Representative Ross Ford

R

District 76

Hi, I’m Ross Ford and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 76th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Whip

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Apr 17, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill to Remove Unlawful Occupants

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would create a procedure for the removal of unlawful occupants of property. Senate Bill 1994 would allow a property owner to request the sheriff of a county in which the property is located to immediately remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying real property if certain conditions are met. Ford, along with co-authors Reps. Terry O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, issued a joint statement about the importance of the bill. "Property owners throughout our state are being inundated with illegal occupancy," the lawmakers said. "This is exacerbated by the number of people coming across our Southern border illegally, property thefts through methods such as unlawful title changes, or just people moving a trailer onto someone else's land or moving into someone's home while they're on vacation and refusing to leave. Oklahoma is a property rights state, and we are working with our sheriffs and others to identify and stop this type of crime and to advocate for the rights of our property owners. Private property ownership is one of the very foundations of our constitutional system of government and protects an individual's ability to prosper and participate in the free market and in our representative form of government. This legislation is important to ensuring this fundamental right is protected."  Ford explained that currently such matters are treated through civil process, and law enforcement are reluctant to get involved. This forces private property owners to hire an attorney, and the process often drags out for lengthy periods. Worthen pointed out the measure does not allow anyone in a landlord-tenant relationship to circumvent the Landlord-Tenant Act. It only applies to someone who is occupying private property and refusing to leave when asked. SB1994 would create a form for the property owner to submit to their county sheriff. Once verified, the sheriff must serve a notice to immediately vacate on all unlawful occupants. If appropriate, the sheriff may arrest any person found on the property for trespass, outstanding warrants or any other legal cause. The sheriff is entitled to the fee for service of the notice. The measure also would create a crime for someone unlawfully detaining or occupying or trespassing upon a property and who intentionally damages the dwelling in an amount of greater than $1,000. Those found guilty would receive a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Any person who presents a false document purporting to be a valid lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property rights would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. The measure states that these provisions are not to be used to circumvent any rights or laws governing the landlord tenant relationship. Any person wrongfully removed may bring a civil cause of action. SB1994 passed the House with a vote of 77-16. The amended bill now returns to the Senate for final consideration. 

Mar 14, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill allowing Law Officers to Review Camera Footage Prior to report

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would allow police to review camera footage before completing reports or making statements regarding events while they are performing their official duties.  House Bill 3598 would require law enforcement agencies that utilize any type of camera system – including fixed security cameras in a police station or law enforcement office, vehicle mounted cameras, or body cameras worn by peace officers – to establish policies and procedures addressing the proper use, maintenance, and storage of the various cameras and the data recorded. The policies would be individual to each entity, but they must include guidelines that permit a peace officer to review the recorded data before writing a report or providing a statement about any event during performance of their official duties. "We're looking for accuracy," Ford said. Ford, a former police officer, said this would be akin to referring to notes taken at a crime scene before completing reports, or the same as allowing officers the ability to look at documents to refresh their memory before they go to court. The policies also must include guidelines regarding the proper release of audio and video data in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Ford said he filed an amendment to the bill that specifies that any policy permitting review of recorded footage by a peace officer may not be used to delay or deny records requests or public access to recorded footage from such cameras. Ford also passed House Bill 3885 on the House floor. The measure would extend the amount of time municipal or district courts would have to file for misdemeanor warrants for a traffic citation when a defendant was released on personal recognizance but failed to appear in court and no arrangement was made with the court to satisfy the citation. The bill moves the requirement to file the warrant from 120 days to one year, giving municipalities and courts more time to obtain accurate records from Service Oklahoma. The measures now move to the Senate for consideration. 

Mar 14, 2024
Recent Posts

House Passes Bill to Update School Emergency Communication Systems

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would allow school districts to acquire communications and alarm systems that can be used between schools, counties, municipalities and law enforcement departments in the event of emergencies or school shootings.  House Bill 3860 would create the School Safety Interoperability Fund that would be administered by the Department of Public Safety. "This would allow school districts to purchase radio and camera systems that can interact with local law enforcement departments and others to help them respond quickly should an emergency arise," Ford said. "When these systems are in place, an officer can literally flip a switch and render instructions and assistance while en route to the school." Ford, a former police officer and director of school security, said the systems could save lives when minutes count. Ford also passed several additional measures in the House this week.  House Bill 3858 would modify the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement system, keeping the state in line with IRS requirements on the required minimum distribution age, and raising the penalties from 1.5% to 5% for late contributions to the system. House Bill 3862 would limit claw-backs by insurance companies when pre-authorization for medical procedures or services has been granted. Non-compliance with specified deadlines would result in health care services being deemed authorized. The measures now move to the Senate for consideration.