OKLAHOMA CITY – When the state House of Representatives adjourned sine die on Thursday, it marked the end of Rep. Charles McCall’s (R-Atoka) run as the longest serving Speaker in state history. He has now reached his term limit. In March, the Oklahoma House Republican Caucus elected Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) as the speaker-designate for the 60th Legislature.
The new Speaker will also make history as the youngest House Speaker in state history and only the second Republican Speaker under 30 years of age in any state since 1873, according to a legislative press release.
During the final week of the Second Regular Session of the 59th Legislature, bills continued to advance to Gov. Kevin Stitt. For a bill to become law after the final adjournment, the governor must approve the measure within 15 days after adjournment. Both chambers adjourned May 30–a day before required by law.
Members of both the House and Senate filed Senate Joint Resolution 23 last week. The measure pertains to a proposed constitutional amendment to go before the voters for approval or rejection and would clarify the citizenship requirement for qualified electors. The gist of the proposition is that Section 1 of Article 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution will be amended to clarify that only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in this state. The measure went on to the Secretary of State. Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) Rep. Brad Boles is co-sponsor of Senate Bill 426, which advocates prohibiting enforcement of policies required or recommended by the World Health Organization, and was sent to the governor’s desk last week for approval. According to a legislative press release, SB 426 prohibits the state from enforcing any mandates or recommendations issued by the World Health Organization, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum. Specifically, it ensures that Oklahoma will not compel its residents to adhere to directives related to masks, vaccines, medical testing or the gathering of public or private information. With an emergency tag on the bill, the measure will go into effect once the governor signs his approval.
Boles is also co-sponsor on two bills approved by the governor last week.
SB 1370, which creates the Oklahoma Law Carbon Energy Initiative and specifically amends duties and sources of funds. The Initiative will serve as a strategic program designed to create, advance and promote new and existing energy research and development, use, supply chain activity and infrastructure related to Oklahoma’s core energy competencies. It will go into effect July 1.
The measure also creates a revolving fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the “Oklahoma Energy Initiative Revolving Fund.” The fund will be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and will consist of all monies received by the Secretary of Energy and Environment or any other entity authorized to accept or expend funds on behalf of the Oklahoma Energy Initiative from any authorized source. The Initiative is authorized to accept donations, grants, endowments, or other funding from any person, corporation or entity to achieve the purpose and satisfy the objectives of the Initiative as provided by this act.
SB 1505, which pertains to providing rebates for emission reduction projects and creates a fund. The measure, which will become effective immediately, creates the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program. A rebate is created in the amount of up to 25% of documented expenditures made in this state directly attributable to the implementation of a qualified Emission Reduction Project. The rebate program shall be administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, as provided in the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Incentive Act. The measure also outlines documentation that is required. Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) As Vice Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, Rep. Trey Caldwell co-sponsored nearly 50 bills that were sent to the governor’s desk last week. A majority were related to the state budget and appropriations.
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) A carryover bill authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck in 2023, House Bill 1449, was sent to the governor’s desk last week and is pending approval. The measure clarifies how state law defines females and males by defining ‘sex’ as a person’s biological sex, a designation assigned at bir th.
It also prohibits unfair sex discrimination while also allowing state government to make distinctions between the sexes in certain situations, said a legislative press release. The government could differentiate between the sexes to ensure privacy and safety in restrooms, athletic facilities, locker rooms, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, prisons and other detention facilities. The state and any political subdivisions that collect vital statistics would have to identify individuals as male or female under the updated definitions in HB 1449. Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Dick Lowe, SB 1521, which will modify the School Resource Officer Program to allow the employment of certain individuals, was approved by the governor last week. In part, the measure states that statutes will be amended to require the State Department of Education to establish and maintain a three-year pilot program known as the School Resource Officer Program.
School resource officers employed or contracted by school districts participating in the School Resource Officer Program shall successfully complete law enforcement active shooter emergency response training given by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training and approved by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. A school district participating in the School Resource Officer Program will give first priority to employing or contracting with a law enforcement officer with sworn authority and training in school-based law enforcement and crisis response who is assigned by an employing law enforcement agency to work collaboratively with one or more schools using community-oriented policing concepts.
Rep. Marcus McEntire (R-Duncan) A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Marcus McEntire, SB 979, which will modify requirements under the Oklahoma Abstractor’s Act, was approved by the governor last week. The measure will also specifically provide an exception for determination of unnecessary delay and increase certain civil penalties.