Representative Toni Hasenbeck

R

District 65

Hi, I'm Toni Hasenbeck and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 65th District.


representative

News & Announcements

May 2, 2023
Recent Posts

Bill Protecting Birth Control Access Moves to Gov.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure protecting women’s freedom to access birth control on Thursday, sending the bill to the governor's desk. Senate Bill 368 was presented on the House floor by House author Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin. The bill includes protections for contraceptive drugs, surgeries such as tubal ligation, and other treatments provided by authorized healthcare providers. “The passage of this measure sends a strong signal that the Oklahoma Legislature believes that Oklahomans can plan when to start a family and when to grow the size of their family,” said Hasenbeck. “This is about protecting the rights and freedoms of our constituents.” SB368 protects contraception and does not legalize or provide protections for medication abortions. The bill, which was coauthored by a bipartisan group of 12 legislators, was filed in the Senate by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan. “Preserving access to contraception will help our families, our economy and our quality of life,” said Garvin. “I am proud of my colleagues for rallying around a measure that is very important to our Oklahoma families.”  SB368 passed 90-0 in the House on April 27. Having previously passed the Senate 40-7, it is now available for consideration by the governor.

Mar 23, 2023
Recent Posts

Hasenbeck Passes Women's Bill of Rights

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.

Mar 22, 2023
Recent Posts

Hasenbeck Bill Aiding Domestic Abuse Survivors Heads to Senate

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.