OKLAHOMA CITY – Bringing more regulatory oversight to the used powersports vehicle sales market was proposed by Sen. Kendal Sacchieri (R-Blanchard) with the recent pre-filing of Senate Bill 529.
If passed, the measure will modify Oklahoma’s motor vehicle dealer regulations and create a new category of licensed dealers to be referred to as “used powersports vehicle dealers.” The category will include dealers of used motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles.
Passage of the bill would also expand the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission’s regulatory authority to include those designated powersports vehicle dealers. They would be required to obtain a specific license, pay associated fees, maintain a bond and carry liability insurance. It would exclude retail implement dealers who sell all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles and motorcycles exclusively for off-road use.
Sacchieri also pre-filed SB 97, which would introduce new regulations for lobbying activities within state government and would establish restrictions on stage agencies’ interactions with lobbyists. She defines “executive lobbyist,” “legislative liaison” and “legislative lobbyist” as individuals who engage in lobbying activities beyond merely incidental communication.
The proposed legislation would prohibit state agencies from entering into new contracts or renewing existing contracts with lobbyists for lobbying purposes. It would also restrict agencies from hiring legislative liaisons for lobbying activities without first obtaining written approval from their respective cabinet secretary. In part, the goal is to limit the potential influence of paid lobbying activities within state government agencies.
Other pre-filed bills authored by southwest Oklahoma senators include: Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) pre-filed SB 118, which relates to judicial officers and would require the Oklahoma Supreme Court to establish the Judicial Performance Evaluation Council and the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation within the Administrative Office of the Courts.
In part, the main priority of these new entities would be to provide transparent information about judicial performance, help judges improve their skills, identify necessary judicial education programs and balance judicial independence with public accountability.
If the measure were to pass, the state Supreme Court would be required to develop detailed rules for evaluating intermediate appellate and district court judges, including performance standards and conducting surveys to gather opinions from people familiar with the judge’s work and self-evaluations. The high court would also be mandated to prepare and distribute an annual report detailing the number of evaluations, response rates and actions taken to address any performance deficiencies.
Sen. Spencer Kern (R-Duncan) pre-filed an agriculture- related measure, SB 722, to amend certain state statutes and prohibit electronic monitoring of animals and would make several technical updates to existing definitions and references.
His goal, in part, would protect animal owners’ privacy by preventing the use of identification systems for electronic surveillance, while maintaining the state’s ability to track animals for disease prevention and agricultural management purposes.
Kern also pre-filed SB 720, a measure related to fish and wildlife that would limit the number of quail that could be harvested each day. If passed, the new regulation would limit licensed hunters to possessing a maximum of seven quail per day. The measure would exempt hunters licensed to hunt upland game in commercial hunting areas from the daily limit restriction.
Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) pre-filed SB 650 to address sanitary sewer systems. The measure relates to public utilities and would require the governing body to adopt a comprehensive plan for maintenance and operation of their sewer systems.
If passed, the public utilities’ plan must include detailed mapping and recordkeeping, policies for sewer line inspections, cleaning, root control and procedures for responding to sewer overflows.
The plan would also be required to contain a “Fats, Oils and Grease” ordinance and requirements for new construction connections, along with notification policies for backflow prevention. A funding availability model and a five-year capital improvement plan must also be provided.
In addition, the proposed bill would modify the Governmental Tort Claims Act by increasing damage award limits and adding specific provisions for municipal sewer overflow claims. It would also provide liability protections for utilities that are working to maintain their systems according to the new planning requirements. Utilities will have five years to implement their plans and will be considered in compliance if they are actively working towards full implementation. In part, the goal of the bill seeks to improve infrastructure maintenance, prevent sewer overflows and provide clear guidelines for utilities and potential damage claims.
Paxton’s SB 645 is a pr efiled bill that per tains to automobiles owned by the state. If approved, the measure modifies existing state statutes regarding the purchase of motor vehicles by state agencies. It would remove the lightweight requirement that acquisitions of motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less must be approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. In part, the proposal is intended to streamline the vehicle acquisition process for state agencies by removing an additional administrative approval step.
All proposed legislation will be eligible for consideration when the new session of the Legislature opens at noon on Feb. 3.