Latest news with #OklahomaLegislature
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3 days ago
- Business
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Oklahoma lawmakers were trying to finish for the year. Then everything stopped over this bill
A stalemate dominated what was expected to be the final day of the 2025 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, with a Senate vote to override the governor's veto of a House bill taking five hours and delaying action on 49 other attempted veto overrides. Both legislative chambers remained in session well into the night of Thursday, May 29, and early Friday morning, to handle those overrides – all but two of them eventually succeeded, and those could be considered when the House returns for a final session later Friday morning. Both chambers also voted to approve a resolution to oust state mental health commissioner Allie Friesen. The Senate adjourned sine die, ending its 2025 session, at 12:25 a.m. Friday. By law, the Legislature has to adjourn by 5 p.m. Friday. The marathon Thursday was due to the fact that work in both chambers stalled for hours — from the afternoon until 9:13 p.m. — and only resumed after a Republican legislator in the Senate switched his vote to complete a successful override of House Bill 2769. The measure, authored by Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City, would create a financial assistance program for Oklahoma guard members who enroll in a technology center. It also would create a fund to pay members when they become eligible for retirement benefits from the Defense Finance Accounting Service. It was the first measure the House voted on earlier Thursday when both chambers were voting to override Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetos of bills that had originated in their chambers. Once bills passed their original chambers, the measures moved across the Capitol rotunda to the other chamber. But the tradeoff turned into a stalemate over HB 2769. The House did not act on any vetoed bills until the Senate approved the measure, a process that took hours. What to know: Oklahoma governor signs income tax cut deal It's common practice late in a legislative session for one chamber to not act on a priority of the other chamber until the first chamber's priority is dealt with. Apparently, HB 2769 was such a priority for the Republican-led House. To override a veto, a bill must receive a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, and a three-quarters majority in both chambers if it has an emergency clause attached that would make it take effect immediately. At 4:11 p.m., the Senate opened its override vote for HB 2769, which needed 32 Senate votes to succeed. An initial vote was 30-16, without the votes of two senators – Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Sen. Dana Prieto, R-Tulsa. Pugh was out of state on personal business, a Senate spokesman said – although he arrived in time for the post-midnight votes. Prieto's whereabouts were unknown, although he had been present during a morning session. The margin was just short of the bar needed to pass HB 2769 into law. Bargaining over votes occupied the ensuing hours. About 5:50 p.m., Sen. Nikki Nice of Oklahoma City, one of two Democratic senators who initially had voted no, re-entered the Senate chamber and changed her vote, pushing the tally to 31-15. But about 6:30, Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, switched his vote from 'yes' to 'no.' Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa – at that point her party's lone 'no' vote – came back into the chamber but soon left again without changing her vote. Murdock could be seen conferring in the rotunda with legislative leaders. But as the bell that summons legislators to their chambers echoed through the Capitol for hours, the 30-16 vote remained posted on the electronic board inside the Senate. Murdock then switched his vote back to 'yes', and then Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, switched his vote. Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, who was presiding over the session, quickly closed the vote when the tally reached 32-14. Shortly after 9 p.m., the House voted to suspend its rules to allow food on the floor and to be able to work past midnight. The Senate later did the same. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: This bill sparked a five-hour stalemate in the Oklahoma Legislature
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative resolution seeks the dismissal of Oklahoma mental health commissioner
On the final evening of the 2025 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, two lawmakers have filed a resolution to remove the embattled commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 was filed by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Josh West, R-Tulsa. Copies of the resolution were distributed in the Senate chamber about 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29. By law, the Legislature must adjourn its current session by 5 p.m. Friday. Both chambers remained active Thursday night considering overrides of vetoes issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt. By 8:45 p.m., neither chamber had acted on the resolution to remove Friesen. Stitt appointed Friesen in January 2024 and has defended her work, even as multiple financial issues have engulfed the state agency. The agency is the subject of multiple investigations, both executive and legislative. Legislators had to make a special appropriation for the agency to complete the current fiscal year. According to the resolution, the budget shortfall is about $30 million. An audit conducted by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd's office reported that department staff were made to sign non-disclosure agreements and were discouraged from cooperating with investigators who were trying to unravel the cause of the agency's financial crisis. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has called for Friesen to be removed, citing a 'financial meltdown' of her agency that showed 'nothing short of government malpractice.' 'The House and Senate have the legal authority to hold Friesen accountable for her ineptitude and mismanagement, and I urge every legislator to vote in favor of her removal,' Drummond said Thursday night. Stitt said the controversy surrounding Friesen is "a politically motivated witch hunt.""I tasked Allie Friesen with bringing accountability and transparency to the agency," Stitt said. "She disturbed the status quo and questioned long held practices at the agency. An agency rife with sweetheart deals and criminal elements was disrupted, and now, elected officials are quickly working to set the apple cart right for those who seek to get rich off of Oklahoma taxpayers." He said West and Rosino should ask themselves what they stand to gain by removing Frisen. The resolution said Friesen 'has the duty to oversee the delivery of all prevention, treatment, and education of mental health and substance abuse in the state and to ensure that the agency performs those services while having a budgetary and expenditure methodology that serves not only those Oklahoma citizens in need, but the employees and providers that deliver them.' It goes on to cite the budget shortfall and said, '(T)he Senate and the House of Representatives have lost confidence in Commissioner Friesen to identify, oversee, and manage the critical services delivered by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.' The resolution says the Legislature has a right, under law, to remove Friesen with a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Resolution calls for removal of mental health agency leader
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative resolution seeks the dismissal of Oklahoma mental health commissioner
On the final evening of the 2025 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, two lawmakers have filed a resolution to remove the embattled commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 was filed by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Josh West, R-Tulsa. Copies of the resolution were distributed in the Senate chamber about 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29. By law, the Legislature must adjourn its current session by 5 p.m. Friday. Both chambers remained active Thursday night considering overrides of vetoes issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt. By 8:45 p.m., neither chamber had acted on the resolution to remove Friesen. Stitt appointed Friesen in January 2024 and has defended her work, even as multiple financial issues have engulfed the state agency. The agency is the subject of multiple investigations, both executive and legislative. Legislators had to make a special appropriation for the agency to complete the current fiscal year. According to the resolution, the budget shortfall is about $30 million. An audit conducted by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd's office reported that department staff were made to sign non-disclosure agreements and were discouraged from cooperating with investigators who were trying to unravel the cause of the agency's financial crisis. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has called for Friesen to be removed, citing a 'financial meltdown' of her agency that showed 'nothing short of government malpractice.' 'The House and Senate have the legal authority to hold Friesen accountable for her ineptitude and mismanagement, and I urge every legislator to vote in favor of her removal,' Drummond said Thursday night. Stitt said the controversy surrounding Friesen is "a politically motivated witch hunt.""I tasked Allie Friesen with bringing accountability and transparency to the agency," Stitt said. "She disturbed the status quo and questioned long held practices at the agency. An agency rife with sweetheart deals and criminal elements was disrupted, and now, elected officials are quickly working to set the apple cart right for those who seek to get rich off of Oklahoma taxpayers." He said West and Rosino should ask themselves what they stand to gain by removing Frisen. The resolution said Friesen 'has the duty to oversee the delivery of all prevention, treatment, and education of mental health and substance abuse in the state and to ensure that the agency performs those services while having a budgetary and expenditure methodology that serves not only those Oklahoma citizens in need, but the employees and providers that deliver them.' It goes on to cite the budget shortfall and said, '(T)he Senate and the House of Representatives have lost confidence in Commissioner Friesen to identify, oversee, and manage the critical services delivered by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.' The resolution says the Legislature has a right, under law, to remove Friesen with a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Resolution calls for removal of mental health agency leader
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TSET board plans to sue to stop a new Oklahoma law restructuring its membership
Members of the Oklahoma Legislature listen as Gov. Kevin Stitt gives his State of the State Address in the House chamber of the state Capitol on Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A constitutionally created board charged with overseeing billions of taxpayer dollars plans to sue to block a new law that allows state leaders to alter its makeup at any time. The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust voted 5-0 Thursday to file a lawsuit challenging House Bill 2783. The measure, which became law Thursday without Gov. Kevin Stitt's signature, requires the board appointees to serve at the will of the appointing entity and limits that service to seven years. The board members currently serve seven-year staggered terms. The seven members are appointed by the governor, treasurer, state superintendent, attorney general, state auditor and the leaders of the House and Senate and must have experience in health care or programs benefitting children or seniors. Some Democrats believe the measure is legislative retaliation and an attempt to strip the board of its independence after TSET declined to immediately provide $50 million for a University of Oklahoma children's pediatric heart hospital in Oklahoma City. 'What we are doing here is we are using legislative power to extract retaliation,' said Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, debating against the measure earlier this month. Lawmakers put $200 million toward the project. 'These changes in statute appear to conflict with the Oklahoma Constitution, and the board needs clarity on this issue in order to protect the integrity of the TSET trust and ensure that any changes are consistent with the will of the voters who created TSET,' said Thomas Larson, the agency's spokesperson. Oklahoma voters created TSET, an endowment trust, in 2000 after 46 states sued tobacco companies. The tobacco companies paid states damages for illnesses caused by smoking. TSET's Board of Investors invests the funds. The earnings, which have grown to about $2 billion, are used to support efforts to improve health. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers move to overturn dozens of Gov. Stitt vetos in last-minute push
On what was most likely the final day of the 2025 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, lawmakers moved aggressively on votes to override bills vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, hoping to turn those otherwise-dead bills into new laws. The last-minute push on Thursday, May 29, marked the final chapter of a four-month session that started with the governor's calls for a tax cut and ended with him signing a bill to do just that. The Republican-controlled Legislature also moved to curb the power of Oklahoma's top schools official, remediate the financial crisis at the state's mental health agency and drastically change the state's citizen-led initiative petition process. While Stitt had acknowledged that lawmakers would close out their time at the Capitol by attempting to override at least some of the 68 bills he had vetoed through the morning on May 29, he responded critically when the time came for the Legislature to act. He called on Oklahomans to track how his fellow Republican lawmakers vote on the veto overrides — and use that information to decide which candidate to choose in the 2026 election cycle. Some of the bills vetoed by the governor included efforts to expand insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and beef up state resources devoted to investigating the disappearances and killings of Indigenous Oklahomans. Stitt said in a video posted online Thursday, May 29, that he had only rejected bills that were "bad for Oklahoma" and "bad for taxpayers" and blamed special interest groups for trying to undo his decisions. "Just because people have an 'R' by their name when they're running, you've got to know how they're voting, and today is the tell-tale sign," Stitt said in the video, apparently recorded in his state Capitol office. "Do they believe in freedoms and limited government, or do they believe in bigger government and whatever the lobbyist crowd want around this building?" Lawmakers responded to Stitt's call by casting vote after vote in a coordinated attempt to override dozens of his vetos. In both chambers, legislators sped through veto overrides, not asking questions or debating before a vote. "Evidently, since the governor has called for all of us to be primaried that overrides vetoes today, and his staff can't seem to read a bill correctly and they vetoed my bill, I make a motion to override the veto," said Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, when he moved to override Stitt's veto of House Bill 2459, a bill that deals with fire safety standards on food trucks. Rep. Melissa Provenzano received a standing ovation from legislators of both parties after they voted 83-3 to override Stitt's veto of the bipartisan bill to expand insurance coverage for breast cancer screening. The Democratic representative from Tulsa, who's been diagnosed with breast cancer, smiled and wiped tears from her eyes as her colleagues congratulated her on the success of House Bill 1389. At another point, as House lawmakers considered voting to override Stitt's veto of House Bill 1592, Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, asked Rep. John George, R-Newalla: "Do you suppose the governor and his staff perhaps are using something like ChatGPT to decide which bills to veto?" That vote to override Stitt's veto of that bill, which aims to curb organized retail crime, passed 93-0 in the House. To override a veto, a bill must receive a two-thirds majority in both chambers, and a three-quarters majority in both chambers if it has an emergency clause attached that would make it take effect immediately. By midday May 29, more than three dozen bills had been overridden in at least one chamber and passed across the Capitol rotunda to the other chamber. It remained unknown as of publication time May 29 how many vetoed bills would ultimately pass both chambers and become law over Stitt's objections. By law, the Legislature must adjourn its regular session by Friday, May 30. More: Oklahoma governor vetoes MMIP bill, saying investigators shouldn't prioritize cases 'based on race' One of the vetoed bills that lawmakers were working to restore was House Bill 2769. Among other things, the bill would create the Oklahoma National Guard Career Center Assistance Program, which would provide financial assistance to Oklahoma guard members who enroll in a technology center. It also would create a fund to pay members when they become eligible for retirement benefits from the Defense Finance Accounting Service. The House also voted to override Stitt's veto of House Bill 1137, which would remove the federal funding requirement for an Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The law would authorize state funding for the office, which was created by Ida's Law, a measure signed by Stitt in 2021 allowing the state to seek federal funding to combat the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous Oklahomans through a designated investigative unit. The law was named after Oklahoman Ida Beard, a mother of four and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe who was 29 when she went missing in 2005. In a veto message issued May 5 — widely recognized as a national day of awareness for the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis — Stitt said he could not back HB 1137 because it "prioritizes cases based on race." In the Senate, members voted 33-14 to override Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 574, would give the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board additional flexibility in determining opioid abatement grant eligibility and would add public colleges and universities as eligible grant recipients. Attorney General Gentner Drummond, an announced candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial election, had criticized the veto, saying in a news release it would fuel the state's opioid crisis and result in preventable deaths. In his veto message, Stitt said the bill 'would expand the Attorney General's discretionary authority over settlement agreements in opioid-related litigation (and) would hand even more power to someone who has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to abuse it.' The Senate also voted to 38-9 to override Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 687. The bill would transfer administrative duties related to the sales tax rebate program for broadband equipment purchases to the Oklahoma Broadband Office from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The measure also would create a revolving fund for the rebate and seed it with $15 million. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers attempting to overturn dozens of Stitt's vetoes
