OKLAHOMA CITY Two state House resolutions were filed with the Secretary of State last week; one to raise public awareness for profound autism and the other to honor the millions of women who worked in factories during World War II.
House Resolution (HR) 1008 recognized March 17 as “Profound Autism Day” at the State Capitol. Rep. Stacy Jo Adams (R-Duncan) and Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) both were co-sponsors of the measure.
The resolution defines profound autism as “autistic people who require 24/7 care from an adult caregiver throughout his or her life.” Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that one in four children with autism have profound autism. Results of the study were released in April 2023.
Adams was also a co-sponsor on HR 1009, which recognized March 21 as “Rosie the Riveter Day.” The designation coincided with “National Rosie the Riveter Day,” established by the U.S. Congress in 2017 and recognized during “Women’s History Month.”
American women participated in the second world war on the homefront by stepping into factories to keep the country’s manufacturing processes going while most able-bodied men were drafted to fight.
Adams also signed on to co-sponsor House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 1007, which pertains to rural healthcare and asks that Oklahoma be exempt from the Physician Self-Referral Law or Stark Law contained within the Social Security Act of the United States Code. The state resolution contends it is an impediment to the rural healthcare community and medical care by adversely impacting the delivery of essential medical care in rural areas of the state.
The measure was referred for engrossment on March 18 and, as of presstime, no further action has been taken.
A second resolution, HCR 1008, also filed on March 18 and fully embraced by both the House and Senate was filed with the Secretary of State. The measure is related to the severe wind event that took place in the state on March 14, and resulted in hundreds of wildfires breaking out across the state. It resulted in loss of life, injuries and damage and destruction to pastures, crops, barns, buildings, homes, businesses, infrastructure and other assets.
In part, the measure states “the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate wish to express gratitude and most sincere appreciation on behalf of all people of the State of Oklahoma for the professional services, courage, dedication and the spirit of public service demonstrated by both paid and volunteer firefighters, the firefighting personnel of several Native American tribes and all first responders during this critical period of time.”
Other bills co-sponsored by Adams that saw legislative action last week include: HB 1362, which pertains to modifying state laws regarding undocumented immigrants. The measure’s goal is to significantly increase criminal penalties for individuals unlawfully present in the United States. It received a first reading in the Senate last week. Rep. Rande Worthen (R-Lawton) is also a co-sponsor of the bill.
Two other bills co-sponsored by Adams received a first reading in the Senate last week. They are: HB 1738, which pertains to public health and safety and would exempt public trust hospitals from the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and Oklahoma Open Records Act under certain circumstances.
HB 2392, which relates to marriage and families and seeks to amend state statutes pertaining to custody or guardianship, providing for presumption that a parent is unfit.
In addition, HB 1095, which would create the Municipal Carry Act, co-sponsored by Adams, was referred for engrossment last week. The measure seeks to amend the state’s existing firearms law to allow municipalities to authorize certain elected officials and designated employees to carry concealed handguns while engaged in official duties.
Restrictions include that firearms will still be prohibited in courtrooms and other locations that may be specifically designated as firearm-prohibited areas within municipal buildings. No municipal official or employee would be required to carry a firearm as a condition of employment.
Two bills co-sponsored by Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) received a first reading in the House last week. They are: SB 752, which pertains to the authority of county purchasing agents and would allow an online bidding process to be established with certain vendors.
SB 915, which is an energy-related bill and addresses commercial solar energy facilities constructed on land owned and leased by the Commissioners of the Land Office in Oklahoma. The intent is to establish new regulations, including installation requirements and specifies that facilities must be installed on permanent grass suitable for livestock grazing. Erosion prevention measures must also be implemented.
Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) co-sponsored one bill which received a first reading in the House last week. SB 85 seeks to increase the reimbursement rate that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) pays to counties for housing certain inmates. The rate would rise from $27 per day to $32 per day.
Also, in part, the measure clarifies that the DOC will reimburse counties for emergency medical care at Medicaid provider rates if the needed treatment is directly related to incarceration.
Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) authored two bills that received a first hearing in the Senate last week. They are: HB 2798 proposes that the Department of Human Services establish a statewide centralized hotline for the reporting of child abuse or neglect to the Department. The measure also proposes that DHS would provide hotline-specific training including, but not limited to, interviewing skills, customer service skills, narrative writing, necessary computer systems, making case determinations and identifying priority situations.
HB 2854 puts a moratorium on statutory geographic restrictions for two- and four-year colleges across the state. The measure will allow the Oklahoma State Regents to meet their constitutional obligation to help degree- seeking students enter critical workforce areas, according to a legislative press release.
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) co-sponsored three bills that received a first hearing in the House last week. They are: SB 283, which pertains to the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and seeks to amend state statutes specifically relating to the Oklahoma State Finance Act. The intent is to update two sections of law and would allow expansion of the master lease program for state universities.
The master lease program permits the State Regents to finance property acquisitions or refinance lease terms with state higher education facilities. It also funds improvement projects and seeks to provide more financial flexibility for state universities in managing their lease-related and property financial obligations.
SB 393 seeks to extend the sunset date for the State Board of Licensed Social Workers from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027.
SB 391 relates to public health and safety and seeks to transfer the responsibilities of the Opioid Fatality Review board to the Attorney General, which would dissolve the existing board.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) authored HB 1087, which received a first hearing in the Senate last week. The measure would give teachers in the later portion of their careers the opportunity to earn more money. This proposed measure would extend the teacher salary schedule through 35 years of service instead of the current 25-year cap.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) is co-sponsor of SB 209 that seeks to create the Taiwan Regional Trade Office under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The measure received its first reading in the House last week. Economic relationships between Oklahoma- based businesses and businesses in Taiwan would promote and facilitate trade.
The new trade office, if approved, would have broad responsibilities, including promoting Oklahoma businesses, facilitating business-to-business trading activities, coordinating state-level business outreach, providing trading opportunity information, conducting training programs for Oklahoma business owners and supporting international travel missions.
Three other bills co-sponsored by Pae received a f irst reading in the opposite chamber this week. They are: SB 575, which seeks to amend state statutes related to the Oklahoma Local Development and Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act. The proposed measure would enhance reporting requirements for businesses and local government entities that receive state economic development incentives.
It would also require entities and enterprises receiving matching payments to file an annual report with detailed information to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Details in the report would include, in part, employment data, changes in property assessed value and capital investment amounts.
In addition, the Department of Commerce would be permitted to share the information with the Incentive Evaluation Commission and to be made public on its website.
HB 2144 would create the Insurance Consumers Protection Act and establish new legal protections for consumers. A statutory cause of action would be established for customers and third-party beneficiaries to sue insurance companies for untimely or unreasonably denying or delaying benefits.
Claimants would be permitted to f ile lawsuits directly in court and guarantee their right to a jur y trial. In addition, lawsuits would be permitted without first exhausting administrative remedies. A jury would be permitted to award damages, including financial losses, emotional distress and punitive damages, if an insurer is found to have acted in bad faith.
The new legal provisions are aimed at providing additional protections for insurance consumers.
HB 1601, which would create the Advancing Rights for Caregiving, Health and Extended Recovery (ARCHER) Act and seeks to expand maternity leave protections for teachers and certain educational employees.