Legislative Update

New law adds liability to doctors who perform abortions

June 4, 2020

Legislation was signed into law last week to hold physicians who perform fraudulent abortions solely liable for the wrongful death. Senate Bill 1728, by Sen. David Bullard, creates the Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act and modifies provisions related to awarding damages resulting from such wrongful deaths. The Durant Republican said that the new law will…

Gov. Stitt vetoed 18 of 176 bills

June 4, 2020

Gov. Stitt vetoed 18 of the 176 bills submitted to his office in the shortened legislative session in 2020. The latest vetoes were on House Bill 3228, Senate Bill 1046 and Senate Bill 1595. HB 3228 would have changed parts of the state’s medical marijuana law. Stitt said, “The language in the bill makes substantial…

Republican-led Legislature over-rides Gov. Stitt’s vetoes

May 28, 2020

Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed 19 bills in this session and the Legislature voted to override 10 of those vetoes. Senate Bill 1002, Senate Bill 4018, House Bill 2749, House Bill 2750, Senate Bill 1805, House Bill 3663, House Bill 3819, House Bill 3824, House Bill 4018 and House Bill 4049 were vetoed. HB2760 would have…

Anti-red flag bill signed

May 28, 2020

The nation’s first anti-red flag gun law is on the books in Oklahoma to strengthen and protect citizens’ Second Amendment rights. Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, authored the measure, which was signed into law by the governor Senate Bill 1081, also known as the Anti-Red Flag Act, prohibits the state or any city, county or…

AP courses at high schools

May 28, 2020

Legislation requiring all Oklahoma public high schools to offer at least four Advanced Placement (AP) courses to students beginning in the 2024-25 school year was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. House Bill 3400, authored by State Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and State Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, allows schools to choose the type of…

TSET funds to Medicaid

May 28, 2020

A plan to help pay for Medicaid in Oklahoma passed off the Senate. Senate Joint Resolution 27, by Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, refers to Oklahoma voters a constitutional amendment to allow a larger portion of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (TSET) annual settlement payments to go towards paying for either the…

Tobacco age up to 21

May 28, 2020

Legislation raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 has been signed into law. Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, is principal author of Senate Bill 1423. Oklahoma’s statutes align with the federal Tobacco-Free Youth Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump last December. That law prohibited the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes,…

Midwife licensing bill

May 28, 2020

Legislation creating a system for licensing midwives has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1823, creating Shepherd’s Law, was signed into law by Gov. Stitt. Certified Professional Midwives are already regulated in 34 other states. Under SB1823, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) or Certified Midwife (CM) would be required to be licensed. All midwives would…

Help for school districts

May 28, 2020

A bill that grants a one-year exemption from penalties for school districts that have excess carryover dollars due to the COVID-19 pandemic was passed by the House of Representatives. Without this change, some Oklahoma school districts would have been subject to fines for having too large of a carryover balance. House Bill 3964, by State…

Recognizing Israel

May 28, 2020

Legislation that recognizes Israel as one of Oklahoma’s top trade partners and the nation’s greatest ally in the Middle East passed the state Senate. House Bill 3967, authored by State Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, specifies that unless exempted by the secretary of state, the state of Oklahoma will not enter into contracts with companies that…