Say farewell to an increase in the state’s minimum wage. Resign yourself to springing forward and falling back for at least another year.
Go on drinking your fake milk.
Thursday’s first legislative deadline consigned almost three-fourths of the 5,200 bills and joint resolutions available for consideration this legislative session to the digital beyond, including every effort to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage, eliminate Daylight Savings Time and prevent anything not produced by the mammary glands of a four-legged animal from being called milk.
Also cast aside were several bills to expand protections against discrimination, as well as measures reviving the Equal Rights Amendment, making law enforcement liable for damaging property while carrying out searches that yield no evidence or contraband and providing for paid family medical leave.
And you’re out of luck if you were counting on this being the year Oklahoma reconstituted the Red River Boundary Commission.
Thursday was the last day most legislation could be reported out of committee in the chamber of origin. Exceptions are made for general appropriations bills, which aren’t introduced until the last weeks or even days of the session, and for special bills filed by legislative leadership.
Most of those failing Thursday’s deadline were never even heard in committee; many were carried over from last year’s first session of the 57th Legislature.
But as is often said, nothing is ever really dead in the Oklahoma House and Senate. Many of the objectives outlined in the bills and resolutions that died Thursday live on, either in duplicate legislation or through a parliamentary transmigration of souls. Those that haven’t already found another bill number to inhabit may yet before the end of session.
For the next two weeks, though, the focus will be on getting the 1,400-plus surviving bills and resolutions off the House and Senate floors. The deadline for doing that is March 12, less than two weeks away.
Many of those bills are considered works in progress. They were passed from committee on the assurance that changes would be made.
Most of those bills will have their titles struck in the next two weeks. Striking title is a way of amending a bill without substantively altering the text; this is done so that the measure can’t have a final vote and be sent to the governor until the final wording is agreed upon.
Among bills that did survive the first deadline were a full arsenal of gun rights measures, some criminal justice reform measures and legislation to bring more financial and academic scrutiny to virtual charter schools.
Also still alive are bans on surprise out-of-network medical billing, conversion therapy and a tax deduction for infertility treatments.
One bill still in the hopper allows college athletes to be paid for the use of their likenesses. Another would allow nicotine edibles to be sold as nontobacco products.
Murdered and missing indigent people are still on track for attention.
One of the session’s biggest issues, though, has yet to be addressed: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s SoonerCare 2.0 Medicaid expansion.
A bill to provide the funding for the proposal was submitted suddenly and just as suddenly pulled last week, but Stitt said Friday he’s still intent on implementing his plan by July 1.
What bills are still alive for Oklahoma’s 2020 legislative session?
Teacher pay
Three measures address compensation increases for Oklahoma teachers: SB1357, SB1406 (bonuses) and SB1617 (special ed). Only the last measure passed out of a committee; the other two were not heard.
Firearms
SB1398 and HB2796 would allow lawmakers to carry guns in the Capitol. Neither were heard in committee.
Other bills addressing firearms: SB1401, SB1567 (concealed carry license holders would be able to carry on public campuses), HB2781 (explicit Second Amendment protections). HB2781 failed in committee. The other two were not heard.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
Would make 2020 the Year of the Bible in Oklahoma. It passed a committee vote.
Medical marijuana – protections
HB3092 would exempt disabled veterans from paying tax on medical cannabis at dispensaries. – not heard in committee
SB1909 would prohibit patient data from being used by OSBI for firearm licensing. – not heard in committee
HB3061 prohibits counties from discriminating against MMJ businesses through zoning. – not heard in committee
HB3227 would allow for home delivery of cannabis to licensed patients. It passed a committee vote.
HB3941 would provide medical marijuana patient rights for nursing home residents and those in hospice care. – not heard in committee
Story: Home delivery included in medical marijuana bills advanced by House committee
Medical marijuana – restrictions, expansions
SB1257 would restrict billboard advertising for medical marijuana. – not heard in committee
HB3533 would restrict medical marijuana use in outdoor seating areas or standalone bars. – not heard in committee
SB1228 would expand patient application discounts to disabled veterans/hospice patients/those with terminal diseases. – not heard in committee
SB1248 would permit pharmacies to apply for dispensary licenses upon the federal government removing cannabis from the federal controlled drug schedule. It passed a committee vote.
HB3474 would eliminate the statutory cap on cannabis waste license holders. It passed a committee vote.
Medical marijuana
House Bill 3957 would permit dispensaries to produce and sell cannabis pre-rolls without a processor license. It passed a committee vote.
HB3960 clarifies definitions for driving under the influence of cannabis. – not heard in commitee
Medial marijuana – more changes proposed
Signs for Fellowship Congregational Church and Dr. Z Leaf marijuana dispensary are seen on Harvard Avenue. House Bill 2779 (amended) and Senate Bill 1245 would keep new dispensaries from being opened within 300 feet of a church or school, but would not affect dispensaries already conducting business near churches.
SB1519 would let municipalities call a vote to keep medical marijuana out. – not heard in committee
SB1520 would up the application fee for medical marijuana business licenses to $10,000 from $2,500. – not heard in committee
SB1469 would require workers compensation coverage and $1 million in limited liability insurance for all medical marijuana businesses. – not heard in committee
Senate Joint Resolution 26 by Sen. Rob Standridge
Would limit pay raises for lawmakers based upon an average percentage increase over the past 10 years for full-time state employees. Not heard in committee.
Senate Bill 1097 by Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso
Would require most students wishing to enroll in virtual public education to do so through a full-time virtual program offered in their home district, if such a program exists. Not heard in committee.
Related: Virtual school offerings through Tulsa-area districts
SB 1154 by Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee
Would require Open Records Act requests to be fulfilled within 30 days, with an option for a 30-day extension. – not heard in committee
Senate Bill 1202 by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee
The measure would require sex offenders who are ordered by a court outside Oklahoma to register as such to also register in Oklahoma, to be tracked by the Department of Corrections. It passed a committee vote.
SB1264 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
The measure, now with a House co-author, seeks to eliminate formal or informal traffic citation quotas. It passed a committee vote.
SB 1877 by Sen. Kim David, R-Porter
The measure would mandate state buildings to have a lactation room and offer break time for state employees who need to express milk. It passed a committee vote.
House Joint Resolution 1027 by Rep. John Pfeiffer
The measure would change the signature requirement for initiative or referendum petitions by striking the clause tying that figure to the past gubernatorial election turnout. It passed a committee vote.
HB2791 and Senate Bill 1303
The House bill would amend the current car seat law to require kids under 14 be buckled in the back seat. Oklahoma is the only state without a law requiring minors to wear seat belts in the back seat, AAA Oklahoma has said.
SB1303 requires those 17 years old and younger to wear a seat belt when in the back seat. It passed a Senate vote and will be considered in the House.
HB2809 by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-OKC
Would allow local boards of education to develop a line of revenue by selling school bus advertising (with content restrictions). – not heard in committee
HB 3046 by Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton
The measure would prohibit “substantial burden” on people’s free exercise of religion, including school policies that ban graduating students from wearing tribal regalia such as eagle feathers at commencement due to religious beliefs. It passed a committee vote.
HB3067 by Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Poteau
Would require commercial poultry operations to install groundwater monitoring wells, with testing every four months, to mitigate problems with waste and other chemicals. It was not heard in committee.
Poultry houses are pictured here near Leach.
HB3351 by Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar
Would allow local school boards to partner with nursing homes to create internship programs for high school seniors to help them get work experience or volunteer hours. – not heard in committee
HB3321 by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle
Would expand eligibility for Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarships to students with at least one incarcerated parent. The state of Oklahoma funds private school scholarships for students with disabilities through the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program for Children with Disabilities. The voucher program was named for the daughter of former Gov. Brad Henry. – not heard in committee
Oklahoma’s legislative session begins Monday. Here’s a look at lawmakers from the Tulsa area, plus contact information.
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