February 12, 2024
In week one we heard the Governor’s State of the State and saw legislation move in several committees.

We are heading into week two with some busy committee schedules. The House and Senate will be working feverishly for the next three weeks before the first legislative deadline. By February 29th, all bills must be out of the committee in the chamber of origin.  
UPCOMING DEADLINES:

HOUSE - Monday, February 26, 2024 - Deadline for HB's/HJRs Out of Subcommittee

HOUSE & SENATE - Thursday, February 29, 2024 - Deadline for bills and joint resolutions to be Out of Standing Committee
Gov. Kevin Stitt gave his sixth State of the State speech on Monday where he called for tax cuts, a restructured judiciary, more highly focused charter schools and consolidations at colleges and universities.

His speech opened the 2024 legislative session, and he took the chance to offer a vision for what he hopes lawmakers will accomplish this year. Here are four of the key takeaways.

'Path to zero' income tax
Stitt reiterated his support for cutting taxes, specifically the income tax.

A week ago, the governor called lawmakers to the Capitol for a special session to adopt a .25% cut in the income tax rate. The House of Representatives obliged but the state Senate refused to consider the bill.

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat said he wanted more information about the state's financial situation before considering a tax cut; a panel will meet February 15 to certify how much money the state will have available to spend (or cut) this year.

Gov. Kevin Stitt gives his 2023 State of the State speech at a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Delaware-style business court
One of the most significant new proposals from the governor would reorganize the state's judiciary system to create a new court specifically for business disputes.

In his speech, Stitt urged lawmakers to "take a page out of Delaware and Texas' playbook."
Delaware's Court of Chancery is considered one of the most business-friendly courts in the nation, and is the site of much of the nation's corporate litigation. Last year, Texas approved the creation of specialized business courts to hear large and complex disputes.

More innovative charter schools
The governor called for more opportunities that will help Oklahoma students learn specialized trades and skills, including the creation of more charter schools.

He asked that community leaders be empowered to start new, innovative schools that are focused on the future workforce, especially in areas that have "failing" public schools.

Stitt name-dropped Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School, Dove Science Academy and Norman Aviation Academy as examples he wants to see emulated across the state.

Private school Cristo Rey, he noted, requires students to intern at local companies. Norman Aviation Academy, launched by Norman Public Schools, prepares students for aviation careers as pilots or aircraft maintenance technicians.

In his speech, Stitt told lawmakers to send him legislation that paves the way for more charter schools.

Consolidation in higher education
Colleges and universities should focus on the subjects they're best at, Stitt said Monday.

Accordingly, he added, the state should incentivize Oklahoma's workforce priorities and not subsidize institutions with low enrollment and low graduation rates.

Without offering much in the way of specifics, Stitt pressured higher education regents to consolidate colleges and universities that aren't meeting those standards.
COMMITTEE SCHEDULE
Scheduled committees and the bills to be heard in committee this week are listed.

House committees can be viewed live here: Oklahoma House Committees
Senate committees can be viewed live here: Oklahoma Senate Committees
A&B EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE
  • HB 1556  | Moore, Anthony, Creates the State Education Act.
  • HB 2190 | Lowe, Dick , Pemberton, Dewayne; Creates the Education Act of 2023.
  • HB 3272 | Baker, Rhonda, Pugh, Adam; Extends certain paid maternity leave for school employees to all full-time employees and to persons adopting a newborn child; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3274   | Baker, Rhonda; Adds additional optional modules to the statewide student assessment system designed to test college and career-readiness as well as the military ASVAB test; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3403  | Lowe, Dick; Authorizes the use of school district building funds for the purchase and maintenance of school buses; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3404 | Lowe, Dick; Directs unexpended funds from the School Security Revolving Fund to be expended via grants to school districts for certain additional security enhancements; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3454 | Moore, Anthony; Extends OHLAP qualification to the children of certified classroom teachers meeting certain standards; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3792  | Hefner, Ellyn (F); Creates the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act which provides economic assistance to students with intellectual disabilities to pursue higher education; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3953 | Blancett, Meloyde; Charges the State Board of Education with awarding grants for school districts to employ nurses, audiologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 4016 | McBride, Mark; Permits funds from the School Security Fund to be expended to develop crisis management systems to identify threats and communicate their locations to school staff and law enforcement.
  • ***Delete from Prior Posting (Revision 1: 2/9/24, 12:07 p.m.)*** HB 3641| Hasenbeck, Toni; Establishes a Teacher Public Advocate Office within the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability to assist with professional matters for teachers.
HOUSE A&B SUB: FINANCE   
  • HB 3028 | Maynard, Cody (F); Adjusts the standards for calculating gross household income for the additional homestead exemption to be calculated based on net capital gains rather than gross capital gains income.
  • HB 3031 | Maynard, Cody (F); Exempts ambulance districts from motor vehicle fuel taxes.
  • HB 3051 | Boles, Brad; Directs any excess unused credits from certain renewable-energy motor vehicle initiatives into one another on any year the full amount of any given credit is not utilized.
  • HB 3197  | Newton, Carl; Provides for an income tax credit on donations to vision research institutes meeting certain standards.
  • HB 3233| Lawson, Mark; Adjusts the apportionment of gross receipts tax funds, directing some to the Route 66 Commission and establishing new standards for the use of funds by the Tourism and Recreation Department; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3346| Pfeiffer, John; Adjusts several provisions relating to the Tax Commission including duties and requirements of certain employee, expenditures by the Joint Computer Enhancement Fund, and sales tax permit revocation; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3499| West, Tammy, Rader, Dave; Expands standards and guidelines for landlord and tenant criminal history check procedures and requires certain checks for participation in the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program.
  • HB 3559 | Kendrix, Gerrid; Allows entities required to file partnership income tax returns to elect to become pass-through entities on their income tax filing the year prior.
  • HB 3811| Dollens, Mickey; Increases the income threshold for seniors and disabled persons to request certain tax relief from $12,000 to $25,000.
SENATE BUSINESS & COMMERCE
  • SB 1428  | Alvord, Jerry (F); Establishes an investment rebate program under the Commerce Dept. for projects located in municipalities with a population between 20,000 and 30,000 that meet certain standards and appropriates money into a fund for the program; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1447 | Thompson, Kristen (F), Osburn, Mike; Creates the Creating Oklahoma's Modern Plan for Economic Transformation and Effectiveness Act which establishes an Oklahoma Office of Economic Development, Growth and Expansion for business development; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1474| Thompson, Roger; Removes certain town size restrictions on the sale of spirits.
  • SB 1573 | Pemberton, Dewayne, Sneed, Chris; Makes a felony the impersonation of a bondsman by unlicensed persons and makes it a felony for a bail bondsman to conspire with such persons to act as bondsmen.
  • SB 1818 | Rosino, Paul; Creates the Marissa Murrow Act, penalizes and establishes fines for caterers and others operating under an event license for overserving or irresponsibly serving alcoholic beverages.
  • SB 1899 | Rosino, Paul; Sets a fine for installing a manufactured home without a license.
  • SB 1922 | Haste, John; Establishes standards and empowers the Motor Vehicle Commission and Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission to designate authorized vendors for temporary license plates.
  • SB 1941 | Coleman, Bill; Allows courts to exonerate bonds when bondsmen have guaranteed certain payment or reimbursement for travel expenses.
  • SB 1943 | Paxton, Lonnie; Removes requirements upon the Director of the State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control to process certain scientific applications in a particular manner and instead grants the Director authority to craft their own rules.
  • SB 1957 | Jett, Shane (F); Allows businesses to forbid the entry of malicious occupants who enter and remain upon the premise for certain noncommercial purposes such as obstructions or other expressions unfavorable to the business.
  • SB 1962  | Pugh, Adam; Modifies the scope of practice, oversight and responsibilities of engineers, architects and various adjacent fields of study and practice and modifies provisions related to the Board of Governors of the Licensed Architects.
  • SB 1964  | Pugh, Adam; Provides for various adjustments to the applicability, responsibilities and oversight of professional engineers and land surveyors
  • ***Delete from Prior Posting (Revision 2: 2/12/24, 9:36 a.m.)*** SB 1404 | Hall, Chuck, Wallace, Kevin; Creates a tax credit for landlords renting properties which meet certain qualifying standards.
  • SB 1920 | Rosino, Paul; Requires real estate brokers to disclose certain information related to compensation and fees on each transaction to their represented party.
  • ***Delete from Prior Posting (Revision 2: 2/9/24, 9:29 a.m.)*** SB 1572 | Daniels, Julie; Provides for certain certifications for student apprentices to licensed electrical contractors, details registration procedure, and supervision by the Construction Industries Board.
  • SB 1855 | Treat, Greg; Removes licensing requirements under the Cosmetology and Barbering Act for persons engaged in hair arranging and offering no other license-dependent services.
  • SB 2022 | Thompson, Roger, Dobrinski, Mike; Requires motor vehicle factories to maintain for three years records which describe methods of distribution and records of actual allocation to dealers which may be requested by franchisees.

HOUSE ELECTIONS & ETHICS
  • HB 3156 | Roberts, Eric; Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting, proportional ranked voting, preferential voting and instant runoff voting in state electio
  • HB 3325| Staires, Clay (F); Requires registered voters to be citizens of the United States over the age of eighteen.
  • HB 3563 | Banning, Chris (F); Moves school board elections to November, adjusts related filing deadlines and primary elections, and lowers the term length for school board members.
  • HB 3815 | Dollens, Mickey: Creates the Prohibition of Foreign Funding for Ballot Measures Act which limits Measures Act which limits the involvement of foreign entities in state ballot initiatives.
  • HB 4127 | Swope, Amanda (F); Permits county employees up to three days of leave to serve as voting precinct officials.

SENATE EDUCATION
  • SB 1213 | Seifried, Ally (F); Directs the Regents for Higher Education to provide stipends for student teachers in four-week increments paid over the course of three months; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1225  | Pugh, Adam; Creates a Higher Education Deferred Maintenance Revolving Fund to be used for money appropriated to the State Regents for deferred maintenance purposes; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1226 | Pugh, Adam; Creates a Higher Education Property Insurance Fund controlled by the State Regents for Higher Education to contain appropriations made to the Regents for property insurance expenditures; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1278 | Garvin, Jessica (F); Expands the six weeks of paid maternity leave for full time state employees to individuals employed within the State System of Higher Education.
  • SB 1302 | Rader, Dave; Adjusts qualifications for students to receive funds from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, removing certain income thresholds and opening up availability to children involved in DHS custody; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1311 | Pugh, Adam; Creates the Veterans Entering Teaching Act which provides tuition and fee assistance to eligible former military personnel entering teacher preparation programs and meeting certain standards; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1313 | Pugh, Adam; Raises the minimum salary schedule for certified public school teachers; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1314 | Pugh, Adam; Requires the Dept. of Education to create an incentive program with awards for school districts which adopt phone-free campus policies for students; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1339 | Seifried, Ally (F); Creates the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act which provides financial assistance to students with intellectual disabilities pursuing studies through at CTP program; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1342 | Seifried, Ally (F); Creates a Teacher Recruitment Academy under the Regents for Higher Education to provide tuition and fee assistance to students in accredited teacher preparation programs; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1357 | Pugh, Adam; Creates Alyssa's Law which requires school districts to implement a mobile panic alert system; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1358 |Pugh, Adam; Creates a Workforce Development Revolving Fund under the Regents for Higher Education to increase the number of degrees granted to fulfill certain workforce needs and makes an appropriation to the fund; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1432 | Howard, Brent; Adjusts various duties and responsibilities of the Lottery Commission, modifying payment scheduling, removing a two-year prohibition on working in the Lottery industry after leaving the Commission and modifies or removes certain funds.
  • SB 1683 | Dahm, Nathan; Prohibits higher education institutions from accepting funds from foreign governments, directly or indirectly; EMERGENCY.
SENATE AERONAUTICS & TRANSPORTATION

  • SB 1197 | Garvin, Jessica (F), Roe, Cynthia; Designates a section of US Highway 77 as the Col. John L. Smith Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Highway.
  • SB 1209 | Pederson, Roland, Dobrinski, Mike; Removes provisions authorizing an Honorary Consul Motor Vehicle License Plate to be issued to qualified persons; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1227| Stanley, Brenda, Crosswhite-Hader, Denise; Adjusts the beneficiary of the Monarch Butterfly License Plate from the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma to the Oklahoma Monarch Society.
  • SB 1294 | Rosino, Paul; Authorizes the re-establishment of the Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation for educational and industry outreach managed by the Dept. of Aerospace and Aeronautics and directs it to secure tax-exempt non-profit status.
  • SB 1372  | Haste, John; Creates an Aircraft Engine Testing Development Grant Program under the Dept. of Aerospace and Aeronautics to issue one-time grants to qualifying aeronautics programs; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1403 | Hall, Chuck, Wallace, Kevin; Terminates certain apportionments of motor vehicle license and registration fees after 2024; EMERGENCY.
  • SB 1411 | Rosino, Paul; Extends certain aerospace industry tax credits to the employment of former FAA or US military air traffic controllers employed at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center as air traffic control instructors.
  • SB 1429 | Haste, John, Miller, Nicole; Renames the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System fund to the OK Public Ports Infrastructure Fund and broadens its applicable uses to include all public waterway ports in the state, then makes an appropriation to the fund.
  • SB 1547 | Hall, Chuck; Directs Service OK to develop a mass renewal process for commercial vehicle registration to be available to businesses with ten or more commercial vehicles.
  • SB 1585 | Howard, Brent; Designates a section of highway in Tillman County as the Senator Anthony M. Massad Memorial Highway.
  • SB 1586 | Hall, Chuck; Designates a bridge over Red Rock Creek in Noble County as the Jim Potter Memorial Bridge.
HOUSE COMMON EDUCATION
  • HB 3034 | Stinson, Preston; Creates the Emerson Kate Cole Act which establishes baseline standards for emergency response plans in schools when students are administered epinephrine; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3048 | Boles, Brad; Adjusts certain student transfer appeals processes under the Open Transfer Act when the initial denial was based on previously established transfer capacity limits.
  • HB 3275 | Baker, Rhonda; Directs the Board of Ed. to establish new subcommittees and other new procedures for reviewing and changing subject matter standards with certain legislative review; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3327 | Roe, Cynthia; Authorizes certain school personnel to use electronic glucose monitoring software and applications for students with diabetes with permission from guardians.
  • HB 3513 | Johns, Ronny; Directs OMES to display portraits and plaques of Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame inductees inside the Oliver Hodge Memorial Education Building.
  • HB 3544  | Talley, John; Adjusts provisions for determining master teacher qualification in child care centers, sets a probationary period for persons to pursue required educational standards and adjusts Reaching for the Stars program qualification based on size; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 4015 | McBride, Mark; Directs the Dept. of Education to develop and implement a program to assist school personnel with threat detection and early intervention to reduce violence and deescalate potential incidents.
HOUSE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
  • HB 3218  | West, Kevin; Establishes procedures for electronic process service in certain court proceedings.
  • HB 3219 | West, Kevin; Prohibits any amendment to the biological sex designation on birth certificate records.
  • HB 3547 | Sterling, Danny; Adjusts certain reporting requirements upon the Office of the Attorney General to detail expenditures paid under contract to private attorneys each year to the Governor and Legislature.
  • HB 3557 | Kendrix, Gerrid; Allows law enforcement officers to serve in multiple public offices if those offices are shared by smaller municipalities and if said municipalities have entered into certain agreements.
  • HB 3560 | Kendrix, Gerrid; Adjusts annual comprehensive reporting requirements upon the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services; EMERGENCY.
  • HB 3595 | Hill, Brian; Charges the Employment Security Commission with making an online jobs center, requires the Commission to take measures to verify applicant eligibility, and requires applicants apply for a certain number of jobs per week to be eligible for benefits.
  • HB 3597 | Hill, Brian; Removes certain responsibilities over the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development from the Dept. of Commerce and charges the Employment Security Commission with developing the Work-Based Learning Program.
  • HB 3780 | Duel, Collin (F); Removes certain outdated language related to the Open Meetings Act and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • HB 3838 | Pittman, Ajay; Grants the Office of Tribal Relations to consult certain sources and obtain information necessary to fulfill related duties.
  • HB 3937 | Provenzano, Melissa; Requires public bodies to publish notices of meeting and agendas for public meetings at least twenty-four hours before the meeting both physically and online.