OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D–Del City, announced today the filing of House Joint Resolution 1048, a bill that creates a State Question asking voters to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to protect the people’s authority over the initiative petition process. The bill must first be approved by the Legislature before it can appear on the ballot.

Fugate said the measure is necessary to protect the constitutional balance of power after repeated legislative attempts to restrict Oklahomans’ access to direct democracy.

“Oklahoma’s Bill of Rights begins with a simple truth: all political power is inherent in the people,” Rep. Fugate said. “Not the Legislature, not special interests–the people. My bill gives voters the chance to protect their rights by requiring that any future changes to the initiative petition process be approved by the people themselves.”

Article II, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution states that government exists for the “protection, security, and benefit” of the people, who retain the right to “alter or reform” their government whenever the public good requires it. Fugate noted that this right is weakened when lawmakers pass measures that make it harder for citizens to place issues on the ballot.

In recent years, the Legislature has advanced bills that restrict signature gathering, raise procedural hurdles, or otherwise interferes with the initiative and referendum process. Among them was SB 1027, passed last session.

“Direct democracy is not a loophole. It is a constitutional right,” Fugate said. “If legislators want to change the rules for how citizens can petition their government, then those changes should go before the people. My bill simply gives voters the chance to decide whether they want to protect their own power.”

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Require voter approval for any legislative changes to the initiative or referendum process.
• Prevent unilateral legislative restrictions on signature gathering, ballot access, or petition procedures.
• Reaffirm the constitutional principle that political power originates with the people.

“This bill cannot move forward unless legislators choose to respect the people’s authority,” Fugate said. “I’m calling on Oklahomans to contact their representatives and senators and tell them to protect the power of their constituents. If we believe political power belongs to the people, then we must act like it.”

The bill now awaits committee assignment.

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