Controversial Bills Become State Law During Deadline Week At The Capitol

It was a long and contentious deadline week at the Oklahoma state Capitol. Thursday was the deadline for most bills to have passed both the state House and Senate.

Protestors made their voices heard this week. One group shut down House business for about 10 minutes, objecting to two bills signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt this week.

One new law provides legal cover to motorists fleeing a riot. The other limits some photos of police that could be used as harassment.

Second Amendment activists rallied at the Capitol, calling on Senate leaders to take up a bill that would allow the legislature to declare federal laws and executive orders unconstitutional.

The state Second Amendment association called on Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) to resign, but the group later apologized.

After 22 town hall meetings, public map submissions and input from every state lawmaker, legislative leaders released their proposed redistricting maps calling it “the most transparent redistricting in state history.”

The House passed a bill pumping $38 million dollars in medical marijuana taxes into the state's poorest school districts. It now goes to the Senate.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed more than 160 bills into law this week, including Ida's Law which directs the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to coordinate with federal authorities to solve cases involving murdered or missing Indigenous people.

Three bills aiming to restrict access to abortion remain on Gov. Stitt’s desk awaiting his signature or veto after clearing the Senate. If Stitt does not act by next Tuesday, the bills automatically become law.