that did not pass in both the House and the state Senate during the First Session of the 60th Legislature are still available to advance during our 2026 session. I have a number of bills I’m still working on, and I’ll be filing more before the start of session. I participated in a number of interim studies this fall, some of which will help inform me as I pursue future legislation..

Also this first year, I got my first experience with helping to determine spending for the state budget as vice chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Public Safety Subcommittee. I also served on the County and Municipal Government Oversight Committee, and the House Utilities and Public Safety Committees as well as on the Joint Task Force on the Grand River Dam Authority.

In addition to my time at the State Capitol, I spent innumerable hours driving throughout our House district, meeting with constituents and various government officials and other groups, all in an attempt to make life better for everyone here in District 15. Whether it’s fighting for better water service, fixing our state highways, ensuring public safety or any other number of concerns, I’m always here to help. It’s an honor to serve and to fight for everyone who lives or works I’m well aware that representing you is a privilege, not a guarantee. My family and I are proud to have this opportunity. If I can help you in my capacity as your representative, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Capitol. My office phone is (405) 557-7375, and my email is tim.turner@okhouse. gov. As a Civil War historian, I’m often asked how close we are to repeating 1860. My answer has always been that we aren’t there yet, but we are edging closer to the 1850s.

A recent example of this rising partisanship came last month when six Democrats released a video urging U.S. troops to refuse presidential orders, they deemed unlawful. While their wording was technically correct and carefully crafted, it’s easy to see how the message could be misinterpreted.

Democrats frequently accuse Republicans of using “dog whistles,” implying that their statements hide coded, racist messages. But dog whistles can work in both directions.

When these six Democrats told troops to reject “unlawful orders,” on whose definition of unlawful are they relying? Was it the courts’ or their own? Some Democrats have already called that the National Guard’s presence in Washington, D.C., “unlawful.” Are they suggesting the Guard should refuse to appear?

Typically, in my column, I look for historical parallels. And for the past week, I have been struggling to think of a good example from the past. The closest I could think of were the Copperheads, Northern Peace Democrats during the Civil War who encouraged drafted soldiers not to report for duty. Instead of focusing on them, however, this week while preparing for my legal history class next semester I I I I I