[Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – April 5, 2019

[Fair, Bryce]

Below is the legislative update for last week.
This Thursday, April 11, is the next legislative deadline for most bills to pass out of committee in the opposite house from where the bill originated.  At this point, we have only one bill left alive directly related to one of our state financial aid programs.  HB 2227 would allow students to be eligible to enroll in Oklahoma’s Promise if their parents died during the student’s 11th or 12th grade.  The bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing in the Senate this week.

Bryce Fair
Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
P.O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850
Phone: 405-225-9162
Email: bfair at osrhe.edu
Fax:  405-225-9230
follow us on Twitter @okhighered

From: Johnson, Dr. Glen
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2019 3:03 PM
To:
Subject: Legislative Update – April 5, 2019

OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION


Memo


To:                  Legislative Network
From:             Chancellor Glen D. Johnson
Date:               Friday, April 05, 2019
Subject:          Legislative Update – April 5, 2019



The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of April  1 – April 5, 2019. Dormant and failed bills have been removed from this list.

If you have any questions, please contact LeeAnna McNally at lmcnally at osrhe.edu<mailto:lmcnally at osrhe.edu> or (405) 225-9424.

Legislative Report
April 5, 2019

Agency Administration

Senate Bill 1 (Senator Greg Treat and Representative Charles McCall) Creates the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), a 12-member committee to conduct performance evaluations of executive branch agencies, or programs, activities or functions within executive branch agencies identified by the committee. The bill requires each agency or institution, upon request, to furnish and make available to the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency all records, documents, materials, personnel, information or other resources deemed necessary.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off the House Floor 38-10 on Monday, March 11. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 117 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative Ryan Martinez) Appropriates $4 million to the Oklahoma Employment Security Administration Fund out of funds made available to this state by the federal Unemployment Compensation Modernization Transfer in the following amounts: the Employment Service program, $2 million and the Unemployment Insurance program, $2 million.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 13. Passed off Senate Floor 44-1 on Monday, February 25. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 27-0 on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Bill 122 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative John Pfeiffer) Removes the requirement that all requests for additional office space for a state agency shall be submitted and reviewed by the State Governmental Technology Applications Review Board.
Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-0 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Government Efficiency Committee. Laid over on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Bill 179 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative Mark McBride) Requires that the Division of Central Accounting and Reporting establish a mandatory training program for certain state employees as financial managers, including any employees who oversee purchasing, finance and other vital fiscal functions of state agencies.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation on Wednesday, February 6. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-1 on Wednesday, February 13. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-0 on Monday, March 11. Passed House Appropriations and Budget, General Government subcommittee 5-2 on Monday, March 25. Referred to House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 198 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Kevin McDugle) Requires all state agencies and all political subdivisions to adopt a social networking and social media policy that applies to the personal use of social media by state employees and employees of any political subdivision to discourage abusive or offensive online behavior.
Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 8-2 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the Senate Floor 26-15 Tuesday March 12. Assigned to House Government Efficiency. Laid over on Wednesday, March 27.

Senate Bill 210 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Creates the Pay for Success Act, which allows pay-for-success for agency contracts.
Update: Laid over in Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, February 13. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Monday, March 11. Passed House Appropriations and Budget, General Government subcommittee 5-2 on Monday, March 25. Referred to Full House Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 227 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Creates the Oklahoma Information Services Department Act. The bill creates the Oklahoma Information Services Department, into which the Office of Management and Enterprise Services Information Services Division will be consolidated. Higher Education is exempt.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday March 12. Passed House Appropriations and Budget General Government Committee 4-3 on Monday, March 25. Referred to House Appropriations and Budget Committee.


Senate Bill 240 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Lundy Kiger) Requires the State Travel Office to give preference to travel agencies located within Oklahoma.
Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 10-2 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-0 on Tuesday March 12. Passed House Government Efficiency Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, March 27. Passed off House floor 96-1 on Thursday, April 4. Referred for enrollment.

Senate Bill 271 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Kyle Hilbert) Requires all agencies to make an annual disclosure in a separate written report and information on websites maintained by or on behalf of the entities of all federal funds under the control of the entity and the programs for which the federal funds are used by distinct expenditure categories.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off the Senate Floor 31-13 on Tuesday March 12. Passed House Government Efficiency Committee 8-1 on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Bill 306 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Ryan Martinez) Requires state agencies to provide advance notice to the State Treasurer of all disbursements that could negatively impact state cash flow requirements. It requires daily total submissions for disbursement equal to or in excess of $25 million to be deemed to have the potential to negatively impact state cash flow.
Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off the House Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 11. Assigned to House Government Efficiency Committee. Laid over on Wednesday, March 27. Passed House Government Efficiency Committee 8-0 on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Bill 316 (Senator Nathan Dahm and Representative Tom Gann) Creates the Government Transparency Act. It requires a state agency entering into a Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Agreement with any agency, department or any organization receiving appropriated money, grants, or contracts from the State of Oklahoma or any other state or funds from the government of the United States to publish a report on its website and the website, documents.ok.gov.
Update: Passed Senate General Government Committee 12-0 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-4 on Monday, February 25. Assigned to House Government Efficiency Committee.

Senate Bill 583 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative Charles Ortega) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to initiate a request for proposal for the ongoing maintenance of desktop support and management systems for all state agencies by July 1, 2020. It authorizes the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to enter into a contract for such services, pursuant to the provisions of law. It requires notice of the request for proposal to be published in the manner provided for competitive bidding.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation on Wednesday, February 6. Referred to full Senate Appropriations Committee. Title stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off Senate Floor 44-0 on Monday March 11. Assigned to House Government Efficiency Committee.

Senate Bill 740 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Tammy West) Modifies a statutory reference which relates to public meetings.
Update: Passed as amended Senate General Government Committee 10-1 on Thursday, February 28. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 11. Assigned to House County and Municipal Government Committee. Laid over on Wednesday, March 27. Passed House County and Municipal Government 10-0 on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Joint Resolution 20 (Senator Kay Floyd and Representative Chris Kannady) Proposes a vote of the people on a constitutional amendment that prohibits members of the Legislature from engaging in certain activities during the term for which elected and, in some cases, for two years afterwards. The amendment would prohibit being appointed or elected to any office or commission in the state during the term, receiving any appointment from the Governor, the Governor and Senate or the Legislature during the term, or being interested in any contract with the state or a political subdivision during the term. These provisions would not prohibit an employee of a school district or the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from continuing to serve during the term or prohibit an appointment to a legislative committee or other legislative position. It would not prohibit a former member from returning to his or her profession or business. The Legislature could enact laws to implement these provisions.
            Update: Passed Senate Rules Committee 8-3 on Wednesday, February 27.

House Bill 1198 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Marty Quinn) Requires each agency, board, commission, department or program in the executive branch of state government to report its fiscal year financial information to the State Auditor and Inspector within 60 days of the close of the fiscal year along with a signed attestation from the chief financial officer and chief executive officer of entity. It requires the chief executive officer of said entities to sign and attest to the accuracy of all financial statements.
Update: Passed Housed Government Efficiency Committee 8-3 on Wednesday, February 6. Passed off the House Floor 76-22 on Monday, March 4. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee and then to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1201 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Marty Quinn) Limits the rulemaking authority of state agencies to implementing law or policy as specifically set by the Legislature.
Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed off the House Floor 83-15 on Monday, March 4. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee.

House Bill 1376 (Representative Zack Taylor and Senator John Montgomery) Changes the Federal Poverty Guideline level used for state employees from three-person households to four-person households.
Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 94-3 on Wednesday, February 14. Passed Senate Appropriations General Government and Transportation Subcommittee unanimously on Wednesday, March 3. Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1391 (Representative Sheila Dills and Senator Joe Newhouse) Removes two specific positions within the Office of the Secretary of State from unclassified service and in their place lists, "Administrative Officers." In its current form modifies the list of positions at the Office of the Secretary of State that are unclassified for purposes of the merit system. Such action allows the agency greater flexibility regarding the salary paid to such unclassified positions. Whether the change provided by HB 1391 results in increased or decreased compensation costs for the agency will be determined by the employee compensation choices made by the agency
Update: Passed House Government Efficiency Committee 11-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off House Floor 96-0 on Tuesday, March 5. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, March 20. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Thursday, March 28. Senate amendments received.

House Bill 1886 (Representative Denise Crosswhite Hader and Senator Casey Murdock) Requires an agency proposing an administrative rule that mentions or refers to another state agency to notify the affected agency at least 30 days prior to the hearing for adoption of the rule.
Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 7-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed off the House Floor 95-0 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee.

House Bill 1953 (Representative Dustin Roberts and Senator Ron Sharp) Authorizes state agencies, at their discretion, up to two times annually, to offer their employees an option to voluntarily elect to be paid for a maximum of 200 hours of unused accrued annual leave. It requires the program to be optional for all eligible employees, and the agency can choose the monthly pay period in which to provide such payment. It requires the employee to retain 120 hours of annual leave after the payment is made.
Update: Passed House Government Efficiency Committee 11-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off House Floor 93-1 on Wednesday, March 6. Title stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 3.

House Bill 2086 (Representative Mickey Dollens and Senator Bill Coleman) Provides rates of compensation for on-call classified state employees and sets requirements for state agencies to classify job classes of individual positions within the agency subject to on-call duty.
Update: Laid over in House Government Efficiency Committee on Wednesday, February11. Passed House Government Efficiency Committee amended by committee substitute 11-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 84-7 on Wednesday, March 14. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 2670 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Creates the Pay for Success Act. It states that it is the intent of the Legislature through the bill to authorize innovation opportunities in the form of pay-for-success contracts and authorize success payments to be made from appropriated or other agency funds; address outcomes that span the mission and purpose of multiple agencies; provide a fund that may be used by agencies for success payments; and that the bill shall not prohibit the use of pay-for-success contracts by municipalities, counties or other local jurisdictions.
Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday February 13. Passed House Floor 91-6 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, March 20.

House Bill 2673 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Gives full-time and part-time state officers and employees an annualized salary increase, though no salary increase is to exceed salary limitations provided in an agency's annual appropriation or salary limits set by statue.
Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 30-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Title stricken. Passed off House Floor 96-1 on Tuesday, March 12. Assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee.


Budget & Taxes

Senate Bill 427 (Senator Stephanie Bice and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Updates statutory references related to the apportionment of gross production tax revenue.
Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee 6-0 on Monday, April 1.  Referred to full House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 519 (Senator Kim David and Representative Terry O’Donnell) Prohibits any monies deposited in the Oil and Gas Division Revolving Fund from being transferred for any purpose to any other state agency or any account of the Corporation Commission or be used for the purpose of contracting with any other state agency or reimbursing any other state agency for any expense, unless otherwise provided.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Title stricken. Passed off Senate Floor 46-2 on Monday, March 11.  Enacting clause stricken. Passed House Energy and Natural Resources Committee 18-0 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 1404 (Representative Justin Humphrey and Senator David Bullard) Places a 7 percent gross production tax on natural resources mined for the purpose of producing aggregate within an unincorporated area of a county or municipality with the revenue from the tax directed at compensating those government jurisdictions for costs associated with damage to local roads and bridges.
Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 5-2 on Monday, February18. Passed off the House Floor 68-25 on Wednesday, March 6. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee.

House Bill 2530 ( Representative Melodye Blancett and Senator Roger Thompson) Exempts from sales tax sales of tangible personal property or services to or by an organization which is exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3), verified with a letter from the MIT Fab Foundation as an official member of the Fab Lab Network in compliance with the Fab Charter, and able to provide documentation that their primary and principal purpose is to provide community access to advanced 21st century manufacturing and digital fabrication tools for science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning skills, developing inventions, creating and sustaining businesses and producing personalized products.
Update: Passed House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance 7-0 on Monday, February 11. Passed full House Appropriations and Budget Committee 28-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 91-4 on Thursday, March 7. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee.


Common Education

Senate Bill 217 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Jadine Nollan) Requires the State Department of Education to identify school districts to implement alternative pathways toward teacher certification on a pilot program basis. It requires school districts seeking to participate in the pilot program to submit application to the Department. It provides eligibility criteria. The bill establishes requirements for programs to be offered via the program. It requires the Department to ensure that providers approved to participate allow teacher candidates to demonstrate pedagogy and content standard proficiency in school-based programs and through other nontraditional means
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 18-3 on Wednesday, February 27. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor  46-0 on Wednesday March 13. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee 11-0 Tuesday March 27. Referred to Full House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Title restored. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-2 on Wednesday, April 3.

Senate Bill 407 (Senator Dave Rader and Representative Jon Echols) Modifies provisions of the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act. Increases the total authorized credits for taxpayers making a contribution to an eligible scholarship-granting organization, currently capped at $3.5 million annually, or to an eligible educational improvement grant organization, currently capped at $1.5 million annually. Beginning tax year 2019, the measure increases the cap for total credits authorized for all taxpayers to $10 million for each type of contribution. The measure also amends the definition of “eligible school” to include public schools located in any public school district that has less than 4,500 students.
Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 15-7 on Wednesday, February 13. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor  27-20 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 748 (Senator Jason Smalley and Representative Jon Echols) Requires the State Board of Education beginning July 1, 2020 to implement the provisions of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, including approval and accreditation of teacher education programs and assessment of candidates for licensure and certification.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 12-3 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 13-7 on Wednesday, February 27. Title stricken. Passed off Senate Floor 47-0 on Thursday, March 14. Assigned to House Common Education Committee.

Senate Bill 776 (Senator Carri Hicks and Representative Tammy West) Removes the requirement to pass the general education portions of the competency examination for an alternative placement teaching certificate. The bill removes the requirement to include general education and professional education portions on competency examinations provided by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 15-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Assigned to House Common Education Committee.

House Bill 1316 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Stephanie Bice) Requires a person issued an emergency certification to teach receive some professional development covering classroom management, subject-specific instructional methods, school procedures and policies and writing lesson plans before entering the classroom. The act also requires districts provide additional training opportunities throughout the year and arrange a mentor to provide support on an ongoing basis.
Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 17-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 95-1 on Wednesday, March 14. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-3 on Tuesday, April 2. Enacting clause stricken. Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1905 (Representative Sherrie Conley and Senator Kim David) Deletes references to the defunct Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. It adds a requirement for teacher candidates to receive training on being trauma-informed.
Update: Passed House Higher Education & Career Tech Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off House Floor 91-2 on Wednesday, March 6. Assigned to Senate Education Committee. Laid over on Tuesday, March 26. Passed Senate Education Committee 16-0 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 1959 (Representative Melissa Provenzano and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Exempts certified teachers from individual annual evaluation if during the first nine weeks of the year the teacher works in a district exceeding class size limitations and district requests the teacher cover an additional class.
Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 16-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off House floor 95-2 on Tuesday, March 5. Assigned to Senate Education Committee.

House Bill 2625 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David) Replaces Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. Deletes the requirement that traditionally certified public school superintendents, and alternatively certified public school superintendents receive a passing score on the subject area competency examination. The measure also deletes the mandate that alternative certifications for superintendents and principals can only last three years and cannot be renewed.
Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Re-assigned to House Common Education Committee, Laid over. Passed House Common Education Committee with committee substitute 17-0 Tuesday, February 26. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 90-5 on Wednesday, March 14. Emergency clause stricken. Passed Senate Education Committee 15-1 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 2641 (Representative Rhonda Baker and Senator Kim David) The bill creates a task force to make recommendations to the Legislature for changes in high school graduation requirements, including curricular requirements, alignment with college readiness and access to concurrent enrollment.
Update: Passed House Common Education 14-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off House Floor 86-5 on Thursday, March 7. Passed Senate Education Committee 15-1 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 2655 (Representative Ajay Pittman and Senator Gary Stanislawski) Creates an advisory consortium dedicated to recruiting, retaining and placing teachers of color within the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education in conjunction with the State Board of Education and the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. The act also requires teacher education programs prepare a plan with specific goals, strategies and deadlines for the recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of teachers of color. The act further defines training given to these teachers.
Update: Passed House Education Committee 17-0 on Tuesday, February 26 as amended by committee substitute. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 95-2 on Wednesday, March 13.  Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee.


Career Tech

Senate Bill 432 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Ryan Martinez) Requires the State Board of Career and Technology Education, to the availability of funds, which may include but not be limited to state appropriations, grant funds, foundation funds and other funds, to establish a statewide aerospace training facility to provide education and training in the aerospace sector. It requires the board to promulgate rules that include but are not limited to criteria for enrollment in the statewide aerospace training facility; curriculum requirements; minimum courses of study and testing requirements for the statewide aerospace training facility; minimum qualifications for instructors at the statewide aerospace training facility; and tuition for courses offered by the statewide aerospace training facility.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-4 on Wednesday March 13. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee 11-0 on Tuesday, March 26. Referred to full House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 996 (Senator Kim David and Representative Rhonda Baker) Requires that a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) block course, whether taught at a comprehensive high school or technology center school, when taken in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade, be taught by a certified teacher and approved by the State Board of Education and the independent district board of education to the list of courses eligible to meet the mathematics requirement and the laboratory sciences requirement for high school graduation.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Monday, March 11. Passed House Common Education Committee 17-0 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 1364 (Representative Toni Hasenbeck and Senator Jason Smalley) Directs the State Board of Career and Technology Education, in cooperation with the Department of Labor, to review and approve career-readiness assessments and assessment-based credentials measuring and documenting workplace skills, as funding is available.
Update: Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Re-assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee. Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 15-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the House Floor 91-0 on Wednesday March 12. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-3 on Tuesday, April 2. Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1373 (Representative Zack Taylor and Senator Julie Daniels) Requires all state entities that are charged with oversight of occupational licenses to explicitly list the specific criminal records that would disqualify an applicant from receiving a license or certification. The act allows licensing authorities to only list disqualifying criminal records that are specific and directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation and to only consider valid convictions.
Update: Passed House Business and Commerce Committee 14-0 on Wednesday February 13. Passed off House floor 96-2 on Monday, March 4.  Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 10-0 on Thursday, March 28.


Healthcare

Senate Bill 73 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin Wallace) Updates several governing boards' names and modifies the maximum number of full-time-equivalent employees to the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Select Agencies on Wednesday, February 6. Title stricken Referred to full Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee. Laid over on Wednesday, February 13. Title restored. Passed full Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. February 20. Passed off Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 6. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Committee 28-0 on Wednesday, March 27.

Senate Bill 81 (Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Carl Newton) Requires all information acquired during an investigation into possible violations of the Oklahoma Nursing Act to be kept confidential unless the state introduces the information in administrative proceedings. Public records maintained by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing are to be classified as administrative records. The measure also states that public records maintained by the Board are not subject to discovery or subpoena in any civil or criminal proceedings. The Board may disclose this information to law enforcement and other state agencies as necessary and appropriate in the discharge of the duties of that agency.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 12-0 on Monday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Monday, March 11. Passed House Judiciary Committee 15-0 on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 1018 (Representative Marcus McEntire and Senator Adam Pugh) Directs school districts to provide age appropriate HIV, AIDS and related instruction. Directing the State Department of Education to create or implement medically accurate curriculum.
Update: Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Passed House Common Education Committee 15-0 on Tuesday, February 5. Passed off the House Floor 76-19 Thursday, February 14. Assigned to Senate Education then Senate Appropriations Committees. Passed Senate Education Committee 15-0 on Tuesday, March 27.  Title and emergency clause stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, April 3.

House Bill 1439 (Representative Tom Gann and Senator Jason Smalley) Recreates the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.
Update: Passed House Administrative Rules Committee 9-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off the House Floor 87-0 on Thursday, March 7. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.


Higher Education

Senate Bill 194 (Senator Stephanie Bice and Representative Nicole Miller) Removes the requirement for teacher candidates enrolled in an elementary or early childhood education program to pass a comprehensive assessment to measure their teaching skills in the area of reading instruction.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 15-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off Senate   Floor 47-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Assigned to House Common Education Committee. Laid over on Tuesday, April 2.

Senate Bill 361 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Mark Lepak) Deems the outdoor areas of public institutions of higher education public forums for the campus community. It prohibits public institutions of higher education from creating "free speech zones" or other designated areas of campus outside of which expressive activities are prohibited.
Update: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 8-4 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off the Senate Floor  36-9 on Wednesday March 13. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Reassigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 485 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Creates a sunset date for the Small Business Incubators Incentives Act. The tax exemption ends on tax years after January 1, 2020.
Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 8-1 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed off the Senate Floor 47-0 on Wednesday, February. 20. Assigned to House Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee. Laid over on Monday, April 1.

Senate Bill 597 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates a task force to study how four-year colleges within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education can assist two-year colleges to save money. It provides for membership. It requires the task force to be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 14-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 32-14 on Wednesday March 13. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Second reading rescinded.

Senate Bill 602 (Senator Gary Stanislawski amd Representative Rhonda Baker) Creates a task force to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on efficiencies in operating and governing two-year colleges within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education until July 1, 2020. It provides for membership. It requires appointments to be made within 30 days after the effective date and for the task force to conduct an organization meeting not later than Aug. 31, 2019. It requires the task force to be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. It requires the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to provide staff and administrative support for the task force.
Update: Passed Senate Education Committee 13-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed off Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 4. Passed off the Senate Floor 25-21 on Wednesday March 13. Assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Second reading rescinded.

Senate Bill 804 (Senator Stephanie Bice and Representative Marcus McEntire) Allows a patron to leave the premise with an open container of beer or wine if the act is committed during the hours of 8 a.m. to midnight on the day of a scheduled home football game of institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and the location is within 2,000 feet of the institution or a sponsored single day art or music event within city limits.
Update: Passed Senate Business Commerce and Tourism Committee 8-1 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the Senate Floor 42-4 on Monday, March 11. Assigned to House Business and Commerce Committee.

House Bill 1921 (Representative Derrel Fincher and Senator Julie Daniels) Creates the Oklahomans Virtually Everywhere Act of 2019, directing the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the State Board of Career and Technology Education, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to research and develop a proposal to make Oklahoma a leader in virtual presence.
Update: Assigned to House Government Efficiency Committee. Re-assigned to House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee. Passed House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed Senate Education Committee 12-3 on Tuesday, March 2.

House Bill 2738 (Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson) Repeals the statute creating the State Accrediting Agency, a federally funded state agency to serve Oklahoma veterans after the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944. Upon reassignment of the agencies duties and funding, presumably to another state agency, the receiving agency should receive federal funding adequate to support the additional duties.
Update: Passed out of House and Senate JCAB on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the House Floor 94-0 on Thursday, February 21.


Medical Marijuana/Industrial Hemp

Senate Bill 31 (Senator Wayne Shaw and Representative Ben Loring) Adds measurements in grams to the limits for medical marijuana possession.
Update: Passed Senate Health & Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February18. Passed off Senate Floor 45-0 on Monday, March 4. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 162 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative T.J. Marti) Modifies the qualifications for physicians to sign medical marijuana license applications to include those who are licensed by and in good standing with the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision or the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners rather than only those who are Oklahoma Board certified.
Update: Passed Senate Health & Human Services Committee 13-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 238 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative T.J. Marti) Requires any manufactured product containing cannabidiol to include a label which contains the country of origin of the cannabidiol and whether the cannabidiol is synthetic or natural.
Update: Passed Senate Health & Human Services Committee 13-0 on Monday, February11. Passed off Senate Floor 42-2 on Wednesday, March 6. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 242 (Senator Rob Standridge and Representative Chad Caldwell) Providing for registration and regulation of pain-management clinics.
Update: Passed Senate Health & Human Services Committee 13-0 on Monday, February11. Title stricken. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 305 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Tammy West) Prohibits an employer from refusing to hire, disciplining, discharging or otherwise penalizing an applicant or employee solely on the basis of such applicant's or employee's status as a medical marijuana licensee or on the basis of a positive test for marijuana components.
Update: Passed Senate Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee 11-0 on Thursday February 21. Title stricken. Passed off Senate Floor 35-12 on Thursday, March 14. Title restored. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 307 (Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Carol Bush) Levies an excise tax on retail medical marijuana sales at the rate of 7 percent of the gross sales by the seller.
Update: Passed Senate Finance Committee 7-2 on Tuesday, February19. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 14-7 on Wednesday, February 27. Failed on the Senate Floor 20-23 on Wednesday March 13. Reconsidered, passed off the Senate Floor 36-11 on Thursday, March 14. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 421 (Senator Stephanie Bice and Representative Garry Mize) Modifies prohibited acts under the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. It modifies the penalties for those found in violation of the acts prohibited therein. It requires a person in possession of a substance classified in Schedule I or II, except for marijuana, involving one-quarter of a gram or more of the Schedule I or II substance, upon conviction, to be guilty of a felony, and to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 12-0on Monday, February 11. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 21-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-4 on Thursday, March 15. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee.

Senate Bill 754 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Clarifies language related to medical marijuana. The bill also modifies the apportionment of revenue from the gross receipts tax on medical marijuana. It changes the apportionment of 25 percent of the revenue to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services from the State Department of Health.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-2 on Monday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 755 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Prohibits all marijuana advertising and labels of usable marijuana and marijuana products sold from containing any statement or illustration that is false or misleading; promotes overconsumption; represents that the use of marijuana has curative or therapeutic effects; or depicts a child or other person under legal age to consume marijuana; or includes objects such as toys, cartoon or other characters, which suggest the presence of a child, or any other depiction designed in any manner to be especially appealing to children.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 12-0 on Monday February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor  43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 756 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Requires all medical marijuana and medical marijuana products shall be packaged in child resistant packages as required by the federal Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 9-3 on Monday, February18. Passed off the Senate Floor 43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 758 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Authorizes the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision to issue guidance to all allopathic physicians on the recommending of medical marijuana to patients.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 9-3 on Monday, February18. Passed off the Senate Floor  43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 759 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Prohibits physicians recommending medical marijuana from providing discounts, examining patients at, holding any economic interest in an enterprise associated with, or accepting any form of pay or reward from or to any entity engaged in the medical marijuana industry.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor  43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 760 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Clarifies language related to medical marijuana. The bill requires a short-term medical marijuana license application be made available on the State Department of Health's website that will be granted to any applicant who can meet the requirements for a two-year medical marijuana license, but whose physician recommendation for medical marijuana is only valid for 60 days. It requires the fee for a short-term license and the procedure for extending or renewing the license shall be determined by the Department of Health.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 10-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor  44-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 763 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Clarifies language related to medical marijuana. The bill also permits a physician, when providing a medical marijuana recommendation to set, at his or her discretion, a maximum amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that the patient may purchase each month.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 9-2 on Monday, February18. Passed off the Senate Floor  35-10 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 765 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Prohibits the smoking of marijuana in public places. The bill permits institutions of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to declare themselves marijuana free, including free of marijuana and marijuana products. It exempts from the restrictions on marijuana smoking medical research or treatment centers, if marijuana smoking is integral to the research or treatment.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor  43-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 767 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to address issues related to the medical marijuana program in Oklahoma including, but not limited to, promulgating rules relating to the issuance of patient licenses, medical marijuana business licenses and occupational licenses, and the dispensing, cultivating, processing, testing, transporting, storage, research and the use of and sale of medical marijuana as outlined in State Question No. 788
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the Senate Floor  36-10 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 768 (Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Jon Echols) Requires the State Department of Health to develop and implement a medical marijuana testing program to test medical marijuana and medical marijuana products for contaminants and for concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and any other chemicals deemed necessary by the department.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 19-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the Senate Floor 36-10 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 811 (Senator Jason Smalley and Representative Mark McBride) Prohibits biomedical and clinical medical marijuana research subject to federal regulation and institutional oversight from being subjected to State Department of Health oversight.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 11. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-1 on Thursday, March 14. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 868 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Jon Echols) Allows a grower licensee to engage in the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp from certified seeds for commercial purposes and establishes guidelines for grower licenses.
Update: Passed Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-0 on Thursday, March 14. Assigned to House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

Senate Bill 887 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Allows counties to establish, assess and collect fees from medical marijuana licensees or caregivers who, upon request and approval by the county where the person resides, exceeds the maximum possession limits. The act only authorizes the person to exceed the set limits of possession within the borders of the county.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 44-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 898 (Senator Brent Howard and Representative Charles Ortega) Requires licensed dispensaries enter each medical marijuana license's 24-character identifier into the license verification system at the point of sale to ensure the license is valid and if the license is invalid the sale won't occur. The act also clarifies language.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 12-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed off the Senate Floor 45-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 1030 (Senator Lonnie Paxton and Representative Carol Bush) Clarifies language related to medical marijuana. The bill permits an employer to take action against the holder of a medical marijuana license solely based upon the status of an employee as a medical marijuana license holder or the results of a drug test showing positive for marijuana or its components if the person is employed in a safety-sensitive position.
Update: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 8-4 on Monday, February 25. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor  40-7 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House Rules Committee.

House Bill 1100 (Representative Gary Mize and Senator Stephanie Bice) Redefines transporting with the intent to distribute or dispense and possessing with the intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense from the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act to specifically cover synthetic controlled substances. The act also sets factors that must be involved to prove intent to distribute, dispense or manufacture Schedule I or II drugs, except for marijuana and states at least three of these factors must be present.
Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 8-3 on Thursday, February 28. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 95-5 on Monday, March 11. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, April 1. Referred to full Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1389 (Representative Tammy Townley and Senator J.J Dossett) Adds lighted marijuana or electronic cigarettes or similar devices to the definition of "smoking" in the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act.
Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Re-assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Passed House Public Safety Committee 9-0 on Thursday, February 28. Passed off the House Floor 94-1 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

House Bill 1932 (Representative Robert Manger and Senator Wayne Shaw) Specifies the measurement in grams and ounces of medical marijuana product a licensee can possess.
Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Re-assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Passed House Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Thursday, February 28. Passed off the House Floor 84-2 on Tuesday, March 12. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

House Bill 2601 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Greg McCortney) Clarifies language related to medical marijuana. The bill also authorizes a county to establish, assess and collect fees from medical marijuana licensees or caregivers who, upon request and approval by the county where the person currently resides, exceed the maximum possession limits established in law. It limits the authority granted by a county to a medical marijuana licensee or caregiver to exceed maximum possession limits to apply only within the borders of that county.
Update: Passed House Rules Committee 8-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off the House Floor 90-3 on Wednesday March 13. Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee 12-0 on Monday, April 1.

House Bill 2612 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Greg McCortney) It creates the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority within the State Department of Health to address issues related to the medical marijuana program in Oklahoma including, but not limited to, the issuance of patient licenses, medical marijuana business licenses and occupational licenses, and the dispensing, cultivating, processing, testing, transporting, storage, research, and the use of and sale of medical marijuana.
Update: Passed with a committee substitute House Rules Committee 6-0 on Thursday, February 21. Passed off House Floor 93-5 on Thursday, February 28. Passed Senate Rules Committee 10-0 on Tuesday, March 5. Sent to Governor Stitt. Signed By Governor Stitt on Thursday, March 14.

House Bill 2614 (Representative Jon Echols and Senator Greg McCortney) Clarifies the penalty provision contained in State Question 788 regarding possession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana by a person without a medical marijuana license. It clarifies that the penalty is a citation for an amount not to exceed $400.
Update: Passed House Rules Committee as amended by committee substitute with a vote of 8-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off House floor 92-1 on Tuesday, March 12. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.


Oklahoma’s Promise

House Bill 2227 (Representative Todd Russ and Senator Ron Sharp) Provides Oklahoma Promise eligibility for a child of a parent who died after their tenth grade year and meets adjusted income limits.
Update: Assigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee 7-0 on Thursday, February 28. Title stricken. Passed off House Floor 85-0 on Tuesday, March 12. Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee.


OneNet/Information Technology

Senate Bill 227 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Scott Fetgatter) Creates the Oklahoma Information Services Department Act. The bill creates the Oklahoma Information Services Department, into which the Office of Management and Enterprise Services Information Services Division will be consolidated. Higher Education is exempt.
Update: Passed Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Tuesday, March 12. Passed House Appropriations and Budget, General Government Subcommittee 4-3 on Monday, March 25. Referred to Full House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Senate Bill 1002 (Senator James Leewright and Representative Jon Echols) Creates the Facilitating Internet Broadband Rural Expansion (FIBRE) Act. It prohibits cross-subsidization between a rural electric cooperative electricity services and the provision or operation of emerging communications technologies by such rural electric cooperative or through an affiliate of such rural electric cooperative.
Update: Passed Senate Business Commerce and Tourism Committee 7-2 on Thursday, February 21.Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-7 on Thursday, March 14. Title restored. Assigned to House Utilities Committee.


Public Safety/Campus Safety/Weapons

Senate Bill 24 (Senator Micheal Bergstrom and Representative Jay Steagall) Removes a firearm with an overall length of 26 inches or more from the definition of "pistols" or "handguns" in the Oklahoma Firearms Act of 1971. Changes Definitions of “shotguns” and other weapons based on barrel length.
Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 7-2 on Monday, February 26. Passed off Senate Floor 37-9 on Wednesday, March 6. Passed House Judiciary Committee 15-1 on Tuesday, March 26.

Senate Bill 34 (Senator Wayne Shaw and Representative Harold Wright) Requires OSBI to check the National Instant Criminal Background Check System prior to issuing a Self-Defense Act license. Gives a 90-day window from the date establishing a residence to apply for an Oklahoma handgun license if bringing a license from another state.
Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-0 on Monday, February 25. Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 20-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off Senate Floor 45-0 on Wednesday, March 6. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 708 (Senator Kim David and Representative Jon Echols) Allows the city council or board of trustees for a city or municipality to, through a majority vote, designate personnel who have been issued a handgun license to attend an armed security guard training program or a reserve peace officer certification program.
Update: Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Monday, February 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 40-4 on Tuesday March 12. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Laid over on Thursday, March 28. Passed House Public Safety Committee 7-1 on Thursday, April 4.

House Bill 1214 (Representative Carl Newton and Representative Stephanie Bice) Clarifies language detailing legal residency requirement for an Oklahoma handgun license.
Update: Passed House Judiciary Committee 17-0 on Tuesday, February 26. Passed off House Floor 92-2 on Tuesday, March 4. Title stricken. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-2 on Monday, March 25.

House Bill 2010 (Representative Garry Mize and Senator Kim David) Prohibits the state or any state government entity from creating any order, policy, ordinance or regulation touching in any way firearm and ammunition components.
Update: Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. Re-assigned to House Rules Committee. Passed House Rules Committee with committee substitute 7-0 on Monday, February 25. Passed off House Floor 94-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee 10-0 on Monday, April 1.

House Bill 2336 (Representative Sean Roberts and Senator David Bullard) Allows a board of education of a school district to adopt a policy authorizing persons possessing a valid handgun license to carry a handgun onto school property, provided the individual possess a valid armed security guard license and holds a valid reserve peace officer certification.
Update: Passed House Judiciary Committee 14-2 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed off the House Floor 72-25 on Wednesday, March 14. Assigned to Senate Education Committee.

House Bill 2597 (Representative Jon Echols, and Senator Kim David) Makes Oklahoma a constitutional carry state. The bill permits a person at least 21 years of age or older, or 18 years of age but not yet 21 and a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard or was discharged under honorable conditions, and who is otherwise not disqualified from the possession or purchase of a firearm under state or federal law and is not carrying the firearm in furtherance of a crime to carry a firearm, concealed or unconcealed, loaded or unloaded.
Update: Assigned to House Public Safety Committee. Amended in Committee. Passed House Public Safety Committee 9-2 on Thursday, February 7. Senator Kim David added as principal Senate author and Senator Nathan Dahm added as co-author. Amended on House Floor to allow for Higher Education campus exemptions. Passed House Floor 70-30 on Wednesday, February 13. Passed Senate Appropriations 17-4 Wednesday, February 20. Passed off the House Floor 40-6 on Wednesday, February 27. Signed by Governor Stitt on Wednesday, February 27.


Scholarships

House Bill 1247 (Representative Mark McBride and Senator Dewayne Pemberton) Adds the Oklahoma Tax Commission to the list of entities to which scholarship-granting organizations and educational improvement granting organizations are required to submit an audited financial statement for the organization along with information detailing the benefits, successes or failures of the program. The bill also requires the commission to make publicly available on its website the financial statement and information submitted. The bill requires a scholarship-granting organization to submit certain information annually to the Tax Commission in order to maintain registration.
Update: Committee substitute added operative language. Passed House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee 11-0 on Tuesday, February 12. Passed full House Appropriations and Budget Committee 29-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Title Stricken. Passed off the House Floor 93-0 Wednesday March 13.  Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Finance Committee. Laid over on Tuesday, April 2.

House Bill 1974 (Representative Ross Ford and Senator Darrell Weaver) Authorizes the court to defer payment of all outstanding fines, courts costs and fees in a criminal case for specified persons beginning Nov. 1, 2019. It authorizes a court to waive or reduce all outstanding fines, court costs and fees owed by the person in every felony or misdemeanor case filed in a district court or criminal case filed in a municipal court in Oklahoma upon successful graduation or completion of training and course work required for certification.
Update: Passed House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 26. Title Stricken. Passed off House floor 90-0 on Tuesday March 12. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 2292 (Representative Harold Wright and Senator Darcy Jech) Expands eligibility for individuals to attend law enforcement courses and training at technology center schools and higher education institutions.
Update: Passed House Public Safety Committee 11-0 on Thursday, February 14. Passed off the House Floor 97-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Passed Public Safety Committee 12-0 on Monday, March 25. Passed off the Senate Floor 41-3 on Thursday, March 28. Sent to Governor Stitt for consideration on Monday, April 1. Signed by Governor Stitt on Thursday, April 4.

House Bill 2521 (Representative Tammy West and Senator Chris Kidd) Creates the Oklahoma Educator Loan Repayment Program. It requires the State Department of Education to administer the program. It requires the program, depending upon and limited to available funding, to provide educational loan repayment assistance to Oklahoma certified teachers who agree to work in a school district located in the state designated as a comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) school or targeted support and improvement (TSI) school.
Update: Passed House Common Education Committee 17-0 on Tuesday, February 19. Passed off the House Floor 91-2 on Thursday, March. 7. Assigned to Senate Education Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee.


Teachers Retirement System

Senate Bill 772 (Senator Adam Pugh and Representative Rhonda Baker) Modifies and updates language related to the Teachers' Retirement System. The bill repeals language related to the minimum benefits for members who retire before Aug. 2, 1969.
Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-0 on Monday, February11. Passed Senate Floor 48-0 on Monday, February 18. Passed House Banking, Financial Services, and Pensions Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, March 27.

Senate Bill 844 (Senator Gary Stanislawski and Representative Sean Roberts) Increases the annual maximum contribution to 18.5 percent to a retirement fund established by the board of county commissioners.
Update: Passed Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee 8-0 on Monday, February 25. Title stricken. Passed off the Senate Floor 46-0 on Wednesday, March 13. Assigned to House County and Municipal Government Committee.

House Bill 1090 (Representative Mike Osburn and Senator John Michael Montgomery) Allows the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma to purchase service credits.
Update: Laid over in House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee on Wednesday, February 13. Passed Banking, Financial Services, and Pensions Committee 10-0 on Wednesday, February 20. Title stricken. Passed off the House Floor 96-0 on Thursday, March 7. Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee.

House Bill 1426 (Representative Ben Loring and Senator Greg McCortney) Provides for membership to the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System and the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System by specified full-time firefighters and law enforcement officers employed by federally recognized Native American tribes.
Update: Passed House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Committee 11-0 on Wednesday, February 27. Passed off the House Floor 91-1 on Thursday, March 14. Assigned to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee then to Senate Appropriations Committee.


Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Senate Bill 1042 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin Wallace) Appropriations; making an appropriation to the State Board of Education.
            Update: Filed and assigned to JCAB on Monday, March 25.

Senate Bill 1043 (Senator Roger Thompson and Representative Kevin Wallace) Appropriations; making an appropriation to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Update: Filed and assigned to JCAB Monday, March 25


Thank you.

Glen

Glen D. Johnson
Chancellor
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
405.225.9122
gjohnson at osrhe.edu<mailto:gjohnson at osrhe.edu>

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