Recap of bills signed into law
This was a busy legislative session. Ultimately we sent 483 measures to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law. This was 18 percent of the 2,673 measures available this year.
Four of the bills I authored this session are now law.
House Bill 1006 requires schools to give an excused absence to students participating in 4-H activities recognized by the county 4-H facilitator. This is a big win for 4-H members who will be allowed to make up any missed work and their grades cannot be negatively affected when they are out for an approved activity.
House Bill 1010 relates to the Central Purchasing Act. It allows a state agency to purchase equipment from a local business if they can acquire what they need at or below state contract pricing. This was a request from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Department of Tourism. It will keep these and other agencies from having to go out of state for purchases, and will help places like Wister State Park and rural counties that might not have quick access to large suppliers.
Senate Bill 426 would prohibit the state from enforcing any mandates or recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN) or the World Economic Forum (WEF). These include mask and vaccine mandates, medical testing and the gathering of public or private information. This safeguards the liberties and rights of Oklahomans from mandates imposed by these international organizations.
Senate Bill 1442 extends permit renewals for poultry waste applications from one year to five years for $75. The constituents requesting this bill said this will be much more convenient. All regulations regarding the spread of the poultry litter remain in place.
Two resolutions I authored were approved and filed with the Secretary of State.
House Resolution 1037 remembers the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
House Resolution 1042 declares the State of Oklahoma is a sovereign governmental entity and the people of the state have fundamental rights, which should not be subject to the influence of nongovernmental entities such as the WHO, the UN or the WEF. The resolution notes these organizations should have no jurisdiction in our state nor our political subdivision such as counties, cities, towns, precincts, water districts, school districts and more. This goes along with SB426.
Now that the 59th Legislature has adjourned, I’m looking to the future.
I drew no opponent in this year’s elections, so I will be returning to the House of Representatives for two more years. I am proud to continue to serve the people that make up House District 3.
Even though we’ve adjourned from our session, I am still fully available to my constituents. Feel free to continue to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at [email protected].
Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
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