Oklahoma Black Caucus prepares for 2024 legislative session

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Oklahoma’s legislative session begins Monday, February 5, and ends Friday, May 31. During the session, state representatives will convene on the House floor in an effort to get their bills passed. Oklahoma Black Caucus members will debate the good, the bad, and the ugly across the aisle. Bills that successfully move through the House and the Senate will eventually reach the governor’s desk to be signed into law or vetoed.

Rep. Mauree Turner sat down with The Black Wall Street Times team to talk about the bills they have filed this year. The Oklahoma City representative is running eight pieces of legislation, including two new bills and six repeats from previous sessions. 

HB 4141 would ensure the Department of Commerce and the election board are working together to inform constituents when they are eligible to vote again. Notably, Oklahomans with a felony are allowed to vote again once the duration of their sentence is completed. This can confuse people who have been released early but technically have a portion of their sentence remaining. 

The second new bill Turner authored would remove mandatory polygraph examinations. “Those aren’t based on any actual science, and they cost Oklahomans who have to take them. Anywhere from $300-$600 is what I’m hearing,” Turner said regarding HB 4144, “That’s half a month’s worth of rent for a lot of folks.” 

When asked if they’d seen any concerning legislation from other representatives, Turner brought up two bills from an Oklahoma Republican state Representative — Justin Humphrey. One would label any individual who is of Hispanic descent and involved in alleged gang activity as a terrorist. The other would prohibit students who dress up as furries from participating in extracurricular activities. Both bills have received national attention for their abrasive wording. “Every issue is a 2SLGBTQ+ issue,” Turner stated. “A bad law for the average well-off White Oklahoman is an even worse law for a Black, trans, Indigenous, Two-Spirit Oklahoman,” they added.  

On the Subject of Censure

House Republicans censured Rep. Turner last year following an incident during a trans rights protest at the capitol. Censures require a formal vote of disapproval regarding a legislator’s conduct. House Republicans threatened to strip Turner of their committee duties unless Turner issued a formal apology.

We asked how that would affect their work during this year’s legislative session. “There was no formal writing of anything, it was just what they said on the house floor.” Turner continued, “My Democratic leadership didn’t even ask what that entailed until Monday [Jan 15], maybe 10 months later.” In conclusion, Turner stated, “The big thing I’m always ready and willing to do is those difficult conversations about how we think ethically and creatively about how we care for people with policy.”

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Adverse Bills to Watch in Oklahoma

Policy Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma Cindy Nguyen said they are tracking around 180 bills. Twenty of those bills are furthering attacks on reproductive freedom, and over 50 bills attack 2SLGBTQ+ rights. The ACLU is also watching any DEI restricting bills.

Senator Rob Standridge has filed 6 bills that will codify Gov. Stitt’s anti-DEI Executive Order into law.

Senator Natham Dahm first filed SB 348 last year and is running it again this year. It would prohibit state agencies from adopting diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs if passed successfully this year. 

Nguyen said the ACLU is also following good bills that would result in positive outcomes.

What Black Oklahoma Caucus State Represenatives Are Proposing

State Rep. Jason Lowe of District 97 has authored a number of bills that seek to adjust the criminal legal system: 

1. HB 3728 which would grant the recently arrested three phone calls in the first 48 hours following detainment. Local calls would come at no cost, but if they wish to call long-distance, the detainee would be responsible for fees. 
2. HB 3729 would automatically expunge the records of those who have committed non-violent misdemeanor offenses. 

State Rep. Regina Goodwin of District 73 is proposing several bills, some carryovers, and resolutions for the current legislative session: 

1. HB 1629 aims to allow individuals who have received a pardon from the governor after serving a prison sentence to become eligible to vote. Currently, there is no statute in place that informs people of their eligibility to vote after receiving a pardon.
2. HB 1626, known as the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Trust, focuses on creating scholarships in Tulsa. Details about the bill’s specific provisions are not provided.
3. HB 1627 requests the state to allocate $300 million for reparations related to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This bill has undergone an interim study.
4. House Joint Resolution 1053 addresses cases where an applicant has been sentenced to death. It stipulates that a tie vote by the Board for clemency should not be considered a denial of the recommendation for clemency.

State. Rep. Monroe Nicholes, who is the Chair of the current Oklahoma Black Caucus has several bills he’s introducing and a few carryover bills: 

1. HB 3243 adjusts the annual limit on affordable housing tax credits for certain projects, sets eligibility rules, and allows investors to claim these credits with no refunds if they have excess credits. It also ensures insurance companies won’t face additional taxes due to these credits, allows for credit carryovers, and mandates reviews every five years. 
2. HB 3244 directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish an education partnership grant program aimed at improving educational outcomes for students and families in communities facing poverty and economic challenges. The bill outlines program requirements, application processes, and grant recipient responsibilities, focusing on addressing various educational and developmental issues, and requires biennial reporting to elected officials, with an effective date of November 1, 2024.
3. HB 3246 amends firearm regulations and state preemption laws. It allows municipalities to enact certain ordinances related to firearms, including discharge, transportation, and possession, with specific provisions for larger municipalities while maintaining state preemption in most cases.

What Senator Oklahoma Black Caucus State Senators Are Proposing

District 48 Senator George Young has authored several bills to benefit Black Oklahomans:

1. SB 1354 would create a new commission on race and equality. The commission would deliver advice to the state government and legislators on bias issues such as racial discrimination. 
2. SB 1355 would require OMES to collect and provide data on state employees who are descendants of the formerly enslaved. Data disclosure is voluntary, and any employee will be able to opt out. 

For the next four months, The Black Wall Street Times will ensure you stay informed about significant developments occurring throughout the legislative session and on the Oklahoma Black Caucus.