OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, today celebrated two of his House bills being signed into law by the governor.

House Bill 1821 would modify the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) program to ensure more Oklahoma students can afford higher learning options. The program currently is offered to low-income students on a first-come, first-serve basis. This measure would grant priority based on other factors including full-time or part-time enrollment status, unmet financial need, continuous enrollment, nearness to completion of a degree or certificate, state employment needs and eligibility for other state and institutional student financial aid, including other scholarships.

“The bottom line of this bill is it gets tuition aid into the hands of students that need it most not just those who were first in line,” McBride said. “This better helps us get college graduates out into the workforce at a quicker pace, and that benefits all Oklahomans.”

Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, was the Senate author of the bill.

“I’m so grateful for everyone’s overwhelming support of this important bill that is going to help more of Oklahoma’s youth pursue their dream of getting a higher education,” Pemberton said. “This bill is going to make the awarding of state tuition grants more efficient, ensuring that those who truly need the financial assistance will get it.”

House Bill 1815 also was signed by the governor. The measure requires the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, by Dec. 1, to issue a report and recommendations to the Legislature regarding the ability and appropriateness of natural gas utilities to buy, transport and deliver renewable natural gas to customers. The report also is to address a recommendation for the state’s renewable fuel standard or goal to more proactively promote biogas, renewable natural gas and hydrogen as solutions for reducing methane emissions and other environmental problems.

The report also will detail future reporting requirements for all producers so the Commission can report progress annually to the Legislature.

“We’re hoping to learn the cost to ratepayers for the recovery and delivery of each type of renewable fuel, as well as the infrastructure buildout that might be needed” McBride said. “This report also will show us what educational materials will be needed to get information to Oklahomans about the positive environmental impacts and benefits of each fuel source.”

Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, majority floor leader in the Senate and the Senate author of the bill, offered this comment on the legislation being signed into law.

“Oklahoma is an energy state—this is our heritage,” David said.  “”By studying the utilization of emerging technologies to access additional sources, we ensure the role of energy in our future.”