Representative Kevin West

R

District 54

Hi, I'm Kevin West and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 54th District.


representative

Leadership

Oversight Committee Chair

60th Legislature

Assistant Majority Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Oct 30, 2025
Recent Posts

AG Opinion Requested on Public Obscene Performances

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, this week submitted a request to the state attorney general asking for clarification and guidance concerning the enforcement and intent of House Bill 1217 . The measure prohibits adult performances containing obscene material in public spaces where children might be present. The bill passed with an emergency clause allowing it to become effective immediately after the governor signed it into law May 9. "We were very clear in our legislative intent," West said. "We want to protect minors and the general public from exposure to obscenity in public settings. This law was pursued to give clear direction to municipalities, event organizers and law enforcement so issues of public exposure can be avoided before they happen rather than punished after the fact." Sen. Bullard said, “Our goal is to ensure that there is no confusion with municipalities about the expectations of this law. Obscene behavior in front of kids is not acceptable, and their job is to protect the kids who are in their public places from obscenities. If a council or organizer hosts an event they have approved then they must, by law, make sure it will not be obscene.” In the request sent to the attorney general, the two lawmakers specified that HB1217 directly incorporates the definition of obscene material that exists in state statute, which codifies the Miller v. California test. "That test exists to thread the needle between rights – acknowledging that individuals have broad constitutional freedoms in how they dress, express themselves, and perform, while also protecting the community's and families' right, and indeed responsible expectation, not to be involuntarily exposed to explicit sexual conduct or imagery in public or 'family-friendly' spaces," the request reads. "This balance is not only the foundation of obscenity law; it is also the proper balance between local discretion and state-level consistency." West and Bullard asked the attorney general to address six specific questions regarding the new law, one of which asked if it is accurate to interpret the bill as being enacted primarily to prevent exposure to obscene material through clear statutory limits and proactive compliance by local governments, rather than to create new grounds for prosecution. The purpose of the questions, they said, was to promote clarity, consistency and prevention. They said a timely clarification for municipalities is needed given that this time of year includes numerous community festivals, holiday parades and public events across the state. A full copy of the letter can be read here .

May 8, 2025
Recent Posts

Kevin West Urges Senate to Consider Utility Ratepayer Protection Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill seeking to protect utility customers from paying higher rates because of 2021's Winter Storm Uri has not yet been considered by the full State Senate. It is not on the agenda today, which is the deadline for consideration of bills from the opposite legislative chamber. House Bill 1220 unanimously passed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in early March. It's since been amended and passed the Senate Energy Committee and remains on general order.  Author Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, said the measure would prohibit municipalities that have franchise agreements with utility companies from assessing those fees and taxes on the securitization amount customers are paying due to the storm. "With the passage of securitization, the Legislature inadvertently left it open for ratepayers to shoulder the additional costs of the franchise fees and taxes on top of the bond amount," West said. "This legislation would prevent that. Now, with this lack of action, the ratepayer will have to pay these additional costs on top of the securitization amount for the next 25 years. This will cost everyday Oklahomans additional countless millions of dollars." West reported that in November 2024, Oklahoma City and the Municipal League sued for the right to assess franchise fees on the amount that customers are paying for securitization. He warned at the time that this would be yet another cost that would be passed on to ratepayers.  Having been in the Legislature when securitization was passed, West said it is his opinion that legislators did not intend for this occur. "I have seen no evidence that anything about securitization caused any additional costs to the municipalities to warrant these additional fees and/or taxes," West said. "Instead, it would seem this will relieve these governing bodies of paying their fair share from existing resources and instead push it onto their ratepayers." HB1220 includes the same language for both "regulated" and "unregulated" utilities. West said this was done to have continuity in both statutes and to cover ratepayers in the event that an unregulated utility is participating in securitization and has a franchise agreement in place. It has been estimated the franchise fees would amount to $60 million to $100 million dollars over the life of the securitization bonds. West said, again, these fees would come from the ratepayers. "Oklahoma utility customers are already paying long-term bond rates associated with this storm," West said. "This bill would protect them from having franchise fees and municipal sales taxes stacked onto their bills. This measure had great support in the House, and I'm frustrated Senate leadership has not allowed it to be considered by their full membership."

Apr 22, 2025
Recent Posts

Bill to Keep Businesses Open During Pandemics Sent to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, on Monday won passage of legislation that prohibits the governor from closing any business during a pandemic without documented scientific evidence that the nature of the business actually contributes to the spread of the disease. Senate Bill 672 now moves to the governor's desk for his consideration of signing it into law.   "This bill is not about actions taken in the past, but about how we're going to move forward as a state to protect the free enterprise of our business owners in the same way we allow the public the freedom to choose how best to protect themselves," West said. "What this bill does is ensure that due process will be afforded business owners even during a state of emergency." Sen. Julie McIntosh, R-Porter, is the principal Senate author of the bill. "The passage of SB672 is a significant step toward ensuring that our small businesses are not unduly burdened during emergencies," she said. "This legislation guarantees that any decision to close a business is backed by clear evidence and due process. It's about safeguarding the rights of our entrepreneurs while still allowing for necessary public health measures. I appreciate my colleagues in both chambers for supporting this commonsense measure." West said the language of the measure fits with Article Two, Section Two of the Oklahoma Constitution, which guarantees all persons have the inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry.  According to the language of this bill, the governor would still have the ability to close businesses during a pandemic to protect public health if there is scientific evidence that a particular business is a contributor to the spread of the disease. The governor would have to give notice and the opportunity for a hearing for any business determined to be nonessential or determined to be detrimental to public health. This would give the business a course of action to plead their case and possibly stay open. West said during the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many small businesses across the state were forced to close even as larger businesses were allowed to remain open. Other businesses, such as restaurants or bars were forced to close after certain hours even though no scientific proof was presented that the spread of the disease was more prevalent at one time over another. These policies were devastating to businesses owners, forcing some to close or lay off staff, and it hurt the overall economy of the state. He said there is no evidence the policies did anything to stop the spread of the disease. The bill passed in the House on a vote of 74-15. If signed into law, it would become effective July 1.