Halfway mark in Oklahoma legislative session: What's moving in the Senate and House?

The second deadline of the 2025 legislative session is this Thursday, March 27th, when lawmakers will hit the halfway point of their work. Dozens of bills are on the agendas in both the House and Senate, and legislators are expected to work late nights all week.

Any bill that is not heard by the end of the day Thursday, will not be moving forward this year.

Three bills passed off the House and Senate floors Monday: 

Senate Bill 632: Creating Business Courts

1. Senate Bill 632 would create “business courts,” a special division within any judicial district of more than 500,000 people. Right now, that only includes Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. 
2. “This is just a specialized court that would be able to address those complex litigation matters to take out of dockets that are otherwise backlogged,” said Sen. Brent Howard, (R) Altus.
3. The legislation passed off the Senate floor with a vote of 40-6. It now heads to the house for consideration.

Senate Bill 595: Creating Jail Standards

1. SB 595 requires each facility to develop policies for the uniform admission and release of inmates, sensible security measures, maintenance of sanitary conditions, provision of wholesome and adequate diets, and the provision of adequate bedding and clothing, among other standard procedures.
2. The measure also provides that the State Department of Health shall inspect detention facilities at least once a year to ensure compliance.
3. “The Oklahoma Jail Standards Act will establish clear guidelines for operations at Oklahoma’s detention facilities,” said Sen. Darrell Weaver, (R) Moore.
4. The legislation passed unanimously off the Senate floor. It now heads to the house for consideration.

House Bill 2106: Modifying Election Dates

1. HB 2106 establishes five election days annually, scheduled in February, April, June, August, and November.
2. The legislation aims to increase voter participation in Oklahoma while ensuring people have plenty of opportunities to cast their vote.
3. "House Bill 2106 is a common sense bill that streamlines our election calendar, reducing voter fatigue and making it easier for Oklahomans to participate in the voting process," said Rep. Mike Osburn (R) Edmond.
4. The legislation passed unanimously off the house floor. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Three bills that have not had a hearing on the floor yet: 

Senate Bill 4: Banning Food Dyes

1. Senate Bill 4 would prohibit any person or entity from manufacturing, selling, brewing, or distributing certain dyes and substances in food products as outlined in the measure. The measure directs the State Board of Agriculture to promulgate rules to enforce the provisions of the bill.
2. The legislation passed out of the Senate committee with only one no vote. 
3. The bill has not been scheduled for a hearing on the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 601: Death Penalty Moratorium

1. Senate Bill 601, also known as the Death Penalty Moratorium Act, seeks to pause all pending executions and prevent the state from scheduling new execution dates. The bill proposes the creation of a task force to investigate and review Oklahoma's execution practices.
2. The bill passed out of committee with a vote of 5-3. Similar measures have failed in committee in years past.
3. The bill has not been scheduled for a hearing on the Senate floor. 

Senate Bill 125: Sports Betting

1. Multiple bills in both the House and Senate have been introduced to bring sports betting to Oklahoma. 
2. SB 125 (Tribal Sports Betting). Allows Oklahoma tribes with gambling compacts to offer in-person and mobile sports betting. Requires tribes to sign a supplemental agreement with the state. Only applies if federal law permits the expansion.
3. The legislation passed out of committee with a vote of 14-9.
4. The bill has not been scheduled for a hearing on the Senate floor. 

Next week, the process will start all over again in the opposite chamber, beginning with House bills being heard in the Senate committee and vice versa.

The session concludes on May 30th.