Representative Steve Bashore

R

District 7

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


representative

Leadership

Deputy Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Nov 2, 2023
Recent Posts

Bashore Law Extends Vehicle Registration/Title Timeline

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans now have two months instead of just 30 days to obtain registration and title after purchasing a motor vehicle or a travel or commercial trailer after a new law took effect Nov. 1. Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, authored House Bill 1390, which allows a temporary license plate to be valid for two months. "I ran this legislation to give Oklahomans more time to pay their registration and title fees to offset the exorbitant amount of excise tax levied upon them," Bashore said. "I also wanted Oklahoma to catch up to what surrounding states have already enacted. Some allow even longer than 60 days for residents to pay tag and title fees after purchasing a vehicle." Since taking office, Bashore has filed several versions of a bill that would calculate excise tax – based on the net cost of a vehicle rather than the gross cost. It also would lower the taxation amount that Oklahomans currently face when trading vehicles. The measures would save consumers money. Each year, the bills have overwhelmingly passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Bashore said he will run the legislation again in the next legislative session and every year until it passes. "Lowering taxes and allowing Oklahomans personal freedom about how their income is spent is a proven way to keep our economy healthy," Bashore said. The measures also would bring Oklahoma in line with how regional states, such as Kansas, Texas and Arkansas, calculate excise tax. The move is estimated to save taxpayers about $47.3 million in associated motor vehicle excise tax from the deduction of the trade-in allowance. Bashore said the state economy is doing exceedingly well with collections to the state treasurer remaining strong and a large amount in state savings. "It's time to allow Oklahoma taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money." 

Jun 6, 2023
Recent Posts

Bashore Files Lauria and Ashley's Law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, this week filed 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 2946 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 in 1999. Bashore said his legislation was a response to the shockingly low number of years to which the person accused of accessory to felony murder in this case was sentenced and his early release from prison last month. "This case has been a travesty of justice from the beginning," Bashore said. "The families of these girls are horrified that a person so closely involved with this heinous crime not only was sentenced to such a low number of years in prison but now is free to move about in their community after so short a time served. I have vowed to work to ensure something like this will never happen again for anyone else's loved ones." Ronnie Busick was convicted of accessory to felony murder in the case that also involved the shooting deaths of Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman. Their remains were discovered in their mobile home that had been set on fire. The bodies of the teens have never been found, but court records indicate they were thrown into a Picher area mine pit. Busick was sentenced in 2020 to10 years in prison and five years' probation for his involvement in the murders, which happened Dec. 31, 1999. It is reported he was offered a lower sentence in exchange for information to help investigators locate the bodies of the teens. They have not been recovered. According to the Department of Corrections, Busick was credited with three years of time served in a county jail and subsequent good-days earned while incarcerated, leading to his release date of May 19. He is on supervised probation for one year. Bashore said he learned of Busick's release from Lisa Bible Brodrick, a cousin of Lauria Bible, who is a constituent in his House District 7. After meeting with the family, he first wrote a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond asking him to review the prosecution and sentencing of Busick. He then decided to file legislation. Bible Brodrick said of the pending measure, "I can’t begin to tell you how much this means to my family. For 23 years we never wanted another family to suffer as we have. Then just a month ago, another blow. Getting this law changed will bring us just a small amount of peace knowing another family will not be faced with such an incredibly light sentence. Anything we can do to ensure this happens, we are completely on board." Lauria and Ashley's Law will be eligible for consideration during the Second Session of the 59th Legislature, which starts in February. If enacted, it would go into effect Nov. 1, 2024. 

May 1, 2023
Recent Posts

Bashore Comments on Release of Man Convicted in Missing Teens' Case

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today issued a statement regarding the pending release of Ronnie Busick who was convicted of accessory to felony murder in a case involving two missing Welch teenagers. Busick was sentenced in 2020 to10 years in prison and five years' probation, one supervised, for his involvement with the disappearance and presumed deaths of 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman and the deaths of Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, who were fatally shot in the head and whose remains were discovered in a mobile home that had been set on fire. The crime happened Dec. 30, 1999. According to the Department of Corrections, Busick was credited with three years of time served in a county jail and subsequent good-days earned while incarcerated, leading to his release date of May 19. He will have 24 hours after his release to report for supervised probation, which will last for one year. "I spoke with Lisa Bible-Broderick, the aunt of Lauria, yesterday regarding the release of this admitted heinous felon," Bashore said. "The family was completely caught off guard by this news and learned about it through media. "Court documents show the teens were taken to a mobile home in Picher, where they were bound, tortured, raped, and killed, and their bodies thrown into a Picher area mine pit. "I would ask decision makers and those who prosecuted this individual, what would you say to the families? What if these heinous acts impacted your loved ones and your families? Would the outcome be different? There are individuals currently serving lengthier sentences in our state prisons who will continue doing so for much lower-level crimes. Releasing this individual is horrific for the families and an absolute travesty. Additionally, the release of this felon who participated in this grisly crime that resulted in the kidnapping, rape, torture and likely murder of these young girls will negatively impact the families and our communities."