Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, on Thursday won unanimous passage in the House of a measure that would send to a vote of the people a question asking to freeze ad valorem taxes for people whose homes have been destroyed by natural disaster. House Joint Resolution 1046 would ask Oklahoma voters to consider freezing property taxes for one year if a home is destroyed by fire, tornado, earthquake or other meteorological events. To qualify for the exemption, the event must render a person's primary residence uninhabitable for at least six consecutive months and would be applicable based on when the damage occurred. If the damage occurs on or before June?1, the full exemption applies during that tax year; if it happens after June?1, the exemption applies in the following tax year. "If a person's home is destroyed, they should not have to continue to pay property taxes until they can live in it again," Smith said. "This common-sense measure would just grant property owners some relief in the event of natural disaster." Smith lost his family home in a fire several years ago. While this measure would not benefit him, he said the experience helped him understand the challenges faced by those who are displaced for long periods from their dwellings. The measure passed the House on a vote of 92-0. It now moves the State Senate where it is authored by Sen. Bryan Logan, R-Paden. If approved by the State Senate, HJR1046 will move to the Secretary of State who would be directed to refer a state question to the people for their approval or rejection on a future state ballot. The proposal would amend Section 6 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution.  

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has advanced House Bill 3742, aimed at strengthening constitutional protections and improving fairness in the state’s criminal justice system. HB3742 , named the "The Due Process Protection Act," authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, updates Oklahoma’s Criminal Discovery Code to clarify disclosure requirements and adjust timelines for resolving discovery issues in criminal cases. Harris said the measure is designed to ensure that both prosecutors and defense attorneys have access to necessary evidence earlier in the legal process, helping prevent delays and ensuring defendants receive their constitutional right to fair and speedy trials. "When prosecutors and defense attorneys have clear rules and timely access to evidence, it helps prevent unnecessary delays and ensures cases move forward based on the facts," Harris said. "The Due Process Protection Act strengthens Oklahoma’s discovery process so both sides can properly prepare while protecting the constitutional rights of defendants." Harris said he collaborated on the bill with numerous stakeholders, including district attorneys, law enforcement partners and attorneys in private practice.  HB3742 passed the House unanimously and proceeds to the Senate for additional consideration. It is authored in the Senate by Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, has advanced legislation to strengthen maternal safety and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants across Oklahoma after House Bill 4285 passed the House with an 85-5 vote. House Bill 4285 would create the Perinatal Quality Improvement Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma State Department of Health to support initiatives in birthing hospitals statewide. "When you talk to families and health care providers, you hear the same thing, we can do better when it comes to caring for moms and babies," Miller said. "This bill would give the 41 birthing hospitals in Oklahoma the support they need to make real improvements and help more families have safe and healthy outcomes." The bill would allow the State Department of Health to partner with quality improvement initiatives and organizations across Oklahoma to address preventable maternal and infant health issues. HB4285 would focus on reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as lowering rates of preventable complications and deaths among newborns and infants. The measure also would support collaboration among providers to strengthen standards of care and expand access to proven best practices. The revolving fund structure would allow the state to receive and utilize a variety of funding sources, including federal funds, grants and private contributions, helping support long-term improvements in care. HB4285 now moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, is the Senate author.