Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation aimed at strengthening protections for homeowners approached at their residences for storm-related repair work is now headed to the Senate after the House voted 82-4 to approve the measure. House Bill 3790 , titled the Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act and authored by Rep. Stacy Adams, R-Duncan, would establish a five-day cancellation period for certain home repair contracts entered into through in-person solicitation at a homeowner’s residence. “I am thankful my colleagues understood the issue Oklahomans face every day,” Adams said. “We are a state that can be hit with storms at any time, and this measure gives homeowners added peace of mind when they are making important decisions about repairs.” The bill is designed to protect homeowners from being locked into contracts after being solicited at their door for repair work. Under the measure, homeowners would have five business days to cancel a qualifying contract, giving them time to fully review the terms before being bound by the agreement. “There is currently no statute that provides this type of cancellation window,” Adams said. “Even without money changing hands, a verbal contract can be enforceable in Oklahoma. This bill brings clarity and fairness to the process. I appreciate Sen. Kristen Thompson for carrying the bill in the Senate.” The Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act previously passed both the House Civil Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee unanimously. HB3790 is now eligible to be heard in the Senate, where Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, is the Senate author.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three measures authored by Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, are now eligible to be heard on the House floor after receiving unanimous approval from House oversight committees. House Bill 4092 , which addresses Oklahoma’s 988 mental health crisis system, passed the House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously. The bill would establish a statewide 988 Trust Fund to support and maintain a comprehensive 988 Lifeline system and calls for improved use of technology to strengthen coordination and data collection for crisis services. The bill would also designate the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the lead agency for suicide prevention and crisis services and require designated 988 centers to follow national standards. "This measure helps ensure the 988 system does not go away, and that the state can properly support it so that it can continue serve as the lifeline for Oklahomans facing a mental health crisis," Norwood said. House Bill 4095 , which updates governance of the Oklahoma 211 Collaborative, passed the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously after previously advancing through the Children, Youth and Family Services Policy Committee. The Oklahoma 211 Collaborative oversees call centers that connect Oklahomans with services such as food, housing, clothing, transportation and medical assistance. The bill would reduce the collaborative’s governing board from 15 members to nine members and establish staggered initial terms to maintain continuity. "The 211 system plays an important role in connecting people with critical services across our state," Norwood said. "This bill would strengthen the governance structure to help ensure the system remains efficient and accountable in meeting the needs of Oklahomans." House Bill 4302 also passed the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously. The bill allows the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to share a complainant’s identity with law enforcement if that individual makes a threat and disclosure is needed to protect public safety. “House Bill 4302 would give authorities the ability to act when necessary to keep the public safe, while keeping the core responsibilities of the office intact," Norwood said. All three measures are now eligible for consideration on the House floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, passed six bills in the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee. The bills now await consideration to be heard by the full membership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 1322 would create a Persistent Domestic Violence Offenders Registry available online to the public. Anyone convicted in Oklahoma of a second domestic violence offense after Jan. 1, 2027, would be registered through district court clerks on the registry created and maintained by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. House Bill 4104 would add three crimes to the list of those that require registry as a sex offender: second and subsequent offense of watching, gazing or looking upon a person in a clandestine manner for prurient interests; using photographic, electronic or video equipment in clandestine manner for prurient interests; and second or subsequent offense of using such means to capture images of a private area without consent.   "Domestic violence and sex offense crimes are the most repugnant to our society," Ford said. "The public deserves to made aware of when such criminals are in our midst. The hope, of course, is to deter such crimes in the first place." House Bill 4105 would exclude from the definition of "security guard" any person operating unarmed or contracted as an usher queue agent, ticket agent, gate agent, credential verification agent or similar role for any event, concert, festival or sporting event. Ford said the measure is a simple clarification of law. House Bill 4106 would lower the threshold amount for grand larceny from $1,000 to $900. Additionally, a third offense of petty larceny would become a felony offense. Ford said since voters originally voted to increase the threshold for grand larceny from $500 to $1,000 10 years ago, retail theft has increased exponentially. "Professional criminals know the threshold amount and consider the fines involved just part of doing business," Ford said. "While this is a small step to reduce petty larceny, it’s a move in the right direction." House Bill 4107 would make it unlawful to tamper with, activate, attempt to activate or cause to be activated an outdoor warning siren without proper authorization. Punishment would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in the county jail or both. If an unauthorized activation caused a false emergency response or public panic, the offense would become a felony punishable by up to $5,000, up to one year in the county jail or both fine and imprisonment. Ford said such tampering is happening now in his area, and it causes havoc. House Bill 4108 would add the operational area of an airport to the list of places considered critical infrastructure. Those convicted of trespass would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or imprisonment in a county jail for a term of six months or both. "This will protect our international and other airports as they conduct vital services for our citizens," Ford said.