Friday, March 2, 2018
Yesterday marked the deadline for bills to pass out of committee in order to remain active for this regular legislative session, which meant it was a week of many long committee meetings at the Capitol as lawmakers made a final push to get their bills through the first deadline of the regular session. Legislators will turn their attention to floor work for the next two weeks leading up to the next deadline for bill advancement. 
Special Session Update

Earlier this week Governor Mary Fallin signed the bill that re-balances the fiscal year 2018 budget, HB 1020xx, as well as another bill directing the Dept. of Human Services how to spend its current FY appropriations. The legislature also took up a couple of special session bills that would cap income tax credits for coal production ( HB 1034xx ) and railroad reconstruction expenditures ( HB 1036xx ).

a.       SB 1312 by Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow)
SB 1312 removes the jail penalty for anyone violating the Oklahoma Cosmetology and Barbering Act. It removes language that deposits fines for violating the act into the common school fund of the county where the conviction occurs and allocates them to the State Board of Cosmetology.
  • SB 1312 passed the Senate Business, Commerce, & Tourism Committee yesterday and is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.

b.       HB 2918 by Rep. Jeff Coody (R-Lawton)
HB 2918 removes the ability of an individual without a handgun license to carry a loaded or unloaded firearm open and unconcealed, effectively eliminating current licensing requirements for individuals to open carry.
  • HB 2918 passed the House Public Safety Committee and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.

c.        HB 3192 by Rep. Jeff Coody (R-Lawton)
HB 3192 lessens training requirements for school personnel who have been designated by the board of education to carry a handgun on school property. This bill would permit anyone who possesses a valid handgun license issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act and who has been approved by the local board of education to carry a handgun on public school property.
  •  HB 3192 passed the House Public Safety Committee and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.

d.      SB 1031 by Sen. Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate)
SB 1031 requires school districts to use a RFP process to hire legal and financial experts in connection with lease-backed or leave revenue bond. If school boards select a provider other than the low bidder, written justification must be provided to the state auditor and state bond advisor.
  • SB 1031 failed the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 28 by a vote of 10-22.

e.       SB 1279 by Sen. Jason Smalley (R-Stroud)
SB 1279 amends the Local Development Act. It requires 60% of all affected entities support the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district before it can be implemented by the municipality/county, giving governing bodies of Oklahoma schools, technology centers, county health departments and county emergency services a stronger voice in whether a TIF should be formed. It discourages municipalities and counties from trying to capture naturally occurring growth that is not a result of the TIF.
  • After passing the Senate Appropriations Finance Subcommittee last week, SB 1279 failed the full Senate Appropriations Committee by a vote of 10-21.

f.         SB 1547 by Sen. Kim David (R-Porter)
SB 1547 requires the OSU Center for Local Gov’t Technology, in cooperation with the County Assessors’ Association, to provide the administration, support, training and implementation of the OSU Center for Local Gov’t Technology-sponsored, computer assisted mass appraisal computer software system to any county using the services provided by the Ad Valorem Division of the Tax Commission and other counties upon request.
  •  SB 1547 passed both the Senate General Gov’t Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee this week. Title is stricken and it is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
  • The House version of this bill – HB 3372 by Rep. Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) also advanced through committee and is eligible to be heard on the House floor.


 If you have questions about any of the information provided in this update, please contact our office, or you may contact Skye McNiel, 918-645-1289 or by email at smcniel@okacte.org or Hayley Jones at (405) 524-1191. 

  RESOURCES:





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OkACTE Website: http://www.okacte.org