Greg Treat

He is a graduate of Catoosa High School and "attended the University of Oklahoma earning a political science and history degree...Treat also was awarded the Cortez A.M. Ewing Fellowship while at OU, which allowed him to intern for then-U.S. Rep. Tom Coburn, M.D., in Washington, D.C." He is married to Maressa Treat and has three children.{{Cite web |title=Greg Treat {{!}} Oklahoma Senate |url=https://oksenate.gov/senators/greg-treat |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=oksenate.gov |language=en}}

Treat was first elected to his seat in a 2011 special election to replace Todd Lamb, who left his seat to become Oklahoma's lieutenant governor. He defeated four other candidates in the Republican primary and did not face a Democratic opponent. He was reelected in 2012 without opposition and defeated Democrat Judy Mullen Hopper in 2016 with 66.35% of the vote.{{cite web|title=Greg Treat|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Greg_Treat|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=November 14, 2017}} He is term limited in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Joe |title=With Treat term limited, Edmond forum features Senate District 47 hopefuls |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/06/07/edmond-forum-features-senate-district-47-hopefuls/ |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=7 June 2024}}

In 2019, Treat authored a bill to create the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency,{{Cite web |url=http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2019/pr20190521b.htm |title=Oklahoma State Senate - News |access-date=2019-07-10 |archive-date=2019-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710194915/http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2019/pr20190521b.htm |url-status=dead }} an entity to increase transparency and accountability in state government by providing the public and lawmakers independent, objective data on state spending and program performance. Treat also authored several landmark government accountability measures that give the governor the ability to hire and fire the director of five of the largest state agencies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2019/pr20190313b.htm|title = Senate sends landmark government accountability bills to governor | Oklahoma Senate}} Treat authored Senate Bill 1848 in 2014, which required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a hospital within {{convert|30|mi}} of their practice. The law was struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2016, with the court citing Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt as a precedent.{{cite news|last1=Hoberock|first1=Barbara|title=Supreme Court's abortion ruling expected to affect Oklahoma law|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/courts/supreme-court-s-abortion-ruling-expected-to-affect-oklahoma-law/article_b6dc679c-bfc8-5115-a062-3b47e7895198.html|access-date=November 14, 2017|work=Tulsa World|date=June 28, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Oklahoma court tosses abortion law on hospital privileges|url=http://newsok.com/article/5530681|access-date=November 14, 2017|work=The Oklahoman|agency=Associated Press|date=December 13, 2016}}

In June 2023, Treat criticized senators who did not show up for a tribal compact vote to override Governor Kevin Stitt's previous veto.{{Cite web |last=FERGUSON |first=TOM |date=2023-06-26 |title='Others will have to explain why they weren't here': Oklahoma Senate fails to override veto on tribal tobacco compact |url=https://okcfox.com/newsletter-daily/others-will-have-to-explain-why-they-werent-here-oklahoma-senate-fails-to-override-veto-on-tribal-tobacco-compact-greg-treat-pro-tem-gov-kevin-stitt-chief-cherokee-choctaw-gary-batton-chuck-hoskin-hb-1005x-sb-26x-politics-special-session-motor-vehicle |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=KOKH |language=en}} The next month, he called the Governor "ineffective" and said they were one vote shy of overriding.{{Cite web |last=Herrera |first=Allison |date=2023-07-24 |title=Treat: Governor 'ineffective,' Oklahoma Senate must override his vetoes of compacts with tribes |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2023-07-24/treat-governor-ineffective-oklahoma-senate-must-override-his-vetoes-of-compacts-with-tribes |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}} When the override vote was called again, they were able to get enough votes, but Stitt called it an "illegitimate process."{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Andy |date=2023-07-25 |title=Senate votes to override Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetoes regarding compacts with tribes |url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-legislature-overrides-kevin-stitt-vetoes-tribal-compacts/44631107 |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=KOCO |language=en}}

In 2023 after a special session, Treat "claimed senators chose to block action on the issue because Gov. Kevin Stitt, who called the special session on taxation, had not handed senators a specific legislation-ready plan," even though the governor "has no direct role in the legislative budget process."{{Cite web |last=Journalism |first=Ray Carter, Center for Independent |date=2023-10-06 |title=Oklahoma Senate President Greg Treat claims 'no plan' for tax repeal -- ignores own bill |url=https://www.city-sentinel.com/news/oklahoma-senate-president-greg-treat-claims-no-plan-for-tax-repeal----ignores/article_14f1bf86-6455-11ee-8b9c-6b1c55f42aa1.html |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Oklahoma City Sentinel |language=en}}

In 2024, he authored Senate Bill 1470 along with Representative Jon Echols of the House, called the Oklahoma Survivors' Act. It passed the senate with no nay votes, and then the house with only 3.{{Cite web |title=Bill Information |url=http://www.oklegislature.gov/Billinfo.aspx?Bill=SB1470 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.oklegislature.gov}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=Oklahoma House passes sentencing reform for victims of domestic violence |url=https://www.kosu.org/politics/2024-04-18/oklahoma-house-passes-sentencing-reform-for-victims-of-domestic-violence |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KOSU |language=en}} The bill "would permit courts to reduce sentences for domestic violence survivors for crimes they committed relating to that abuse," such as criminalized survivor April Wilkens, who was able to watch the vote pass the House along with other incarcerated women in Mabel Bassett.{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma Survivor's Act clears House, offers new hope to criminalized survivors |url=https://app.verifiednews.network/articles/share/3497 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Verified News Network}} But Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill along with ten other bills. Chris Boring, president of the District Attorneys Council, applauded the veto but advocates for the measure believed it "is critical to address systemic failures in criminal justice for women in Oklahoma."{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=Governor vetoes 'Survivors Act' for domestic violence victims |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/governor-vetoes-survivors-act-for-domestic-violence-victims/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=Oklahoma Senate overrides veto of bill making domestic violence a mitigating factor in sentencing |url=https://www.fox23.com/news/oklahoma-senate-overrides-veto-of-bill-making-domestic-violence-a-mitigating-factor-in-sentencing/article_c47c0b0c-02a0-11ef-8e52-a7425e0b0eb5.html |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.fox23.com |language=en}} The very next day after Stitt's veto, Treat called for a Senate veto override.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Andy |date=2024-04-25 |title=Oklahoma Senate votes to override governor's veto on domestic violence bill |url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-survicors-act-senate-votes-to-override-governors-stitt-veto-on-domestic-violence-bill/60596440 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KOCO |language=en}} The Oklahoma Survivor Justice Coalition advocates said that the governor had been "mislead" by the DAs into thinking it was a bad bill.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=OK Senate overrides Stitt veto of 'Oklahoma Survivors' Act' |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/ok-senate-overrides-stitt-veto-of-oklahoma-survivors-act |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}} They claimed that they had "heard this misinformation from the state’s prosecutors and the District Attorneys Council for two years" during their efforts to get a bill passed.{{Cite web |title=After fighting for Oklahoma Survivors act, artists and advocates awaited veto response with installation |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/04/24/oklahoma-hb-1470-send-flowers-to-survivors-art-display/73386823007/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} In a press release, they accused prosecutors of “continuously and mercilessly prosecuting survivors of domestic violence, and seeking harsh, maximum punishments, while simultaneously letting their abusers plead out and face minimal consequences.”{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |date=2024-04-24 |title=Senate overrides veto of Oklahoma victims' bill • Oklahoma Voice |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/04/24/senate-overrides-veto-of-oklahoma-victims-bill/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Oklahoma Voice |language=en-US}} A previous attempt at similar legislation was Toni Hasenbeck's and Julie Daniel's HB 1639 in 2023.{{cite web |title=HB 1639 by Hasenbeck and Daniels |url=http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB%201639&Session=2300 |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=oklegislature.gov |publisher=Oklahoma Legislature |format=Legislative database}} Treat accused the DAs of going back on a deal he struck with them and saying that another bill had been drafted to ensure criminals couldn't abuse the system, addressing any concerns prosecutors had with the bill. Treat accused the governor of having "zero communication" with him or any discussion on the bill. He said, "There's an absolute target on senate bills from the governor, he has already vetoed 8 of them." News Channel 8 Tulsa also said that the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association has "refused or ignored repeated requests for comment on the legislation for more than a year."{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Brenna |date=2024-04-24 |title=Oklahoma Senate overrides Governor's veto on domestic violence bill |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/governor-vetoes-domestic-violence-bill-known-as-the-oklahoma-survivors-act-resentence-incarcerated-victims-criminal-justice-reform-policy-legislation-sb-1470 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KTUL |language=en}} The Senate veto override passed and it was the first veto override of the session.{{Cite web |author=A. O. L. Staff |date=2024-04-24 |title=Senate overrides Stitt's veto of domestic violence bill Wednesday |url=https://www.aol.com/senate-overrides-stitts-veto-domestic-220222489.html |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}} Advocates "encouraged the House to also override the veto, which is necessary for the measure to become law."{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=Oklahoma Senate overwhelmingly overrides Gov. Stitt veto of Oklahoma Survivors' Act |url=https://www.kosu.org/politics/2024-04-25/oklahoma-senate-overwhelmingly-overrides-gov-stitt-veto-of-oklahoma-survivors-act |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KOSU |language=en}} If both chambers override Stitt's veto, the bill will become a law effective November 1.{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma lawmakers work to overturn Survivors' Act veto |url=https://www.kten.com/story/50709036/oklahoma-lawmakers-work-to-overturn-survivors-act-veto |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.kten.com |language=en}} Co-author Echols said he was "very surprised at the veto" but that, “We’re going to pass protections for domestic violence victims this year... either...through another bill or through an override of this bill.” Representative Monroe Nichols said in a statement that “In my eight years in office, I’ve rarely been more frustrated and confused by a governor’s veto."{{Cite web |last=World |first=Steve Metzer Tulsa |date=2024-04-24 |title=Senate votes to override Stitt veto of domestic abuse sentencing mitigation bill |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/senate-votes-to-override-stitt-veto-of-domestic-abuse-sentencing-mitigation-bill/article_351036c0-0285-11ef-9ee2-674793f072e5.html |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}

Three weeks after the Oklahoma Survivor's Act was passed in 2024, Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler's office came under scrutiny for creating a waiver that would get abuse victims to waive away their rights under the new law, to the outcry of domestic violence advocates, including the CEO of the YWCA in Oklahoma City.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Oklahoma Prosecutors Consider Plan That Would ‘Prey’ On Domestic Violence Survivors |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsa-county-district-attorney-oklahoma-survivors-act_n_66eb2640e4b00648275ba784 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=World |first=Curtis Killman Tulsa |date=2024-09-20 |title=Tulsa DA Kunzweiler defends plan for handling Oklahoma Survivors' Act cases |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/article_3ad5cfde-7792-11ef-ae94-4f27d61969e9.html |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Kunzweiler clarifies Survivors' Act views after legal form surfaces |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2024-09-22/kunzweiler-clarifies-survivors-act-views-after-legal-form-surfaces |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Brenna |date=2024-09-17 |title=Advocates denounce Tulsa County DA plea policy as harmful to domestic abuse survivors |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/tulsa-county-da |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=KTUL |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FJP Statement on Tulsa DA’s Attempts to Circumvent the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act |url=https://fairandjustprosecution.org/press-releases/fjp-statement-on-tulsa-das-attempts-to-circumvent-the-oklahoma-survivors-act/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Fair and Just Prosecution |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Coalition |first=OK Survivor Justice |title=OK Survivor Justice Coalition |url=https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319093615/https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=OK Survivor Justice Coalition |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |date=2024-09-18 |title=Oklahoma prosecutor accused of undermining abuse victims charged with crimes • Oklahoma Voice |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/09/18/oklahoma-prosecutor-accused-of-undermining-abuse-victims-charged-with-crimes/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Oklahoma Voice |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Barajas |first=Michael |last2=Law |first2=Victoria |date=2024-05-24 |title=Oklahoma Gives Incarcerated Survivors of Domestic Violence a New Chance at Freedom |url=https://boltsmag.org/oklahoma-survivors-act/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Bolts |language=en}} They accused him of "forcing domestic violence victims charged with crimes to give up their rights if they want plea agreements."{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |title=Oklahoma prosecutor accused of undermining abuse victims charged with crimes |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/09/19/tulsa-county-stephen-kunzweiler-accused-undermining-abuse-victims-oklahoma-survivors-act/75291289007/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} Kunzweiler defended the form, saying that similar forms are used in other types of cases.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Griffin |title=District Attorney Kunzweiler Responds To Claims That He Is Strong-Arming Victims To Give Up Rights Under New Law |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/66f1ed65cb18a8df8ef25cb2/district-attorney-kunzweiler-responds-to-claims-that-he-is-strong-arming-victims-to-give-up-rights-under-new-law |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.newson6.com |language=en}}

Treat accepted money from a private pro-cockfighting lobbyist group with misleading name, the so-called "Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission" political action committee.{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Mike Allen and Tres |last2=Savage |first2=Tres |date=2023-02-26 |title=Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol |url=https://nondoc.com/2023/02/26/oklahoma-cockfighting-fight-turns-back-time/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=NonDoc |language=en-US}}

In April 2023, a "week before the deadline for bills to be heard in the opposite chamber's committees," Treat and the Speaker of the House, Charles McCall, were said to "continue to throw jabs at each other's education plans," leading parents and educators to be concerned there wouldn't be a solution that session.{{Cite web |last=May |first=Payton |date=2023-04-07 |title=Oklahoma education standstill could head to a conference committee for negotiation |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-education-standstill-could-head-to-a-conference-committee-for-negotiation-senator-president-pro-tem-greg-treat-speaker-charles-mccall-house-of-representatives-governor-stitt-teacher-pay-oklaed-classroom-ryan-walters-legislature-capitol-politics |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=KOKH |language=en}} As the session neared its end, both McCall and Treat still had not come to an agreement.{{Cite news |date=13 April 2023 |title=News 9 |work=Oklahoma Session Nearing {{as written|i|t's [sic]}} end, Lawmakers Still Disagree On Education |url=https://www.news9.com/story/643889d20899be07304ac229/oklahoma-session-nearing-its-end-lawmakers-still-disagree-on-education}} It was reported that the "two sides didn't even agree on how much they had been talking about education."{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Andy |date=2023-04-13 |title=Back-and-forth between House, Senate leaders continues amid education policy debate |url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-house-senate-leaders-education-policy-debate/43594606 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=KOCO |language=en}} McCall reportedly thought the talks were going well, while Treat said he didn't feel "very hopeful."{{Cite web |last=May |first=Payton |date=2023-04-13 |title=Education standstill continues with House and Senate on different pages over negotiations |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/education-standstill-continues-with-house-and-senate-on-different-pages-over-negotiations-speaker-charles-mccall-senator-president-pro-tem-greg-treat-govenror-kevin-stitt-oklaed-teacher-pay |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=KOKH |language=en}}

For school vouchers in a bill introduced in 2023, Treat acknowledged that "private schools wouldn’t be forced to admit all students, but he believes schools would expand enrollment when more families can afford it." Democrats have had concerns that "there are no assurances that low-income students would be admitted into a private school." Treat has also accused House Speaker Charles McCall of "refusing to negotiate and said the Senate’s income cap was a “more responsible” school choice plan."{{Cite web |title=Once focused on low-income students, Oklahoma's school choice effort goes 'universal' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/04/09/oklahoma-private-school-tax-credit-gov-kevin-stitt-lawmakers-debate-voucher-bill/70075494007/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}

In June 2023, after severe storms hit parts of Oklahoma that involved hurricane-force winds and tornadic activity that knocked out power for days for more than 350,000 energy customers during severe heat waves,{{Cite news |last=Sandoval |first=Edgar |last2=Jones |first2=Judson |date=2023-06-21 |title=Extreme Heat and More Storms Threaten an Already Battered Oklahoma |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/us/oklahoma-heat-power.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |issn=0362-4331}} Treat was informed he was the acting Governor who could declare a state of emergency, which he did days after the event. He was not informed ahead of time he was acting Governor, when Stitt was in Paris and the Lieutenant Governor, Matt Pinnell, was also out of state. Stitt had not responded to Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum's calls.{{Cite web |last1=Ferguson |first1=Tom |last2=Severin |first2=Kevin |date=2023-06-20 |title=Pro Tem Treat signs executive order within hour of finding out he's acting governor |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-city-senate-pro-tem-greg-treat-executive-order-state-emergency-governors-office-power-kevin-stitt-reviewing-documents-tulsa-mayor-gt-bynum-matt-pinnell-exective-order-acting-storms-damage-devastation |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=KOKH |language=en}}{{Citation |last=Cashman |first=Shelby |title=Sen. Greg Treat addresses disaster response, role as acting governor |date=2023-06-22 |url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-tulsa-senator-greg-treat-acting-governor-disaster-response/44302581 |access-date=2023-06-23 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-22 |title=Treat: Oklahoma Legislature 'stands ready' to help in Tulsa's storm recovery |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2023-06-21/treat-legislature-ready-to-help-tulsa |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-19 |title=Tulsa officials hopeful for State of Emergency declaration |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/tulsa-officials-hopeful-for-state-of-emergency-declaration |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate|years=2017–2019}}

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{{s-ttl|title=President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate|years=2019–2025}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Oklahoma City

Category:Republican Party Oklahoma state senators

Category:University of Oklahoma alumni

Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate