Legislative Update

Parole Board bill

March 10, 2022

To keep punishment decisions for the most heinous crimes out of the hands of political appointees and with courts and juries, where they belong, Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, advanced legislation restricting the Pardon and Parole Board from exceeding its jurisdiction on death penalty and life without parole cases. “The Pardon and Parole Board’s controversial, unprecedented…

Natural disaster funding

March 10, 2022

Legislation creating a fund to help counties and municipalities impacted by natural disasters passed its House committee. House Bill 3819, authored by Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, would create the Oklahoma Disaster Mitigation and Recovery Matching Fund. This fund would be appropriated $5 million to aid counties and communities impacted by natural disasters or at risk…

Mask mandate problems

March 10, 2022

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, saod House Bill 3718 has passed through the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. The bill, authored by Roberts, adds an enforcement clause to last year’s legislation banning COVID-19 vaccines mandates, mask mandates and vaccine passports as a condition of admittance to, or attendance at, a state school. “Last year, the…

Service animal guidelines

March 10, 2022

The Senate voted to prohibit anyone without a disability or who is not trained to assist those with disabilities from fraudulently representing a pet as a service animal. Senate Bill 1223 was introduced by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant. “Sadly, there are some in our society who will take advantage of the benefits of a service…

Legal notice additions

March 10, 2022

Legislation to change government notices to the public unanimously passed the House County and Municipal Government Committee. House Bill 3062, authored by Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, expands the availability of legal notices by requiring municipalities to post them online in addition to the current requirement to publish in a daily or weekly newspaper. “This legislation…

Voter eligibility is clarified

March 10, 2022

Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, commented on the passage of House Bill 3677 through the Elections and Ethics Committee. HB 3677, authored by Roberts, deals with securing Oklahoma elections. The bill would require the Secretary of State to verify voters driver license and/or social security numbers when registering to vote. The bill also makes it a…

Bills to slow abortion advance

March 3, 2022

The Health and Human Services Committee advanced four pro-life bills from Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. Senate Bill 1552 allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health to contract directly with private organizations who provide services related to the Choosing Childbirth Act. “Allowing the health department to contract directly with private organizations that support women…

LOFT seems to be work

March 3, 2022

The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) is reshaping state policymaking with improvements in legislative research, data and state agency accountability efforts. “Legislative scrutiny of tax dollars has never been higher, thanks to LOFT,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “LOFT’s accountability efforts are already producing strong bills and a more informed legislative body.” LOFT’s…

High-speed Internet

March 3, 2022

House Republican legislation to bring high-speed internet to 95% of Oklahomans in five years was scheduled to be heard in committee this month. The creation of an Oklahoma Broadband Office via House Bill 3363 represents Oklahoma’s biggest step in broadband expansion, which has been a House Republican priority for three years. “With all the funds…

Spending the surplus

March 3, 2022

The Oklahoma State Board of Equalization (BOE) met to certify revenues available for appropriation for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. The amount initially certified by the board in December was $10.3 billion. The amount certified Tuesday was $10.49 billion. “The revenue figures show Oklahoma’s economy is still strong, but I emphatically believe it is in…