58th_Oklahoma_Legislature

58th Oklahoma Legislature

58th Oklahoma Legislature

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The Fifty-eighth Oklahoma Legislature was a meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023, during the second two years of the first administration of Governor Kevin Stitt. The 2020 Oklahoma elections maintained Republican control of both the House and Senate.

Quick Facts Overview, Legislative body ...

Dates of sessions

  • Organizational day: January 5, 2021[1]
  • First Session: February 1, 2021 - May 28, 2021[2]
  • 2021 Redistricting Special Session: November 15, 2021[3] - November 19, 2021[4]
  • Second Session: February 7, 2022 – May 27, 2022[5]
  • 2022 Concurrent Special Session: May 18, 2022[6] - May 27, 2022
  • 2022 Governor's Special Session: June 13, 2022[7] -

Previous: 57th Legislature • Next: 59th Legislature

Major Legislation

First Session

Abortion

Civil Service reform

  • HB 1146- This bill, called the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act, creates a new internal state agency in charge of arbitrating and settling state employee complaints. This agency would have the power to contract administrative law judges to oversee these cases. The bill eliminates the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission.[10]

Criminal Justice

Education

Healthcare

  • HB 1019- This bill caps the cost of a 30 day supply of insulin at $30 and a 90 day supply at $90.[11]

Religious Freedom

Second Session

Abortion

  • SB 612- This bill makes it a felony to perform an abortion, except to save the life of the mother.[15]
  • SB 1503- This bill allows civil lawsuits against those who help a woman get an abortion after about six weeks into her pregnancy. The Oklahoman reported the bill as a "Texas-style abortion law."[16]
  • HB 4327- This bill allows civil lawsuits against those who help a woman get an abortion at any point during her pregnancy. The woman pursuing the procedure cannot be sued. The bill contains limited exceptions for medical emergencies, rape and incest. The Oklahoman reported the bill as being the "strictest anti-abortion law in the nation." All four abortion providers in the state stated they stopped performing abortions once the law took effect.[17]

Criminal justice

Education

  • HB 2046- This bill authorizes the creation of higher education districts for two-year colleges to access property tax dollars. The bill was vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt, but the legislature overrode the veto.[20]

Environmental

Government Agency reforms

  • HB 4457- This bill establishes an Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. The bill was vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt, but the legislature overrode the veto.[20]
  • SB 1695- This bill requires the filing of financial disclosure statements for agency directors and cabinet secretaries appointed by the governor. The bill was vetoed by Governor Kevin Stitt, but the legislature overrode the veto.[20]

Subsidies

  • HB 4455- This bill creates a 3.4% state rebate on qualified capital expenditures with a minimum investment of $3.6 billion and a maximum of $4.5 billion. The rebates also require meeting certain employment minimums and other conditions over five years. Rebates are paid from the Large-scale Economic Activity and Development (LEAD) Fund created by the bill with an initial funding of $698 million.[21] The bill was reported as being nicknamed "Project Ocean" and was intended to attract Panasonic to build an electric vehicle battery factory in Oklahoma.[22] Panasonic later announced it would build its electric vehicle battery factory in Kansas.[23]

Transgender rights

  • SB 2- This bill prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams in public, private, and charter schools and college sports.[24]
  • SB 1100- This bill bars issuing non-binary birth certificates in Oklahoma.[25]

Tribal Relations

Calls for additional special sessions

On August 2, 2021, the Oklahoma House Democrats released a statement pointing out rising COVID-19 rates in the state and called for a special session of the Oklahoma Legislature in order to repeal SB658. The bill bans local school districts from instating mask mandates unless the Governor of Oklahoma institutes a state of emergency. Governor Kevin Stitt has refused to issue a state of emergency.[26][27][28][29]

Major events

In January 2021, Mauree Turner (D-Oklahoma City) became the first publicly non-binary U.S. state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.[30]

On May 6, 2021, the Oklahoma Legislature formed its first Latino Caucus. Founding members included Senators Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City) and Jessica Garvin (R- Duncan) and Representatives Jose Cruz (D-Oklahoma City) and Ryan Martinez (R-Edmond).[31]

On December 17, 2021, Representative Terry O'Donnell (R-Catoosa) was indicted in a corruption scandal.[32] He did not resign his seat and filed for re-election in the 2022 election.

On January 21, 2022, Representative Jose Cruz (D-Oklahoma City) resigned after accusations of sexual misconduct at a New Year's Eve party.[33]

On February 8, 2022, Representative Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow), at 27, was elected as the youngest House speaker pro tempore in modern state history.[34]

On February 28, 2022, the legislature formed its first American Irish Caucus. Founding members included Senators Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City) and Mary Boren (D-Norman) and Representatives Terry O'Donnell (R-Catoosa) and John Waldron (D-Tulsa).[35]

In May 2022, a bipartisan, 15 member House Special Investigative Committee was formed to investigate the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and Swadley's Bar-B-Q. Swadley's Bar-B-Q had contracted with the state to run restaurants in state parks until the contract was cancelled for "suspected fraudulent activity and questionable business practices." The State of Oklahoma paid Swadley's over $16 million dollars while the contract was in effect.[36]

In May 2022, the Oklahoma Legislature formed its first Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus. Founding members included Representatives Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City), Andy Fugate (D-Oklahoma City), and Daniel Pae (R-Lawton).[37]

Membership

Changes in membership during session

  • April 14, 2021 Jake Merrick (R) is sworn in to fill Stephanie Bice's vacant Senate District 22 seat.[38]
  • January 21, 2022 Jose Cruz (D) resigned from representing HD-89 following a sexual assault scandal, leaving the seat vacant until the next election.[39]

Senate

Overview

Party composition of the Oklahoma Senate in the 57th Legislature
39 9
Republican Democrat
More information Changes, Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) ...

Leadership

Senate Leadership

More information Office, Officer ...
More information Party, Office ...
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Members

More information District, Name ...
†Elected in a special election

House

Overview

Party composition in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in the 57th Legislature
82 19
Republican Democrat
More information Affiliation, Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) ...

Leadership

House Leadership

More information Office, Officer ...
More information Party, Office ...

Members

More information District, Representative ...

References

  1. Lewis, Steve (4 January 2021). "Legislature set for 'organizational day' on Jan. 5 (Capitol Update)". Oklahoma Policy Institute. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. "2021 LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR - 1st Session of the 58th Legislature". oksenate.gov. Wayback Machine: Oklahoma Senate. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  3. Savage, Tres (24 September 2021). "Date set for Oklahoma special session on redistricting". NonDoc. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  4. Forman, Carmen (19 November 2021). "Oklahoma redistricting maps head to Gov. Kevin Stitt for final approval". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  5. "2022 LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR - 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature". oksenate.gov. Wayback Machine: Oklahoma Senate. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  6. Forman, Carmen (18 May 2022). "Oklahoma legislative leaders call special session to tackle federal stimulus spending". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. Hoberock, Barbara (11 June 2022). "Lawmakers return Monday for special sessions". Tulsa World. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  8. Hoberock, Barbara (26 April 2021). "Gov. Kevin Stitt signs three bills making it more difficult to obtain an abortion". Tulsa World. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. Stitt, Kevin. "SB918". twitter.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. Krehbiel, Randy (26 April 2021). "'Unsexiest big deal' on Legislature's agenda could be most important state government reform in years". Tulsa World. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. Hoberock, Barbara (20 April 2021). "Gov. Kevin Stitt signs bill limiting insurance charges for insulin". Tulsa World. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  12. Treisman, Rachel (22 April 2021). "Oklahoma Law Grants Immunity To Drivers Who Unintentionally Harm Protesters". NPR. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. Fieldstadt, Elisha (23 April 2021). "Oklahoma passes law protecting drivers who kill or hurt rioters". nbcnews.com. NBC. Associated Press. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  14. Hoberock, Barbara (8 May 2021). "Stitt signs controversial bill that limits in-school instruction on race, gender and history". Tulsa World. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  15. Murphy, Sean (12 April 2022). "Oklahoma governor signs bill to make abortion illegal". AP News. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  16. Forman, Carmen (3 May 2022). "With Supreme Court considering Roe v. Wade, Oklahoma governor signs abortion ban into law". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  17. Forman, Carmen (25 May 2022). "Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs nation's strictest abortion ban. It starts immediately". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  18. "Governor signs bill allowing police to keep videos secret". AP News. Tulsa World. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  19. Gore, Hogan (4 May 2022). "Oklahoma Gov. Stitt signs expungement bill in effort to ease re-entry to the workforce". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  20. "Lawmakers override vetoes, Martinez calls Stitt 'racist'". NonDoc. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  21. Hoberock, Barbara (26 April 2022). "Stitt signs massive incentive bill to attract major manufacturing company to northeast Oklahoma". Tulsa World. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  22. Forman, Carmen (22 April 2022). "$700M incentive plan to lure multibillion company awaits approval from Gov. Kevin Stitt". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  23. Denwalt, Dale (13 July 2022). "Oklahoma loses Panasonic factory to Kansas". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  24. Murphy, Sean (30 March 2022). "Oklahoma governor signs transgender sports ban into law". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  25. Forman, Carmen (27 April 2022). "Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs ban on nonbinary birth certificates". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  26. Forman, Carmen (2 August 2021). "Oklahoma House Democrats call for special session to undo ban on school mask mandates". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  27. Trotter, Matt (2 August 2021). "House Democrats Call For Special Session To Repeal Ban On School Mask Requirements". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  28. Krehbiel, Randy (3 August 2021). "House Democrats want special session to lift restrictions on school mask policies". Tulsa World. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  29. Dickerson, Brett (2 August 2021). "Okla House Dems call for special session to repeal school mask prohibition". Oklahoma City Free Press. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  30. Forman, Carmen (16 April 2021). "Rep. Mauree Turner is 'comfortable with being uncomfortable' in Oklahoma's Legislature". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  31. "Oklahoma House, Senate members announce new Latino caucus". Tulsa World. Tulsa World. Associated Press. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  32. Clay, Nolan (17 December 2021). "Oklahoma Rep. Terry O'Donnell, wife indicted over law change that let her become tag agent". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  33. Murphy, Sean (27 January 2022). "OKC woman accuses ex-lawmaker of sexual misconduct". AP News. The Journal Record. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  34. Forman, Carmen (9 February 2022). "Oklahoma House elects new speaker pro tempore to succeed embattled Rep. Terry O'Donnell". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  35. "Legislature announces formation of Irish Caucus, names co-chairs". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  36. Forman, Carmen (5 May 2022). "House panel investigating Tourism, Swadley's sets first meeting, issues subpoenas". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  37. Krehbiel, Randy (8 May 2022). "Political notebook: Oklahoma House of Representatives looks at the big picture". Tulsa World. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  38. Forman, Carmen (14 April 2021). "Jake Merrick sworn in as Oklahoma's newest state senator". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  39. Forman, Carmen (20 January 2022). "OKC lawmaker to resign abruptly after 'acting inappropriately' at New Year's Eve event". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  40. "Senate re-elects Greg Treat as leader, sets rules for 58th Legislature". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  41. "Senate re-elects Greg Treat as leader, sets rules for 58th Legislature". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  42. "Pro Tem Greg Treat announces Senate leadership changes". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  43. "Senate Democrats Announce Leadership Team". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  44. "Senate leader announces committee chairs, vice chairs". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  45. "Pro Tem Greg Treat names redistricting committee members". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  46. "Senators". oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  47. Dickerson, Brett (20 January 2022). "Southside OKC's Rep. José Cruz to resign for "acting inappropriately"". Oklahoma City Free Press. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  48. "House committee, leadership appointments made". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma State Legislature. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  49. "House Republicans Elect Leadership for 58th Legislature". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma State Legislature. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  50. Savage, Tres (27 January 2022). "Prater outlines investigation as indicted O'Donnell blames 'woke left,' hints at Hunter history". NonDoc. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  51. "Rep. Tammy West Appointed Majority Whip". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma State Legislature. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  52. "House Members". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

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