Latest news with #HouseBill1137
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers overrides Stitt's veto of the Missing Murder Indigenous Persons funding
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma lawmakers overrode Gov. Kevin Stitt and passed the bill allowing state funding for the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. Earlier this month, Stitt vetoed the bipartisan bill saying, that while he supports efforts to solve missing persons and homicide cases, he could not endorse legislation that singles out victims based solely on their race. The unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will focus exclusively on missing and murdered American Indians. Rep. Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa, who authored the bill, celebrated the veto override. 'Today, the Oklahoma Legislature demonstrated its unwavering commitment to justice and accountability by overriding the Governor's veto of House Bill 1137. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in both chambers–Democrats and Republicans–who stood together to prioritize the safety and dignity of Indigenous communities across our state. Rep. Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa This vote is more than a legislative victory–it is a moral affirmation that missing and murdered Indigenous persons will not be forgotten or ignored in Oklahoma, he said. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., and the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma praised the lawmakers. 'This is a powerful and heartfelt step forward in the fight for justice,' said Margo Gray, Executive Director of United Indian Nations of Oklahoma. 'We are profoundly grateful to the legislators in both chambers who stood with Native families, survivors, and advocates across Oklahoma.' According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. However, the agency reported that NamUs only logged 116 cases, a significantly lower number than the number reported by the federal agency. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation lists just 88 missing American Indians, including many Cherokee residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missing, murdered Indigenous people are a slient epidemic in Oklahoma
Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People MMIP cases, with 85 tribal members currently missing, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. On May 5, a day meant to honor those missing and murdered Indigenous people, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed House Bill 1137. The bipartisan amendment to Ida's Law removed the requirement to request federal funding, allowing the state to fund the Office of Liaison for MMIP. The veto consequently denies critical resources needed to bring loved ones home and to provide justice. Ida's Law is named after Ida Beard, a Cheyenne and Arapaho woman who went missing in Oklahoma in 2015. The law took effect in 2021 and was intended to address systematic issues impacting MMIP cases. Ida's Law created a formal infrastructure for MMIP cases and required the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to have a liaison to work with tribal governments and families to help coordinate investigations, limiting bureaucratic delays. Gov. Stitt's veto is the latest example of persistent institutional failures that cause untold harm and tragic consequences. As president and founder of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Chahta (MMIW-Chahta), I have spent my life learning the real stories and meeting the families behind these devastating statistics and the institutional barriers that affect MMIP cases in our state. This crisis is a result of generational trauma, media mishandling, insufficient reporting and a lack of investigative resources to protect the disproportionately affected members of our communities. Rampant racial misclassification also means even more Native people may be missing, but their cases don't officially count. More: Oklahoma governor vetoes MMIP bill, saying investigators shouldn't prioritize cases 'based on race' As our nation reflects during National Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Month, we must confront the deep-rooted neglect and societal indifference that has perpetuated for centuries. We must keep fighting for those we love and have lost. House Bill 1137 received overwhelming support in both houses, demonstrating Oklahomans' desire to help those impacted by this crisis. In joining that effort, support Native organizations fighting for justice, amplify the voices of advocates and ― most importantly ― share their stories. Don't forget the individuals behind the statistics. Oklahoma positions itself as a center for Native culture and pride. We must also lead the nation in the fight for justice for Native people. Karrisa Newkirk is the President and Founder of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Chahta. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tribal women ignored in Stitt's veto of bipartisan bill | Opinion
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Red flag expungements, buffer zones move through Senate committee
Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, introduces his bill to allow for red flag expungements in committee on March 4, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana's thousands of law enforcement officers were the focus of a Senate corrections committee on Tuesday, as legislators parsed through concerns about red flag laws and 'buffer zones.' The Hoosier State's red flag law allows police to temporarily remove firearms from people considered 'dangerous,' with an aim to curb gun violence. But Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, said the designation doesn't disappear after a case is resolved, leaving a 'scarlet letter.' Under House Bill 1137, records will be sealed and expunged if a court later decides someone isn't dangerous. The measure passed the House unanimously in January. But, Smaltz clarified, 'there's no double jeopardy. This person can (again) be found to be dangerous later.' The committee questioned whether law enforcement officers could see expunged red flag records, similar to how they can access expunged criminal records. Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, vowed to file a second reading amendment if such language appeared to be unclear in order to codify law enforcement access to expunged red flag records. The bill had unanimous support from the committee and testimony, which focused on the adverse impact a lingering red flag designation can have on someone. 'I've handled a lot — dozens and dozens and dozens — of red flag cases over the years,' said Guy Relford, an attorney who focuses on second amendment issues. 'This is a civil proceeding … therefore there's currently no expungement process. And in real situations, with real cases and real people, this has cost people jobs. It's cost people volunteer opportunities.' The proposal now moves to the full Senate for further consideration. Another bill before the committee sought to fix 'vagueness' in the state's 25-foot 'buffer zone' law, under which a law enforcement officer can order someone to stand back during police duties. Author Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, said House Bill 1122 was a direct response to conflicting court decisions related to the 2023 law. One federal court concluded that the law was constitutional while another federal judge called the law unconstitutionally vague. CONTACT US 'It requires law enforcement that is legally engaged in their duties, who reasonably believes the presence of a person interferes, they may order a person to stop. And after that person has been asked to stop, or warned to stop, and that person knowingly, intentionally approaches, can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor,' said McNamara. Plainfield Police Chief Kyle Prewitt likened the law to a rowdy patron at a local sporting event that provided 'a measure of safety' to officers and the community. 'I kind of draw a similarity between this and a youth sporting event where a member of the crowd is being a little two boisterous. Nobody would bat an eye at an official telling that person to be quiet. (Or) if they didn't then be quiet, to ask them to leave,' said Prewitt. 'And if it came to it, to have them escorted out of the facility. I think it is very similar to that.' The committee approved the measure unanimously. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislative leaders talk post-moratorium gambling expansions, more bills reach halfway point
The General Assembly's GOP leaders answer reporter questions after the State of the State Address on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. From left: Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, House Speaker Todd Huston. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Just six months after a former Indiana lawmaker was sentenced to a year in federal prison for gambling-related corruption, industry expansion proposals are moving through the Legislature. The state's top two lawmakers say despite the controversy, they can't ignore the industry any longer. Last session, they agreed to take a break from legislation. 'I have no defense of my former colleague,' Republican House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters on Thursday. Ex-Rep. Sean Eberhart was nabbed for accepting a lucrative job opportunity with a gambling company Spectacle Entertainment in exchange for supporting legislation in 2019 – and pushing for advantageous changes – that benefited the company. Another former lawmaker was sentenced in 2022 for gambling-related election finance schemes. Still, Huston said, 'We just can't stand still … Like any … industry that is an important component of our state, there should be continual discussions about what ends up happening.' His caucus isn't standing still. A House GOP bill legalizing online lottery and casino gambling – which could quickly earn casinos and the state millions – advanced through committee on Tuesday. So did legislation allowing taverns, charitable organizations and others to use electronic pull tabs. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said that Eberhart's conviction 'never leaves my mind' when it comes to bills concerning the gambling industry. He added that lawmakers need to be particularly mindful about such legislation and its impacts. 'Obviously, gaming is a big industry in the state of Indiana … a challenging industry, but an industry that's very helpful to the state of Indiana,' Bray said. But when it came to expansions, such as iGaming, Bray said he put more emphasis on good policymaking over whether an action could bring in additional revenue. Leaders have urged their colleagues to be fiscally restrained this budget cycle after a December forecast predicted only moderate growth over the next two years. 'I don't think it's good policy to chase revenue. I think you have to decide what the right policy is and then maybe the revenue comes,' Bray said. 'But if you're chasing revenue that way, you're probably not making good policy decisions.' A Senate bill allowing the relocation of a casino license is facing a tougher path. The author pulled the bill during committee on Wednesday, then told the Capital Chronicle that he doesn't intend to allow a vote, citing strong opposition. In the House, lawmakers unanimously approved legislation on the state's red flag law and school absenteeism after tussling over charter changes to an education deregulation proposal. House Bill 1137, which makes it easier to expunge red flag law records, moved on a 91-0 vote. The law allows police to temporarily remove firearms from people considered 'dangerous,' in an effort to prevent gun violence. But for people who are eventually found harmless, the records of the process don't go away. 'The problem is: that is never expunged from your record, because it's a civil action and it becomes a sort of a scarlet letter,' said author Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn. Prospective employers may research job candidates and find the records, but not see that the applicant was cleared. His legislation would require that, if a court decides someone isn't dangerous, related records must be sealed and expunged. If the court later clears someone who was previously found dangerous, the court can choose to order that the person's records be sealed and expunged. The bill next heads to the Senate for a committee hearing. So does a measure dealing with absenteeism in schools, which advanced on an 87-0 vote. House Bill 1201 requires the Indiana Department of Education to create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and chronic absenteeism, among other tasks. It also bars schools from suspending or expelling students solely for being habitually truant or chronically absent. Students are considered truant if they miss 10 or more days of school without an excuse; they're labeled as chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year, regardless of whether it is excused. Lawmakers also spent nearly an hour accepting and defeating changes to House Bill 1002, an omnibus education deregulation measure and a priority for the House Republican caucus. It repeals, loosens or eliminates some existing requirements related to teacher training, professional development, school programming, administrative duties, and school boards, among other changes. It also deletes some expired education provisions. Among the accepted amendments was one ditching annual performance requirements for charter schools and economic disclosure mandates for charter board members. Over in the Senate, a bill placing conditions on fishing practices related to minnows easily passed the chamber on a 44-4 vote, with two Democrats and two Republicans nixing the measure. Minnows may be caught with a net and used as bait under current law, but certain immigrant communities have allegedly fished not just for sport but also for consumption. 'Individuals are using nets in ways that are incredibly harmful … (and) just decimate sections of water,' said author Sen. Spencer Deery. The West Lafayette Republican introduced his legislation with praise for immigrants but warned that 'inadequate assimilation' could be detrimental. The legislation would make it easier for conservation officers to restrict minnow trapping and protect fish populations, he said. The bill now moves to the House. Senior Reporter Casey Smith contributed. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
