Legislative Bill Status

The status of some of the major legislation in the 2005 session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature as of May 13: <br/><br/>HB 1218 by Newport _ Transportation. Would divert up to $170 million in motor vehicle

Saturday, May 14th 2005, 11:56 am

By: News On 6

The status of some of the major legislation in the 2005 session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature as of May 13:

HB 1218 by Newport _ Transportation. Would divert up to $170 million in motor vehicle tag revenue deposited into the general fund each year for road and bridge maintenance and construction. Amended and passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee; passed by House; referred to Senate Finance Committee; withdrawn from Finance Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee; passed by Appropriations Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments; Senate amendments rejected and conference requested; conference granted; Senate names General Conference Committee on Appropriations as conferees.

HB 1243 by Piatt _ Guns. Would exempt businesses from legal liability if a gun that is stored in a locked vehicle at a worksite parking lot is used to injure or kill someone at a work site. Approved by House Judiciary Committee; amended and passed by House; amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee; passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments; Senate amendments rejected and conference requested; conference granted; Senate names conferees.

HB 1426 by Duncan _ Lemon Law. Would strengthen consumer protections for car and truck buyers. Amended and passed by House Rules Committee, passed by House; referred to Senate Business and Labor Committee; withdrawn from Business and Labor Committee and referred to Judiciary Committee; passed by Judiciary Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments; Senate amendments rejected and conference requested; conference granted; House and Senate name conferees.

HB 1686 by Hamilton _ Abortion. Would create an informed consent law requiring that women be given pertinent information about the consequences of abortion before receiving one and would subject people who attack pregnant women and kill a fetus to criminal charges. Would also require women under 18 to receive permission from a parent before obtaining an abortion. Amended and passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee; amended and passed by full House; passed by Senate Health and Human Resources Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; House accepts Senate amendments and passes bill; sent to governor

HB 1780 by Rousselot _ Operation Homefront. The Oklahoma National Guard Relief Program would pay for approved expenses of qualified members of the Army and Air National Guards from funds donated by taxpayers from state income tax refunds. Approved by House Revenue and Taxation Committee and House; amended and passed by Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation; amended and passed by Appropriations Committee; passed by full Senate; returned to House for consideration of Senate amendments; Senate amendments rejected and conference requested; conference granted; Senate names General Conference Committee on Appropriations as conferees; House names conferees.

HB 2047 by Hiett _ Lawsuit Reform. The Justice and Common Sense Act of 2005 seeks to make it easier for plaintiffs with strong cases to win on summary judgment rather than go to trial, limit contingency fees for lawyers in class action lawsuits and limit damages for pain and suffering. Amended and approved by House Judiciary Committee; passed by House; amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee; amended and passed by full Senate; referred to House for consideration of Senate amendments; Senate amendments rejected and conference requested; House names conferees.

SB 545 by Shurden _ Motor Fleet. The Fleet Management Reform Act would change the way Oklahoma purchases, manages and disposes of state-owned vehicles. Approved by Appropriations General Government and Transportation Subcommittee; approved by Committee on Appropriations; passed by Senate; amended and passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee; amended and passed by full House; referred to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments read; House amendments rejected and conference requested; Senate names conferees.

SB 821 by Bass _ Operation Homefront. Would provide coverage of up to $250,000 under the Serviceman's Group Life Insurance plan for military members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard. Amended and approved by the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation; approved by Senate Committee on Appropriations; passed by Senate; amended and passed by House Appropriations and Budget Committee; passed by full House; returned to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments read; House amendments rejected and conference requested; Senate names conferees.

SB 846 by Laster _ Workers' Compensation. Gov. Brad Henry's workers' compensation reform plan proposes to cut medical costs through better management, discourage litigation and ``dueling doctors,'' promote mediation and early settlements, change state policy on ``sprains and strains'' and promote workplace safety. Amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee; passed by Senate; amended and passed by House Judiciary Committee; passed by full House; referred to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments rejected and conference requested.

SB 958 by Gumm _ Tax Cuts. Gov. Brad Henry's Oklahoma Growth and Taxpayer Fairness Act is a $163 million program that would provide individual income tax rebates of up to $100 this year and reduce estates taxes, income taxes of retirees, capital gains taxes of businesses and sales taxes on back-to-school purchases. Amended and passed by Senate Finance Committee; amended and passed by Senate; passed by House Revenue and Taxation Committee; referred to House; withdrawn from calendar and returned to Revenue and Taxation Committee; amended and passed by Revenue and Taxation Committee; amended and passed by full House; referred to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments read; House amendments rejected and conference requested; Senate names conferees.

SB 977 by Adelson _ Prescription Drugs. The Prescription Drug Reimportation Act would allow pharmacies to buy cheaper drugs from Canada providing they are approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Approved by Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Social Services; approved by Senate Committee on Appropriations; passed by Senate; amended and passed by House Health and Human Services Committee, amended and passed by full House; referred to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments read; House amendments rejected and conference requested; Senate names conferees.

SB 982 by Morgan _ Education. Gov. Brad Henry's $114 million public education initiative focuses on raising teacher salaries, fully funding all-day kindergarten and college scholarships and higher student achievement and accountability. Referred to Senate Rules Committee; withdrawn from Rules Committee and referred to Committee on Appropriations; approved by Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; amended and passed by Senate Committee on Appropriations; passed by Senate; referred to House Common Education Committee; withdrawn from Common Education Committee and referred to House Appropriations and Budget Committee; amended and passed by Appropriations and Budget Committee; amended and passed by full House; referred to Senate for consideration of House amendments; House amendments read; House amendments rejected and conference requested; Senate names conferees.