OKLAHOMA CITY – Voters will get to decide at the ballo t box in November if Public Infrastructure Districts can be created in Oklahoma. Senate Joint Resolution 16, which is a carryover resolution from 2023, would create a constitutional amendment if State Question 833 is approved by the public.
The proposal, which will allow municipalities to create PIDs, was authored by Sen. John Haste (R-Broken Arrow) and co-sponsored by Reps. Terry O’Donnell (R-Catoosa) and Lonnie Sims (R-Jenks). It was filed with the Secretary of State on April 25.
If approved by voters, cities will be able to use a P ID to finance infrastructure improvements, according to a Senate pr ess release. PIDs can be used towards the costs of sidewalks, costs of roads, water, parks and sewer developments.
“If passed, SQ 833 would allow 100% of surface property owners in a portion of a municipality to petition to create a PID to finance infrastructure in that area. If approved by the city council, the PID would be able to issue bonds to f inance the infrastructure in the area and repay the bonds through an up to 10 mill property tax assessment on properties in the PID,” the press release explained.
Last week’s legislative action from southwest Oklahoma senators include the following: Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan) Five bills either authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Garvin were approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt last week. One bill per taining to health insurance, House Bill 1712, was sent to the governor on April 24 and vetoed on April 29. The measure would have prohibited refusal of coverage under certain circumstances, specifically addressing provider networks and durable medical equipment and supplies prescribed by a health care provider whether classified as in-network or out-of-network.
An act relating to pharmacies, HB 1713, was approved by the governor on April 29. In part, the new law stipulates that all health benefit plans and pharmacy benefits managers in Oklahoma shall not refuse to authorize, approve or pay a participating provider for providing covered physician-administered drugs to covered persons.
On April 30, Stitt approved HB 4156, an immigration bill co-sponsored by 38 legislators, including Garvin. It creates the crime of “impermissible occupation” and pertains to persons willfully and without permission entering and remaining in Oklahoma without having first obtained legal authorization to enter the United States. The first offense will be considered a misdemeanor and two or more offenses by the same person will be considered a felony.
HB 3586, a measure pertaining to state employee health insurance, was approved on May 1. It addresses funding to provide flexible benefit allowance, a professional risk management program, continuance of health and dental insurance benefits, rates and benefits and the disability insurance program.
Also approved by the governor last Wednesday was HB 3780, which pertains to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, and amends state statutes that relate to video con ferencing and teleconferencing. In part, the bill text states that a public body may hold meetings by videoconference where each member of the public body is visible and audible to each other and the public through a video monitor. A quorum must be present.
In addition, each public meeting held by videoconference or teleconference must be recorded either by written, electronic or other means. The meeting notice and agenda prepared in advance of the meeting, as required by law, must indicate if the meeting will inc lude videoconferencing locations and provide the location, address and telephone number of each site. The public must be allowed to participate and speak in the meeting at the video conference site.
HB 3369, a bill per taining to state government and authored by Rep. Marcus McEntire (R-Duncan), was also approved by the governor on May 1. It pertains to the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act and addresses duties and responsibilities. Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) Four bills either authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Howard were approved by the governor last week and one bill, which pertained to water and water rights was vetoed. HB 3194 addressed metering of wells, measuring requirements, data and groundwater usage report. The measure would have also authorized applicants to exceed annual yields upon approval by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. It was sent to the governor’s desk on April 25 and vetoed on April 30.
Three of the bills w ere approved by the governor on April 29, including: HB 3559, authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) and pertained to revenue and taxation. It addressed the Pass-Through Entity Tax Act, elections and income tax returns.
HB 3546, which pertains to criminal procedure and addresses court costs, court orders, financial obligations, warrants and procedures; and HB 3156, which pertains to elections and prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.
A public health and safety bill, HB 3556, was approved by the governor on May 1. It was authored by Kendrix and provides for a state-designated entity for a health information exchange and addresses mandatory language and exemptions.
Sen. Chris Kidd (R-Waurika) Senate Resolution 43, authored by Sen. Kidd, recognizes Oklahoma’s beef farmers and ranchers and designates May as Oklahoma Beef Month. It was enrolled and filed with the Secretary of State on May 2.
In addition, HB 3011, w hich pertains to agriculture and Oklahoma’s Industrial Hemp Program was approved by the governor on May 3. Kidd is the princi pal Senate author of the measure. In part, the bill modifies current state statutes addressing the growth, cultivation, handling or processing of industrial hemp. Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) Two bills either authored or co-sponsored by Sen. Paxton were approved by the governor on May 1.
Senate Bill 1371, authored by Paxton, transfers the Off ice of Homeland Security from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to the Department of Public Safety. Three functions were outlined in the bill text as r esponsibilities of the Off ice of Homeland Security. They are Prevention and Intelligence, Response and Recovery Planning and Awareness and Preparedness.
HB 2178, authored by Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber), pertains to alcoholic beverages and addresses small farm wineries and winemaker licenses, samples, satellite locations and events.