Representative Josh West

Hi, I'm Josh West and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 5th District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Leader

58th Legislature

Assistant Majority Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements


Dec 27, 2023
Recent Posts

STATEMENT: Rep. Josh West, Sen. Stanley Comment on Deadline for Disabled Veterans Sales Tax Exemptions

Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, today released the following statement after hearing from numerous 100% disabled veterans across Oklahoma who were unaware of the new July 2023 deadline to apply for the annual sales tax exemption. The deadline was put in place by Senate Bill 415, which became law in 2021.   "Several years ago, Oklahoma's record of 100% disabled veterans was found to be nearly double the record kept by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, causing many concerns about fraudulent activity. After learning of this situation, the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs requested legislation to enact a veterans registry, which took effect after Senate Bill 415 was signed into law in 2021.   While the initial effort aimed to safeguard Oklahoma veterans, unintended consequences instead arose after many 100% disabled veterans missed the registration deadline in July.   We started hearing from veterans over the interim after they received notification from the Oklahoma Tax Commission that they did not meet the deadline, and we immediately began to work on a solution. After meeting with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and Oklahoma Tax Commission, we have filed clean-up language that is proposed in Senate Bill 1215.  We have met with leadership in both chambers to ensure that Senate Bill 1215 will be heard and sent to the Governor for signature as early as possible so that Oklahoma veterans with a 100% disability rating will still receive the tax benefits that they were promised, particularly in the current challenging economic environment."   The Second Regular Session of the 59th Legislature convenes Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.



Mar 8, 2023
Recent Posts

Data Privacy Bill Moves to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, today again won passage of legislation that would require consumer consent before personal data collected could be shared by major technology companies operating in the state. House Bill 1030 re-creates the Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act. It passed the House on a vote of 84-11. "Big tech is able to collect data on all of us down to the minutest detail," West said. "They then turn around and profit off of the sale of that data, which is used to market us at best and socially engineer us at worst. This bill is simple. Tell the consumer up front what data you are collecting and what you will do with that data. Then let the consumer decide if they want to allow the sale of their personal and private information." West has run a version of this legislation the last two years. His previous bills passed the House by a large majority but failed to get a hearing in the state Senate. West said this year he's expanded conversations with various stakeholders, and he's hopeful this bill will now be considered in the opposite chamber. West pointed to a National Security Commission's 700-plus page report that explains how adversaries to the United States are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to enhance disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks that identify and target American citizens. Big tech companies, meanwhile, are profiting off of the sale of such information in a way that is meant to manipulate and coerce behavior. The report revealed that America is ill-prepared for the next decade of technological development, and part of that is due to a lack of governmental action in regulating things like data privacy. The commission recommends legislatures pass meaningful data privacy measures to protect their constituents. Among other things, HB 1030 would require business operating in the state that collect consumers' personal information to fully disclose the information collected and how it is being used or sold in a clear and conspicuous place and allow consumers to opt in or opt out. The law would apply to businesses with an annual gross revenue of more than $15 million or that share for commercial purposes the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers or that derive 25% or more of its annual revenue from selling consumers' personal information. West said Oklahoma is falling behind other states in this matter as other states have already passed similar legislation or are considering it in the interest of protecting their constituents. Three states have enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. Lawmakers have introduced similar bills in eight states this year as well as numerous bills on biometric information, children’s privacy, health data privacy, data broker regulation, and automated employment decision tools. The goal of his legislation, West said, is to acknowledge Oklahomans' Constitutional rights to privacy and establish that collection of personal data without knowledge or consent is a violation of such privacy.  HB 1030 now moves to the Senate where it is authored by Brent Howard, R-Altus.



Jan 18, 2023

Rep. Josh West Refiles Data Privacy Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh West, R-Grove has refiled legislation that would require consumer consent for all personal data collection and sharing by major technology companies operating in the state. House Bill 1030 would create the Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act. ""Major technology companies track our every conversation, our spending records, our movements and so much more and then sell that information so it can be used to socially engineer us through marketing manipulation,"" West said. ""Or worse, this information is used to perpetrate financial crimes against our citizenry and to actively spread mass disinformation."" West pointed to a National Security Commission's 700-plus page report that explains how adversaries to the United States are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to enhance disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks that identify and target American citizens. Big tech companies, meanwhile, are profiting off of the sale of such personal and private data that is meant to manipulate and coerce behavior. The report revealed that America is ill-prepared for the next decade of technological development, and part of that is due to a lack of governmental action in regulating things like data privacy. The commission recommends legislatures pass meaningful data privacy measures to protect their constituents. Among other things, HB1030 would require business operating in the state that collect consumers' personal information to fully disclose the information collected and how it is being used or sold in a clear and conspicuous place and allow consumers to opt in or opt out. The law would apply to businesses with an annual gross revenue of more than $15 million or that share for commercial purposes the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers or that derive 25% or more of its annual revenue from selling consumers' personal information. HB1030 is a revision of legislation filed the last two years by West and other lawmakers. The previous bills passed the House but failed to advance in the Senate. West said he's reached out to those who have been against the legislation and asked for any input to gain their support. ""One argument is the state could lose billions of dollars, but that is simply not true,"" West said. ""And shouldn't we be more interested in protecting peoples' personal information than in a corporate bottom line?"" Another argument is that this is a matter for the federal government to address. West said he doesn't envision that happening any time soon. West said Oklahoma is also falling behind other states in this matter as other states have already passed similar legislation or are considering it in the interest of protecting their constituents. Three states have enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. Lawmakers have introduced similar bills in eight states this year as well as numerous bills on biometric information, children’s privacy, health data privacy, data broker regulation, and automated employment decision tools. The goal of his legislation, West said, is to acknowledge Oklahomans' Constitutional rights to privacy and establish that collection of personal data without knowledge or consent is a violation of such privacy.  The legislative session starts Feb. 6. After that, bills will be eligible to be first and second read and must pass committee before being considered for passage on the House floor.