OKLAHOMA CITY – April 25 marked the deadline for Third Reading of Bills and Joint Resolutions from the opposite Chamber in the legislature. With the end of the session drawing near at the end of May, there was a push last week by legislators to advance their bills.
Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin)
A bill that didn’t make it through the legislative process last year, Senate Bill 426, recently picked up new co-sponsors, including Sen. Deevers and Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow). The measure, authored by Sen. George Burns (R-Pollard) pertains to the World Health Organization and would prohibit enforcement of policies required or recommended by WHO.
The intent is to create a new section of law in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6301 of Title 74 and states, in part, that WHO, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum shall have no jurisdiction in the State of Oklahoma. An emergency tag was attached and, if signed into law, would become effective June 1.
Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan)
Seven bills authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Garvin were approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt last week. Approved on April 22 are: SB 1803, which pertains to memorial highways and bridge designations. It was authored by Garvin and specifically calls for renaming 12 highway sections or bridges across the state to honor designated persons, including the section of U.S. Highway 183 which begins at the intersection of E1820 Road extending north through the town of Frederick to the intersection of Highview Avenue in Tillman County. Beginning Nov. 1 it will be designated as the “Senator Anthony M. Massad Memorial Highway.”
House Bill 3671, which pertains to motor vehicles and authorizes Service Oklahoma to allow individuals to make certain voluntary designations. In part, the measure states that Service Oklahoma shall permit a driver license or state identification cardholder to voluntarily designate that the person has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by a licensed primary care physician, licensed psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist. The designation shall be used by a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical professional to identify and effectively communicate with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and shall not be used for any other purpose by any other person.
HB 3919, which pertains to assisted living; disclosure; referral agencies; regulating compensation; civil penalty; prohibited acts and penalties; and exceptions.
Approved by the governor on April 23 are: SB 1511, which pertains to longterm care and modifying elements of employment eligibility. It was authored by Garvin and is an act that relates to criminal history background checks for nurse aides; modifying time periods of certain requirements; modifying certain restrictions on employment; and updating statutory language and references.
SB 1752, authored by Garvin, pertains to Medicaid and modifying requirements for participation in certain premium assistance programs. It will also modify certain authority of the Insurance Department.
HB 3015, which pertains to professions and occupations; social worker licensing requirements; and schooling qualifications; and HB 3778, which pertains to digital assets and is specifically titled the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. It addresses the topics of custodian, protected persons, fiduciaries and power of attorney.
In addition, four additional bills were sent to Gov. Stitt’s desk and are pending his approval. The three measures sent on Wednesday, April 24, are: HB 1712, which pertains to health insurance and prohibiting refusal of coverage under certain circumstances; out-of-network provider; reimbursement and codification.
SB 1200, which pertains to Daylight Saving Time and would enable Oklahoma to adopt DST as the year-round time; and HB 4156, which pertains to immigration, legislative intent and making certain acts unlawful. Sen. Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) and House Speaker Charles McCall (R-Atoka) teamed up and co-authored this bill, which refers to the criminal act of impermissible occupation. It was presented to the House on April 15 and three days later was sent to the Senate. On April 22, Garvin signed on to co-sponsor the emergency-designated bill.
“Immigration is top of mind for many Oklahomans as we see an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants crossing our nation’s southern border, bringing illicit drugs and criminal activity that pose a threat to our public safety,” Garvin said in a press release. “My grandparents legally immigrated to the United States from Mexico and went through the naturalization process to become citizens. Their journey is emblematic of the appropriate pathway to citizenship, and the majority of legal immigrants want others to come here through the proper channels as well.”
Garvin is the first Hispanic woman elected to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature and she is also a founding member of the Legislature’s Latino Caucus. Sen. Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City) is the chair of the caucus and said in an April 25 press release that members have offered solutions and invitations to address the problems with common-sense policy but they have been rejected. He is calling for Gov. Stitt to veto the measure.
“The opportunity to create thoughtful policy is at our doorstep, but instead, the Legislature passed this expensive bill that only criminalizes hard-working families and will inevitably do nothing to address the issue of illegal immigration,” Brooks said. “We are urging the governor to stop this.”
HB 1713, the other bill co-sponsored by Garvin was sent to the governor on April 25 and pertains to pharmacies and addresses definitions, requirements, penalties and codification.
Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus)
Two bills authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Howard were approved by Gov. Stitt last week.
HB 3036 pertains to civil procedure and addresses forcible entry and detainer, jury trials and repealer. It was approved by the governor on April 23.
SB 1995, authored by Howard, pertains to medical marijuana and will amend, merge, consolidate and repeal multiple versions of statutes. The proposal was 63 pages long and was approved by the governor on April 26.
In addition, seven bills authored or co-sponsored by Howard were sent to the governor’s desk last week and are pending approval. Bills sent on April 23 include: HB 3014, which pertains to the Oklahoma Court Information System and court fund, proposes that a Management Information Services Division be established in the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts which will be responsible for the implementation and management of the Oklahoma Court Information System. It also proposes that the Oklahoma Supreme Court shall implement an accounting system for the Oklahoma Court Information System with the approval of the State Auditor and Inspector; and SB 1724, authored by Howard, pertains to community sentencing and would authorize the court to order stay for revocation of driving privileges under certain circumstances.
Sent to the governor on April 24: HB 3456, which pertains to crimes and punishments and modifying the scope of certain definitions.
Sent to the governor on April 25: HB 3559, which pertains to revenue and taxation. It establishes the Pass-Through Entity Tax Act and addresses elections and income tax returns.
HB 3194, which pertains to water and water rights, metering of wells, measuring requirements, data and groundwater usage report.
HB 3546, which pertains to criminal procedure and addresses court costs, court orders, financial obligations, warrants and procedures.
HB 3156, which pertains to elections and proposes to prohibit the use of ranked choice voting. It defines terms and authorizes certain entities to bring civil action.
Sen. Chris Kidd (R-Waurika)
A bill authored by Sen. Kidd, SB 1931, was sent to the governor’s desk on April 23. If approved the measure will repeal provisions relating to the care of indigent persons.
Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle)
Eight bills either authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Paxton were approved by the governor last week and one bill was vetoed.
SB 1759, authored by Paxton, which pertained to contractors and changing the specified amount needed for required certification to install individual sewage disposal systems, was vetoed on April 23. It was sent to the governor’s desk on April 17.
Approved by the governor on April 22: SB 1514, authored by Paxton and co-sponsored by Rep. Boles. The measure pertains to the Commissioners of the Land Office and provides certain statutes of limitations be applied to the Office as it relates to oil and gas leases.
HB 3998, which pertains to law enforcement education and training. It also clarifies education and training reimbursement requirements.
HB 4065, which pertains to utilities and specifically addresses definitions, electric utilities, public utilities and exemptions from definitions.
Approved by the governor on April 23: SB 518, which pertains to Initiatives and Referendums and will modify certain filing requirements. It will also require certain publication and notice and increase certain time periods for protest or objection.
HB 3858, which pertains to the Police Pension and Retirement System; late charge; reference; and revisions.
HB 3596, which pertains to labor and modifying various provisions of the Employment Security Act of 1980.
HB 3597, which pertains to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development. It will modify coordination of the Council activities.
Approved by the governor on April 24: HB 4095, which pertains to the Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act and specifically addresses definitions, notices and meeting requests.
In addition, one bill, HB 3051, w as sent to the governor’s desk on April 23 and is pending his approval. It pertains to revenue and taxation and specifically addresses clean-burning motor vehicles, tax credits and fiscal year caps.