OKLAHOMA CITY – Deadline week in the state Legislature for bills to pass out of their chamber of origin culminated on the final day, Thursday, March 14, with “a little fireworks” in the Senate, said Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat.
“I started hearing rumors about some dissidents wanting to gum up the process earlier this week and then last night the rumors became a little bit more persistent, so I wasn’t shocked that Sen. Dahm and Sen. Deevers wanted to gum up the process,” Treat said in his Thursday press conference.
The filibuster was a result of wanting more bills to be heard and hopefully passed to the House of Representatives, and stretched the final session significantly. Sens. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) and Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) read texts of bills late into the night.
Treat said he was displeased with the tactics on the Senate floor, as it was distracting from getting important things done for the finish line on this deadline. The filibuster delayed the Senate budget resolution, but Treat said they plan on running it on Monday afternoon.
Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) Sen. Deevers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to explain why he joined forces with Dahm for the final day filibuster.
“The political process is, at times, messy. Sometimes you have to kick the door open to let light in to expose what’s going on inside; today is one of those days. The voice of the citizens speaks when bills authored by their elected servants are heard on the Senate floor …” Of the 13 bills Deevers authored or co-sponsored, one joint resolution–- House Joint Resolution 1034–-passed from the floor. The measure aims to expand the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms. It would amend Section 26 of Article 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution and would prevent infringement of the fundamental right of a citizen to keep and to bear arms.
Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan) Deadline week definitely held high points for Sen. Garvin. In addition to being recognized by the Conservative Political Action Conference for her conservative voting record, she also saw three bills she authored or co-sponsored to improve pension benefits for retired police officers, firefighters and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pass on the final day for bills to move from their chamber of origin.
A Senate press release said it’s rare for a senator to pass three major pension reforms during a single legislative session, let alone to pass them off the Senate floor in a single day. The bills will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 102 will increase the retirement benefits an officer receives upon retirement.
SB 453 will increase the pension benefits for volunteer firefighters. According to the press release, volunteer firefighters make up an overwhelming majority of the fire personnel in Oklahoma.
SB 631 will ensure members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol who joined the force after Nov. 1, 2012, will be eligible for the equally robust benefits offered to their predecessors.
Local law enforcement and firefighters’ groups said in the press release that these bills are essential to help them recruit and retain public safety employees.
“These reforms are the least we can do as a state to thank retired police officers, firefighters and the Troopers for their service,” Garvin said.
“Our men and women in uniform deserve the best and most comprehensive benefits available after spending years protecting Oklahomans.”
In addition to the three pension reform bills, multiple other measures that Garvin authored or co-sponsored have passed the Senate floor and are heading to the House. In part, the list includes SB 1497, which would modify income tax credit for donations to certain research institutes; SB 1752, which would modify requirements for participation in certain premium assistance programs and modify certain authority of the Insurance Department; and SB 1218, which would prohibit denial of firearms purchase under circumstances.
Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) Multiple bills authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Howard passed the Senate floor and are heading to the House.
The partial list includes SB 1341, which pertains to water and water rights and would establish requirements for basins within a critical groundwater management area; SB 1705, which pertains to alien ownership of land would define terms and add entities prohibited from certain ownership. It would also modify requirements for execution of certain affidavits.
In addition, SB 1995, which pertains to medical marijuana and would amend, merge, consolidate and repeal multiple versions of statutes; SB 1424, which pertains to the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act and would modify provisions related to certain administrative penalties and notice requirements; and HB 3156, which pertains to elections and would prohibit the use of ranked choice voting. In simple terms, this allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
Sen. Chris Kidd (R-Waurika) Sen. Kidd is a co-sponsor of SB 631, along with Sen. Garvin, that addresses the law enforcement retirement system, which passed off the Senate floor on Thursday. In addition, he had multiple other bills he authored or co-sponsored advance to the House.
The partial list includes HB 1860, which pertains to the local food for schools program would create the Oklahoma Local Food for Schools Revolving Fund; HB 4038, which pertains to manufacturing employer and employee income tax credit; and HB 3838, which pertains to the Oklahoma Historical Society and would create within the Research Division an Office of Tribal Relations.
Among other duties, the proposed Office of Tribal Relations would gather, preserve and maintain all records, documents and material related to negotiations and agreements between tribal governments and the state and political subdivisions.
Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) Sen. Paxton authored or co-sponsored multiple bills that passed from the Senate floor and are headed to the House for consideration.
The partial list includes SB 1514, which pertains to the Commissioners of the Land Office and would provide certain statutes of limitations be applied to the Office as it relates to oil and gas leases; SB 1939, which pertains to medical marijuana and would clarify provisions for the transfer of licensing following change of ownership; SB 1980, which also pertains to medical marijuana and would define the term and modify the definition. Also, on the list is HB 3567, which pertains to controlled dangerous drugs and would revoke or suspend registrations.