OKLAHOMA CITY ― A proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution could mean the return of prayer in school and other public places. First News reporter Rita Kotey talked to the Oklahoma lawmaker sponsoring the bill.

Oklahoma State Senator Tom Ivester (D - Elk City) says it is in the state's best interest to allow Oklahomans to exercise their religion in any public place.

If passed, the bill would apply to all religions. It states that all people would have the right to pray and recognize their religious values on any public property.

That public property would include school grounds. It would also ban the state from establishing an official religion or requiring people to join in prayer or religious activity.

Ivester says it is the fairest way to acknowledge all religions and to allow all people to express themselves.

"The ironic thing is before every session of the Legislature we have a prayer a daily prayer. I just think it’s the highest hypocrisy that we can do it up at the State Senate, yet we can’t to it before a football game or high school graduation," Oklahoma State Senator Tom Ivester says.

The Legislature will vote on the bill in February. If approved, it will then go to voters.