Deadline Day at the Capitol: What did and didn't pass

Thursday marked the deadline at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Despite hundreds of bills being approved, several controversial items will not move forward.

Lawmakers passed legislation that would prohibit colleges from using state funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R) commented, "It's been a busy few days, months, but we’ve passed some great Senate bills to the House and have some great bills coming our way."

Education Legislation

Lawmakers in both chambers advanced several significant bills related to education:

1. Social Media Usage for Minors: A bill to prohibit children under 16 from creating social media accounts and requiring companies to implement an age verification system passed in both the Senate and House.
2. Cell Phone Ban in Schools: Both chambers approved bills banning cell phones in schools from bell to bell for at least a year.
3. Virtual School Days: Senate Bill 758, aimed at reducing the use of virtual learning days, was passed. This aligns with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s continued push for more in-person instruction.

Criminal Justice Reform

1. Raising the Age of Consent: The state Senate passed Senate Bill 445, raising the age of consent from 16 to 18.
2. Marissa Murrow Act: The House passed the “Marissa Murrow” Act, which requires bartenders serving alcohol at event venues to hold a separate license.

Sports Betting Legislation

For the first time in the years of state lawmakers working on the issue, three sports betting bills between the house and senate are moving forward. One from the House and two from the Senate are advancing as the state and tribal governments continue their negotiations on the issue.

Other Notable Bills

1. Daylight Saving Time: A bill that would have eliminated daylight saving time in the state failed in the House.

Looking Ahead

With the legislative deadline passed, lawmakers will now focus on committee work in the coming week, with Senate bills being reviewed in House committees and vice versa.

Rep. Kyle Hilbert (R), House Speaker, remarked, “I think at every press conference I’ve talked about us hitting the ground running, and we really have. It’s been a sprint, so here we are at this legislative deadline kind of able to catch our breath.”