Representative Forrest Bennett

D

District 92

Hi, I’m Forrest Bennett and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 92nd District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Minority Leader

58th Legislature

News & Announcements

Mar 16, 2023

BENNETT WINS PASSAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB2098 on Tuesday. The bill, authored by Rep. Forrest Bennett (D-OKC), would bring the state one more step toward long term affordable housing solutions in the state of Oklahoma. The legislation comes from a 2022 interim study conducted by Bennett and co-author Rep. Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) on the underlying causes of homelessness. “Folks find themselves experiencing or on the cusp of homelessness for a variety of reasons,” Bennett said. “And while we work to address the other concerns, making way for the development of available, attainable affordable housing should be a top priority for us here in Oklahoma.” One idea that came from the interim study, colloquially called “Homes for Homes,” has been the basis for this legislation. The idea is that when a person sells personal property, like a home, they would be able to donate up to 1% of the proceeds to a fund overseen by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. The fund could then ultimately be utilized by cities and towns and other entities when exploring funding mechanisms for the development of affordable housing.  “We think this is a winning idea for Oklahoma,” said Bennett. “The fund would be grown intentionally by charitable residents of our state, who would be rewarded for that generosity by being able to deduct the value of their gift from their taxable income.” Participants would be eligible for tax deductions up to 1% of the sale value, with a cap on property sales of $5 million.  “The idea of tax incentives is to encourage the kind of behavior you want to see – and creating a way for the state to support the development of much-needed affordable housing seems like the perfect behavior to encourage,” Bennett said regarding the program.  The bill, which passed 76-6 this week, now heads to the Senate, where it will be sponsored by Sen. John Michael Montgomery.

Mar 13, 2023

Bennett Earns Chairmanship at National Insurance Legislator Meeting

OKLAHOMA CITY –Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City presided over his first meeting as Chairman of the Financial Services and Multi-Lines Issues Committee this weekend at the Spring meeting of the National Council of Insurance Legislators in San Diego, CA.  “I’m honored to earn this position and further my service to this great organization,” Bennett said of his appointment. “These committees, which are bipartisan and include legislators from across the country, are doing vital work to craft good policies in an area of legislation - insurance - that is especially complex,” he added. Bennett was tapped to lead the Financial Services and Multi-Lines Issues Committee, which sees a variety of topics that touch the insurance industry. “I can understand a person who might find themselves dozing off before I even finish saying the name of the committee, but we really did have some engaging conversations,” Bennett said of his inaugural meeting as Chairman. The committee heard a presentation on the insurance aspect of the emergent Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) industry. The committee also discussed potential model legislation for data privacy. “There is perhaps no industry where sensitive personal data is more relevant than it is in insurance,” Bennett said of the issue. “Whether that’s personal data given to insurance carriers for home and auto policies, or the sensitive corporate data that is used to determine commercial insurance rates, there’s plenty of exposure and not enough being done to protect consumers,” he added.  The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) was founded in 1969 to educate state legislators on insurance issues and provide a venue for state lawmakers and regulators to explore policy solutions to take back to their individual states. The organization meets three times a year in the spring, summer, and winter.  Of the work that NCOIL does, Bennett said, “insurance isn’t really a partisan issue – or it shouldn’t be – and this organization embodies that notion by focusing on facts and seeking solutions.”   -END-

Apr 28, 2022

Democrats: SB615 a threat to Oklahomans, Economic Investment

" OKLAHOMA CITY -- Several House Democrats released statements today after Senate Bill 615 passed the House floor. SB615 is “copycat legislation” from other Republican-controlled states that forbids transgender Oklahomans from using bathrooms most applicable to their gender identity and creates barriers to mental health care and educational material.  Rep. Mauree Turner, D-OKC: ""Oklahomans are surviving on mutual aid because our Republican-supermajority Legislature is attacking its people, and specifically our 2SLGBTQ+ youth. We have used the power of the Legislature to drop last-minute legislation like Senate Bill 615 – a bill that codifies into law that counselors will continue to be a safe space for all students as long as they aren't 2SLGBTQ+ students. “Our representatives have created a space where organizations like Sisu and Pivot, in Oklahoma, thrive: youth shelters. Oklahoma youth shelters have a large group of 2SLGBTQ+ youth due to these young people being rejected at home. When the Legislature uses tactics to scare folks from caring for youth or empowers bigotry and hatred for our youth – what are we telling them?  “Thankfully, these laws will never get rid of our 2SLGBTQ+ youth, but they do create a closet to hold them. SB615 fosters an environment where children do not feel safe.  “For the youth that are watching these bad bills: I not only see you, love you, and hear you – I am you. It is hard to experience this attack every day at the hands of community elected officials that have done nothing to ensure your life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.  “There are 2LGBTQ+ affirming mental health crisis support available like the Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text START 678-678, Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860, and the LGBT Hotline 888-843-4564. It's never a bad thing to reach out."" Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-OKC: “I’m proud to represent Oklahoma City, a place that has intentionally invested in itself to be a destination for families to live, businesses to relocate, and vacationers to visit. No amount of self-investment by cities like OKC, nor incentives and tax breaks from the state, can overcome hateful legislation aimed at groups that are already marginalized. In the coming days, I hope civic leaders will join us in speaking out against this harmful bill. Senate Bill 615 hurts people. It hurts progress. It hurts Oklahoma.” Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa:  “We voted on and I supported a $700 million economic incentive to hopefully entice a Fortune 500 company to open a factory in Oklahoma. However, I’m afraid with Senate Bill 615, we just did more than $700 million worth of damage to our state's reputation. “We have seen the massive fallout from legislation like this in other states. Many companies, like Panasonic for example, are clear and demonstrate their support for the LGBTQ community. There is more to economic development than money and tax incentives. Companies will not choose for their employees, and their families, to be subjected to laws that ostracize and marginalize their existence. SB615 is not just a bad bill, it is a job killer.”  -END- "