OKLAHOMA CITY – After the new legislative session began Feb.
3, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Rep.
Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) saw a measure he authored, House Bill 2728, pass the House Administrative Rules Committee within just a few days by a vote of 12-1.
The proposal is aimed at reforming the state’s administrative rulemaking process, which is the system used by state agencies to implement laws by drafting and proposing regulations. Kendrix’s HB 2728 would establish the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, which, according to a legislative press release, is modeled after similar federal legislation introduced in Congress last year.
Assistant Minority Floor Leader John Waldron (D-Tulsa) was the only dissenting vote against the proposal in last week’s roll call in the Administrative Rules Committee.
Kendrix described the REINS Act as a crucial first step toward increasing transparency and oversight in what he described, in a press release, as an attempt by the unelected bureaucracy to create an unconstitutional “fourth branch of government.”
“Administrative rules allow agencies to impose regulations without being approved by the legislative branch,” said Kendrix, who chairs the House Administrative Rules Committee. “Once approved, these rules carry the force of law and take effect by default, largely bypassing the Legislature’s ability to intervene. House Bill 2728 provides a critical opportunity to create a more balanced and accountable administrative rulemaking process, ensuring that those elected by Oklahomans have greater oversight of the regulations impacting our state.”
If HB 2728 becomes law, all proposed rules would be submitted with an economic impact statement.
Proposed rules with a projected fiscal impact of at least $1 million over the first five years would require separate proactive legislative approval.
This bill would also establish the Legislative Economic Analysis Unit within the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency to provide independent reviews of agencies’ economic impact statements to ensure accuracy and completeness, with all analyses made available online.
The legislative press release said the proposal is modeled after many states that have put in place this third-party evaluation system for administrative rules, which has saved millions by cutting excess red tape and ensuring legislative intent is followed.
Among many other bills headed toward committee hearings this week, a measure authored by Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) pertaining to firearms is pending in the Criminal Judiciary Committee.
HB 1476 proposes that it will be unlawful for any person, including a person in possession of a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, to carry any concealed or unconcealed firearm into any of the following places:
• Any structure, building or office space which is owned or leased by a city, town, county, state or federal governmental authority for the purpose of conducting business with the public.
• Any courthouse, courtroom, prison, jail, detention facility or any facility used to process, hold or house arrested persons, prisoners or persons alleged delinquent or adjudicated delinquent, except as provided in Section 21 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
• Any public or private elementary or public or private secondary school, except as provided in subsections C and D of this section; any publicly owned or operated sports arena or venue during a professional sporting event, unless allowed by the event holder.
• Any place where gambling is authorized by law, unless allowed by the property owner; any other place specifically prohibited by law; and any property set aside by a county, city, town, public trust with a county, city or town as a beneficiary, or state governmental authority for an event that is secured with minimum-security provisions.
A bill authored by Oversight Committee Chair Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow), HB 1430, which pertains to the Tinnitus Research Grant Program Revolving Fund was referred to the Rules Committee after a second reading in the House. If approved, this new grant revolving fund will be dedicated within the Oklahoma State Treasury and designed to support research aimed at finding a cure for tinnitus (a medical condition characterized by persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears).
According to the bill text, the fund will be made up of state legislative appropriations and private donations and will not be subject to fiscal year limitations. In addition, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will be the responsible entity for administering the program. In part, responsibilities will include awarding annual grants to both public and private universities throughout the state through a competitive, statewide application process.
Among the multiple bills filed by Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton), three measures – HB 2747, 2751 and 2756 – focusing on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission have all advanced to the House Utilities Committee.
Issues addressed in the proposals are competitive bidding, utilities and electric transmission facilities.
More than 35 bills that Majority Deputy Leader Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) has either authored or co-sponsored are heading to committees for review. One proposal, HB 1096, was considered in a hearing of the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee on Feb.
10 and results are not known as of press time. The legislation authored by Hasenbeck relates to schools and specifically pertains to mandating the creation of an Academic Performance Index, among multiple other objectives.
Also heard in the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee on Feb.
10 was a bill authored by Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber). House Bill 1087 pertains to schools and specifically reviews the minimum salary schedule and, upon approval, would add years of experience to the salary schedule.
Another bill, HB 1086, which focuses on school funding and specifically addresses school district general funds, general fund carryover; state aid; calculation of per pupil revenue and exceptions is also pending in the subcommittee. A hearing date has not been scheduled.
The Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act, authored by Assistant Majority Whip Rep.
Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) was heard in the Appropriation and Budget Committee on Feb. 10. Results were not known by press time. Four other bills Pae either authored or co-sponsored were also slated for Feb. 10 hearings.
Chair of the Criminal Judiciary Committee Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) has a bill, HB 1708, pending in the House Business Committee for a Feb.
11 hearing. It’s a proposed act relating to professions and occupations and, if passed, would amend statutes pertaining to bail bondsman definitions. It would also add a new category of charitable cash bondsman, which is a person who would deposit cash as a security for bond in a judicial proceeding.
This person would not be able to charge or receive any money for their services.