OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 70-15 to approve Senate amendments to House Bill 1095, the Municipal Carry Act, sending the legislation to the governor for final consideration.

The measure, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, brings parity between municipal and county governments by allowing city councils to authorize certain elected officials, judges and designated municipal employees to carry concealed firearms in municipal buildings within their jurisdiction. The bill aims to support smaller communities with limited law enforcement resources while continuing to prohibit firearms in sensitive areas such as courtrooms, jails and schools.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for their support of this bill that protects our Second Amendment rights, and I especially want to thank Senator Gillespie for her hard work and leadership in moving this bill forward on the Senate side," Hildebrant said. "Equipping local governments with a way to enhance safety where law enforcement coverage is limited not only allows municipalities to decide for themselves what type of protection they need but also offers another way to keep citizens safe."

The bill originally passed the House with a 66-13 vote. The Senate adopted minor, non-substantive changes, including language clean-up for clarity and consistency.

Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, was a key advocate for the Municipal Carry Act in the Senate, playing a major role in guiding the bill through the legislative process and working closely with colleagues to secure its passage with a strong 39-8 vote.

"The passage of House Bill 1095 is deeply meaningful," Gillespie said. "Our municipal leaders — our mayors, city councilors, municipal judges, and employees — step up every day to serve their communities. They deserve to feel safe while doing so. This bill is about trust and respect. It gives municipalities the option to allow their own officials and employees to protect themselves in the buildings where they work and serve. It's a commonsense measure rooted in safety, responsibility, and local control. I’m grateful to my colleagues in both chambers who stood with us on this. Their support sends a strong message: we value the people doing the work of government at the local level, and we want them to be protected."

The measure now awaits action by the governor.