Public Safety

Legislation restoring the eighth-grade literacy requirement to receive a driving permit has passed its first committee. House Bill 4153 , authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, would require minors applying for an Oklahoma driver license to demonstrate an eighth-grade reading level by passing the statewide reading assessment prior being issued a permit. Under the bill, students with an Individualized Education Program (IEPs) related to reading may provide alternative documentation of proficiency. Hasenbeck, a former middle school English teacher, said she saw firsthand how the possibility of receiving driver licenses at 16 motivated her students to take their literacy seriously. "House Bill 4153 is about making sure our young people are equipped with the basic skills they need to succeed both in school and out on the road," Hasenbeck said. "By tying reading proficiency to driver eligibility, we’re encouraging students to strengthen essential literacy skills that will help them throughout life while also promoting safer roads for all Oklahomans." The requirement, which had been in place for several decades, was eliminated in 2022. HB4153 passed the House Public Safety Committee and must pass the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee before it can be heard on the floor.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives paused to remember the lives of two Oklahoma law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year.  The House held a moment of silence in remembrance of Corporal Robert William Sumner, who served with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and Brian Keith Herbert, who served with the Osage Nation Police Department.  The House also adopted House Resolution 1029 , authored by Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, recognizing the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as National Police Week in Oklahoma and designating May 15, 2025, as Peace Officers Memorial Day.  The resolution aligns with the national observance of National Police Week, first established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, to honor law enforcement officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.  "Every day, men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect our communities," Harris said. "During National Police Week, and especially on Peace Officers Memorial Day, we pause to reflect on their courage and recognize the debt of gratitude we owe to them and their families. We must never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe."  The resolution affirms the House’s continued support for federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and their efforts to uphold justice and public safety with honor, integrity, and dedication.

Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, has passed legislation out of committee to assist inmates leaving state custody with obtaining driver's licenses. House Bill 2364 requires the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to assist inmates in obtaining a noncompliant REAL ID driver license. If an inmate does not or cannot obtain a driver's license, DOC is required to assist them in obtaining a REAL ID Noncompliant Identification Card. The change updates the Sarah Stitt Act, which Hill passed in 2021 to provide needed documentation and employment services to those leaving incarceration in an effort to reduce Oklahoma's recidivism rate and boost the state's economy. Under the law, DOC is also required to provide inmates with copies of their degrees and certificates, work record, birth certificate, as well as a Social Security card, a resume and documentation that the inmate completed a practice job interview. The act was named for Oklahoma's First Lady Sarah Stitt in recognition for her work to reduce recidivism. "When inmates leave prison fully prepared to enter the workforce and gain housing, our whole state benefits," Hill said. "The likelihood they'll return to prison is significantly lessened because they reenter society with the tools and support they need to make it happen. House Bill 2364 would help American citizens leave Oklahoma prisons with a state driver's license, which will help them access work, housing, grocery stores and other services, and gives them a state ID to be used in securing a job. This not only reduces recidivism but also strengthens Oklahoma’s restorative workforce by helping more people become productive, contributing members of society." HB2364 passed the House Public Safety Committee 5-0 on Wednesday and must be heard by the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee before it may move to the House floor.