2008 Oklahoma Legislative Bills and Measures

There's plenty on the plate for Oklahoma lawmakers in 2008. Here's a breakdown of some of the proposed bills for the 2008 Legislative Session along with the known status of each. This will be a growing list throughout the legislative session.

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• Treatment of Lottery Money for Education

  Bill: House Bill 1441
  Author: Rep. Gary Banz (R-Midwest City)
  Purpose: HB 1441 would change the way lottery money is distributed. Instead of relying on projects, proceeds for schools would not be given out until it's actually collected and distributed based on student numbers.
  Status: Failed in Senate Committee

• "Oklahoma Clean Campaigns Act" Creation

  Bill: House Bill 2196
  Author: Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City)
  Purpose: This measure bans campaign contributions to legislators during a legislative sessions. It would also prohibit transfers of contributions from one fundraising committee to another and make it to where legislators couldn't use these funds for anything other than a campaign.
  Status: Senate Amendments Rejected by House, In Conference

• Increase Fine for Speeding in Highway Work Zones

  Bill: House Bill 2474
  Author: Rep. Purcy Walker (D-Elk City)
  Purpose: Any person convicted of speeding by 15mph or more would be considered to be "endangering a highway worker" under House Bill 2474 and face a fine of up to $1000. If an injury results to a highway worker, the fine could be nearly 5 times that amount, 10 times if the incident causes the death of a highway worker.
  Status: Passed Senate, Amended Sent Back to House

• Eliminating Sales Tax on College Textbooks

  Bill: House Bill 2493
  Author: Rep. Wes Hilliard (D-Sulphur)
  Purpose: The heading tells it all. House Bill 2493 would eliminate all local and state sales tax on college textbooks with the aim of lessening the cost of higher education.
  Status: Not Heard by House

• Students Carrying Guns on College Campus

  Bill: House Bill 2513
  Author: Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie)
  Purpose: This hotly debated piece of legislation would allow students and faculty who are active military or were honorably discharged from the military, National Guard or reserves to carry concealed guns on college campuses in Oklahoma. A number of college and university leaders have come out in opposition, saying it will make campuses more dangerous, while supporters point to incidents at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois, claiming a trained firearm carrier could prevent deaths.
  Status: Was Not Heard

• "Oklahoma Commission on Aging" Creation

  Bill: House Bill 2529
  Author: Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee)
  Purpose: If passed, this bill would create the Oklahoma Commission on Aging, a state body capable of establishing offices to review the many programs for senior citizens and assist Oklahoma seniors in receiving benefits.
  Status: In Committee

• Smoking Around Minors

  Bill: House Bill 2589
  Author: Rep. Ken Luttrell (D-Ponca City)
  Purpose: HB 2589 aims to make it illegal to smoke in an automobile if minors are in it or seat minors in a restaurant smoking section. A fine of up to $100 is proposed for violations. Arkansas, California and Louisiana are said to have similar laws.
  Status: Not Heard by House

• "Peeping Tom" Photograph/Video Law

  Bill: House Bill 2606
  Author: Rep. Pam Peterson (R-Tulsa)
  Purpose: Designed to close a loophole that makes it difficult to prosecute those who take photos or video in public places, House Bill 2606 makes it illegal to take pictures or video of someone for a lewd purpose.
  Status: Passed House and Senate, Signed by Governor

• Smoking Cessation Insurance Coverage

  Bill: House Bill 2868
  Author: Rep. Mike Shelton (D-Oklahoma City)
  Purpose: If approved, HB 2868 would make the supply of smoking cessation medication and services a mandatory coverage from insurance companies with a recommendation or prescription from a doctor or licensed health care provider.
  Status: Not Heard by House

• Teenage Cell Phone Use While Driving

  Bill: House Bill 2964
  Author: Rep. Danny Morgan (D-Prague)
  Purpose: Teenagers would not be allowed to use cell phones or send text messages while driving if HB 2964 is passed. The proposal calls for a fine of $25 for a violation and contains exemptions for emergency situations.
  Status: Failed to Advance Out of Committee

• Uninsured Driver Penalties

  Bill: House Bill 3380
  Author: Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee)
  Purpose: This bill limits potential insurance awards for drivers involved in an accident while not possessing proper automobile insurance. Under HB 3380, uninsured motorists could not collect any "Pain and suffer" damages. There is an exception for an uninsured motorist struck by a drunk driver.
  Status: Passed House, Sent to Senate

• Requiring Identification for Voting

  Bill: Senate Bill 1150
  Author: Rep. John Ford (R-Bartlesville)
  Purpose: More than one legislative measure seeks to accomplish the same as HB 1150 in 2008, requiring Oklahomans to show identification to vote. Without identification, voters could sign a statement under oath that they are who they claim to be.
  Status: Held for Consideration

• Sale of Cough Syrup and Spray Paint

  Bill: Senate Bill 1794
  Author: Sen. Charlie Laster (D-Shawnee)
  Purpose: Products containing "DMX" (dextromenthorphorpha) could not be sold to minors under 18 years old under Laster's bill, an attempt to halt teenagers from using these products to get high. Penalties for persons selling the items could reach as high as $2500 for multiple offenses.
  Status: Amended and Passed House, Back to Senate

• Expand 2003 Smoking Ban

  Bill: Senate Bill 1875
  Author: Sen. David Myers (R-Ponca City)
  Purpose: In 2003, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a law banning smoking in public places, leaving exceptions for locations such as bars without food service, cigar bars and up to 25 percent of hotel rooms. If passed, SB 1875 would eliminate those exceptions and give restaurants with separately ventilated smoking rooms until 2013 to become completely non-smoking.
  Status: Not Heard by Senate

* Legislative information obtained from the official Oklahoma Legislature website. Page last updated 5/9/08.