Representative Steve Bashore

R

District 7

Hi, I'm Steve Bashore and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 7th District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Deputy Floor Leader

59th Legislature

Majority Deputy Floor Leader

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Apr 29, 2025
Recent Posts

Bill to Eliminate Mandatory Markup on Retail Goods Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Key legislation to eliminate an archaic state law that forces retailers to add a 6% markup to everyday consumer goods is one step closer to the governor’s desk. The Unfair Sales Act – legislation from Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and House Majority Deputy Floor Leader Steve Bashore, R-Miami – passed the House unanimously on Tuesday, putting the Oklahoma Legislature one step closer to eliminating a relatively unknown price hike on groceries and consumer goods. Senate Bill 638 repeals the state’s 76-year-old Price Control Act that forces Oklahoma businesses to impose a minimum 6% markup on retail goods like gasoline, groceries, over-the-counter medicines, diapers and other basic necessities. Daniels said Oklahoma is one of just seven states with a mandatory markup on retail goods because many other states have rescinded similar laws in recent years. “Repealing this outdated law reinforces the Legislature’s commitment to providing inflation relief for hardworking Oklahomans by putting more money back in their pockets,” Daniels said. “Coming on the heels of eliminating the state grocery tax — the largest tax cut in Oklahoma history — this bill takes another meaningful step toward helping families save on everyday essentials while eliminating an unnecessary government mandate.” Bashore, whose hometown is just a short drive from Missouri and Kansas, said this legislation encourages Oklahomans to keep their shopping local. "Forcing Oklahomans to pay 6% more for everyday items is simply unacceptable,” Bashore said. “We want our residents to shop in state for what they need without going to surrounding states where this unfair markup no longer exists. This will ultimately benefit the taxpayer, our local businesses and our overall state economy, and will allow the free market to flourish as intended. “I am extremely honored to partner with Senator Daniels to make positive change benefiting all Oklahomans. I'm incredibly pleased to have secured passage of this bill in House, especially gaining bipartisan support." The bill was amended in the House and now returns to the Senate for fourth reading and final passage before being sent to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. 

Mar 12, 2025
Recent Posts

Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today secured House passage of a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 1001 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve 1999. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Pitcher mine pit, but their remains have not been recovered. Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire. "This bill is named after two girls in my House district in the prime of their lives when they were brutally tortured, raped and murdered," Bashore said. "Yet the person who admitted to participating in these crimes served less than three years in prison and had his prison sentence reduced because of credits earned for things such as maintaining good hygiene. He then was allowed to move less than 20 miles from the mother of one of the girls. This law is trying to keep these type of perpetrators in prison for at least 85 percent of the time to which they are sentenced." A similar bill passed the House last year with an overwhelming majority, but the bill was not considered on the Senate floor. Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria, was in the House today when the bill passed. She said she and her family were heartbroken when the bill did not receive a hearing in the full Senate last year. While she's thankful for passage in the House, but she said she plans to work hard to assure the measure makes it to the governor's desk this year. "We know this will not bring Lauria and Ashley back," she said. "But we want to prevent this nightmare from happening to any other family that might experience something like this. And unfortunately in this day and age, there will always be another family, one that might not have the energy to pursue justice for 25 years like we have. If we can help them by ensuring someone that admitted to participating in the crime stays in prison on a longer sentence, then that will give us some measure of peace." The legislation addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick in 2020 received a 10-year prison sentence with five years' probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well as time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He was released back into the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live. Lorene Bible said Busick now has more rights than she does as she's been warned by law enforcement to do nothing to upset him now that he's served his sentence. She said had she known he would not be required to serve 85% of his 10-year sentence, she never would have agreed to the deal offered by prosecutors at the time. It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They still have not been found.  Bashore said this bill would assure family members of other felony murder victims going forward that any person convicted and sentenced to participating in such a crime would have a lengthier time behind bars. HB1001 passed the House on a vote of 76-11. It now moves to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. 

Mar 11, 2025
Recent Posts

Bashore's Unfair Sales Act Moves to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, on Monday won passage of a bill that would remove Oklahoma's mandated 6% markup on retail products. House Bill 1024 is titled the Unfair Sales Act. "Oklahoma is one of only seven states with this mandatory markup on retail goods still in place, and it creates an uneven playing field for our consumers and store owners," Bashore said. "This legislation should give Oklahomans some inflation relief, and it will give retailers greater discretion over setting their own prices." Bashore explained the 6% markup is on goods such as groceries, over-the-counter medications, pet food, health and beauty aids, paper and plastic goods, baby supplies and more. It has been in place in Oklahoma since 1949. It originally was designed to protect small retailers from bigger stores moving into the market and pricing goods below what the smaller stores could afford. It's now become a hindrance to Oklahomans, he said. Bashore lives in Miami, OK, which is about 20 minutes from Joplin, MO. He said he was encouraged to buy something from a big box store in his city and then buy the exact same item from the same retailer in Joplin to compare the price difference. His purchase was a dollar cheaper in Joplin because of Oklahoma's markup law. HB1024 does strengthen the definition for "unreasonably low profit margin" to ensure the act continues to protect against pricing decisions that are intended to eliminate market competition. The bill passed 89-3 in the House. It now moves to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville.