Cities & Towns

2010 Oklahoma Legislative Bills and Measures

By Adam Knapp, About.com Guide

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Here's a breakdown of a few select proposed bills for the 2010 Legislative Session, along with the known status of each. This will be a growing list throughout the legislative session. Head to the OKC Discussion Forum to give your opinions. Or add more that you think are important for the future of our state by sending me details by e-mail.

Eliminate Lottery to Education Percentage Requirement
Bill: Senate Bill 1279
Author: Sen. Richard Lerblance (D-Hartshorne)
Purpose: In response to declining Oklahoma Lottery sales, SB 1279 would remove the requirement that 35 percent of sales go to education. The bill, the author says, would allow lottery officials to increase payouts to attract players.
Status: Proposed
Official State Cowboy Song
Bill: Senate Bill 1291
Author: Sen. Harry Coates (R-Seminole)
Purpose: Similar to Oklahoma's recent official rock song pursuits, this bill would call for the Oklahoma Historical Society to hold a statewide contest to choose the official state "cowboy song."
Status: Proposed
Add School Supplies to State's Sales Tax Holiday
Bill: Senate Bill 1268
Author: Sen. Mike Mazzei (R-Tulsa)
Purpose: Once again in 2010, some legislators are pushing to add schools supplies to the sales tax holiday that currently only includes clothing.
Status: Proposed
Reducing Turnpike Speed of Trucks
Bill: Senate Bill 1317
Author: Rep. Earl Garrison (D-Muskogee)
Purpose: Written in response to a June 26 accident on the Will Rogers Turnpike that killed 10, Garrison's proposal would reduce the commercial truck speed on turnpikes from 75 to 65 miles per hour.
Status: Proposed
Allow Bible Class in Public High Schools
Bill: Senate Bill 1338
Author: Sen. Tom Ivester (D-Elk City)
Purpose: Ivester says SB 1338 would allow high school elective courses on the Bible and its impact on history and literature. He has anticipated some objections by noting the courses wouldn't be "the teaching of religion."
Status: Proposed
Later School Start Date
Bill: Senate Bill 1852
Author: Sen. Joe Sweeden (D-Pawhuska)
Purpose: Sweeden seeks to push back the start of public schools to the last full week in August. The change, he says, would save districts money in cooling costs, and there would be no effect on either the length of the school year or Christmas break.
Status: Proposed
Abortion Discrimination
Bill: Senate Bill 1891
Author: Sen. Todd Lamb (R-Edmond)
Purpose: Under SB 1891, health care employees who do not want to participate in performing abortions, research on human embryos or assisted suicide could not be discriminated against.
Status: Proposed
Commission on Wrongful Convictions
Bill: Senate Bill 2208
Author: Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City)
Purpose: If passed, SB 2208 would establish the "Oklahoma Commission on Wrongful Convictions," a committee tasked with reviewing possible wrongful convictions, identifying justic system weaknesses and proposing potential remedies.
Status: Proposed
Increased Restrictions on Divorce
Bill: House Bill 2279
Author: Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City)
Purpose: If passed, HB 2279 would make getting a divorce a bit more difficult in certain circumstances. The bill would eliminate the incompatibility grounds when there are living minor children in the marriage, the parties have been married 10 years or longer, or if either party files a written objection to the divorce. Exceptions are for cases of abuse or adultery.
Status: Proposed
Pre-marital Counseling
Bill: House Bill 2364
Author: Rep. Mark McCullough (R-Sapulpa)
Purpose: Couples would be required to obtain a minimum of eight hours of pre-marital counseling before being issued an Oklahoma marriage license under HB 2364. In addition, couples completing 20 or more hours could obtain a license at $5 rather than $50.
Status: Proposed
Teacher Merit Pay Pilot
Bill: House Bill 2836
Author: Rep. Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville)
Purpose: HB 2836 would create a teacher merit-based pay pilot program and award six grants for the 2010-2011 school year, subject to funding.
Status: Proposed
Texting While Driving Ban
Bill: House Bill 3250
Author: Rep. Sue Tibbs (R-Tulsa), Rep. Danny Morgan (D-Prague)
Purpose: Drivers would be required to use hands-free devices when talking on cell phones if HB 3250 passes. In addition, the bill would ban texting while driving.
Status: Proposed