News

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City, has advanced two bills benefiting seniors in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Rep. Wolfley passed House Bill 2020, which increases the Oklahoma income tax exemption for retirement benefits from $10,000 to $20,000 beginning in the tax year 2024.  "The exemption for retirement income hasn't been increased in 16 years," Wolfley said. "Inflation has severely eroded the purchasing power of those on fixed incomes." HB2020 passed the House 90-0. It is authored in the Senate by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton. House Bill 2027, approved recently, provides a state sales tax rebate on the sale of hearing aids.  "As it stands now, a senior citizen could take five of their grandkids for two days to the waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge in Texas and pay for everything, including gas, food, and lodging, with the money they save by buying their hearing aids in a state that doesn't tax medical devices," Wolfley said. The taxpayer must file a claim with the Oklahoma Tax Commission within one year of the purchase date, and the commission will refund the state sales tax portion to the taxpayer. HB2027 passed 89-1 and now heads to the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved the Women's Bill of Rights, preserving biological sex as a distinct legal category. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, authored House Bill 1449, which clarifies how people of both biological sexes are treated under state law by defining 'sex' as a person's biological sex, whether male or female, at birth. It also forbids unfair sex discrimination but allows for recognition of the differences between sex on issues related to biology, privacy, safety or fairness. "There are legitimate reasons to distinguish between the sexes in places like on the sports field, prisons, locker rooms, restrooms and domestic violence shelters," Hasenbeck said. "Women must have a space to engage in sports, education and community together safely without constantly worrying about whether their safety and privacy will be protected. Misrepresenting what a woman is in legal issues jeopardizes those things. This declaration is just common-sense." The measure clarifies that "equal" in reference to sex will not be construed to mean same or identical and that differentiating between the sexes will not necessarily be construed as treating the sexes unequally. The Women's Bill of Rights passed the House 76-19 and now moves to the Senate, where its principal author is Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan.

Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, has secured passage of legislation expanding opportunities for federal hazard mitigation funding. House Bill 1928 eliminates the Flood Hazard Mitigation Account and replaces it with the Hazard Mitigation Financial Assistance Fund, which Sims said broadens the scope of what the fund can be used for and what federal grants can be received. "Oklahoma faces numerous natural disaster threats every year, and increasing access to hazard mitigation funds is critical to reducing vulnerabilities, protecting lives and fostering greater resilience against future threats to our infrastructure and property," Sims said. Since the historic Arkansas River flooding in May 2019, Sims, a former mayor who now chairs the House County and Municipal Government Committee, has worked on several pieces of legislation to improve hazard mitigation. The measure itself does not direct revenues to or from the fund. HB1928 passed the House 89-2 on Wednesday and now moves to the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, on Wednesday secured unanimous passage of a bill in the House of Representatives that would alert residents in close proximity of a correctional facility in the event of a prisoner escape. House Bill 1546 would direct the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to develop an Orange Alert communication system at each correctional facility in the state to notify any resident within a 40-mile radius of the facility when a prisoner has escaped. Moore explained the language for the bill originally was drafted by Katie Edelen, a high school senior from Arapaho-Butler Public Schools during her attendance at "Capitol Camp" last summer. The program, held at the State Capitol, is hosted by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau for high school FFA and 4-H students. "Katie and her family lived through a frightening situation created by escaped inmates," Moore said. "I could not be more proud of her courage and leadership in taking such a difficult situation and working to produce a positive result by creating this language to protect the residents of the state of Oklahoma. Residents who have a prison nearby deserve to be notified immediately if their safety is in danger from an escaped prisoner." Moore said the alert would work similar to the state's Amber Alert system that people get on their cell phones. It would alert those who live within a 40-mile radius of the correctional facility where an inmate has escaped. HB1546 passed 96-0 in the House. It now moves to the state Senate where it is authored by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher. -END-

Legislation updating the Landlord Tenant Act to protect renters living in unsafe living conditions was approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday. House Bill 2109, authored by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, protects tenants from retaliatory actions taken by landlords and allows courts to require landlords to make needed repairs for health and safety. "The vast majority of Oklahoma's landlords work hard to keep their rental property in good shape, but unfortunately, tenants whose landlords are not maintaining a healthy, safe living environment have very little protection in our current statute," Pae said. "House Bill 2109 provides tenants with the tools necessary to ensure their housing conditions are restored to a safe baseline." HB2109, which applies to landlords renting more than 10 units, protects tenants from common types of landlord retaliation, including raising rent, threatening eviction, or decreasing services. It also gives courts the authority to require a landlord to make a repair needed to ensure a rental property is safe and habitable when they refuse to make the repair otherwise. The measure passed the House 71-23. It is authored in the Senate by Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives commemorated the life of Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot's license in the U.S., as part of AERO Day on Wednesday at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Coleman, born in 1892, briefly attended what is now Langston University before earning her pilot's license in 1921 from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in France. After returning to the United States, she launched her career in exhibition flying and parachuting, one of the only options available at the time due to racial and gender biases. She was later called "the world's greatest woman flier." Coleman passed away in 1926 after her plane unexpectedly went into a dive. Coleman's great niece, Gigi Coleman-Brooms, serves as president and CEO of the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars, which introduces disadvantaged youth to career opportunities in the field of aviation. Coleman-Brooms was honored on the House floor Wednesday afternoon and presented with a state citation from Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, who serves as the chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Transportation. "Though Bessie Coleman's legacy was sadly cut far too short, she has continued to inspire generations of women with her courage, determination and resilience to overcome challenges and push boundaries," Miller said. "It was an honor to host and visit with Gigi Coleman-Brooms and hear about how she is continuing her great-aunt's legacy." Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, who serves as chair of the House Transportation Committee, joined Miller and Coleman-Brooms on the floor for the recognition. “It is truly an honor to join the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission on Aero Day during National Women's History Month along with my colleagues to celebrate the centennial celebration of Oklahoma’s International African American and Native American female pilot Bessie Coleman," Pittman said. "It was a pleasure to meet her great-niece Gigi Coleman-Brooms, who is the CEO of the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars. She does the reenactment to commemorate the accomplishments of her aunt. She is a one woman show who continues to honor the life and legacy of Bessie Coleman, by leading their non-profit organization. We are honored to be able to recognize the accomplishments of both of these dynamic women, their contributions to Oklahoma history and to claim them as Oklahoma Trailblazers. This moment was very special to me as the Vice-Chair of Tourism, a former student of Langston University, and a woman of African American and Native descent, who is making history serving in the House of Representatives." "It was very exciting to get to know Gigi Coleman-Brooms and learn more about her great-aunt's extraordinary life," Johns said. "I hope each person who learns about Bessie Coleman's amazing accomplishments walks away inspired by her persistence and with a renewed appreciation of one of our nation's historic trailblazers."

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation in the House that promises to modernize Oklahoma's automobile franchise laws in a way that will best serve consumers, manufacturers and franchised auto dealers in the state. House Bill 2244 is a request from the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association. "This legislation will improve the relationship between Oklahoma's legacy franchised auto dealers and manufacturers while continuing to bolster the strongest consumer protections in the nation," Dobrinski said. "This is about 10 years overdue, and the changes are quite lengthy, but it is necessary to protect consumers, our auto dealers and manufacturers alike." Dobrinski said HB 2244 preserves the long-term viability of new car dealers and their nearly 30,000 direct and indirectly linked jobs. It also will bring Oklahoma more in line with other states that have modernized their auto dealer laws in recent years. Peter L. Hodges Sr., president of the Oklahoma Auto Dealers Association, thanked Dobrinski for his work on the bill. “On behalf of the new auto dealers in Oklahoma, I would like to thank and extend our gratitude to Representative Mike Dobrinski for his patience and longanimity in seeing House Bill 2244 to unopposed passage in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. "I would also like to thank each of the members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for their support of Representative Dobrinski’s bill that will bring a much needed modernization to the law that governs the relationship between the new auto dealers and their auto manufacturers in our state.” Kevin A. Grover, chair of the Oklahoma Auto Dealers Association expressed his appreciation as well. "On behalf of the 270-plus dealers, the OADA is very excited that House Bill 2244 passed in the House 95-0. Representative Dobrinski was our champion on this bill for the second year in a row, and we are extremely grateful and appreciative of his perseverance, resilience and commitment to seeing this effort get across this goal line." Dobrinski ran similar legislation last year, but it did not advance to the end of the legislative process. In the meantime, he continued working with dealers and manufacturers to achieve agreed-upon language in HB 2244. Grover said, "This year's bill better serves the dealers and manufacturers who worked together cohesively to accomplish each other's goals." Among other changes, this bill changes the name of the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission to the Oklahoma New Motor Vehicle Commission. The measure also addresses items such as contracts between dealers and manufacturers, protection of consumer data, dealer rights, sales standards and more. HB 2244 now moves to the state Senate where it is authored by Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah.

Legislation protecting Oklahomans charged with murder of their abusive domestic partner has been unanimously passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Domestic Abuse Survivorship Act, created in House Bill 1639, requires that courts consider whether a person has been physically, sexually, economically or psychologically abused when weighing sentencing or guilty pleas in cases of murder of their intimate partner. If evidence is found that the defendant is a survivor of domestic abuse, the Act limits the punishment available for the charged offense. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, authored the bill after learning of multiple cases across the state and nation where victims were sentenced to prison for murder of their abusive partner despite threats against their own lives. "It is deeply concerning that, despite legitimate fear for their lives, thousands of abuse survivors are incarcerated for huge prison sentences even though they pose no threat to society," Hasenbeck said. "The Domestic Abuse Survivorship Act is designed to help protect these vulnerable women and men who had to make the incredibly brave decision to save their own lives, even when the only available option meant ending the life of their abuser. Oklahoma's survivors deserve justice." According to the  Oklahoma Dept. of Health , 49% of women and 40% of men have experienced violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lives. Data from the  Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board  found 118 people were killed by domestic violence in 2021. Hasenbeck also presented an amendment on the floor to require a psychological or psychiatric evaluation be administered to the defendant within 72 hours of arrest to aid in the determination of whether abuse was present in the relationship. Hasenbeck plans to develop future legislation to expand the Act retroactively so Oklahomans like April Wilkens, a domestic violence survivor who has served 25 years for the murder of her abusive ex-fiancée, can have a chance at freedom. HB1639 passed the House 91-0 with its title struck, requiring a second vote by the House if the bill is approved by the Senate. If signed into law, the bill would take effect Nov. 1, 2023.

OKLAHOMA CITY –  The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation to offer mental health coverage to first responders. Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, filed House Bill 2398, which would offer mental health coverage to first responders through Oklahoma's workers' compensation insurance laws without a physical injury present. Currently, first responders are excluded from coverage unless an underlying physical injury exists. "First responders are an imperative part of our communities, and we owe it to them and their families to protect them," Hays said. "This bill takes an essential step toward ensuring that first responders have access to mental health services. It's time for us to help those who serve us daily." HB2398 would allow a first responder who is deemed unable to temporarily work by a physician to receive 70% of their average weekly pay up to the state average wage or the greater of the weekly benefit provided in an employer's policy. Under HB2398, a first responder who cannot return to work after maximum medical improvement may be given permanent disability benefits. If a first responder is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the employer will provide treatment for up to one year but is not responsible for prescription medication expenses exceeding $10,000. HB2398 passed the House floor 84-5 and now moves to the Senate.