Welcome to the Oklahoma House of Representatives

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously passed the Common Cents Act, which would allow and later require certain public cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel. Authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, House Bill 3075 , would apply only to public payments made in cash, or the portion of a payment made in cash and would not affect private sector transactions. Payments made by check, debit card, credit card or other electronic methods would not be subject to rounding. "This is a simple, practical solution that reflects how people are already using cash today," Hildebrant said. "This idea came directly from a constituent of mine, Rogers County Treasurer Jason Carini, who recognized the need for clear statutory authority allowing state agencies and political subdivisions to round cash transactions following the discontinuation of the penny. I appreciate my colleagues for their unanimous support in moving this forward." Under the measure, political subdivisions could choose to implement cash rounding from the bill’s effective date through July 1, 2027. Beginning July 1, 2027, rounding would become mandatory for applicable cash transactions unless directed otherwise by Congress. The bill also outlines accounting provisions for ad valorem tax payments and allows political subdivisions to determine how any overages or shortages are managed within their funds. HB3075 now moves to the Oklahoma Senate for further consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, on Tuesday passed a bill in the House that would require all youth camps to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment prior to licensure or renewal and to develop an emergency action plan. The plan specified in House Bill 1675 must include response protocols for each severe weather hazard applicable to the site, evacuation routes and other items outlined in the measure. "We all watched in horror last year as a catastrophic flood took the lives of 25 young campers, two counselors and a director at a camp in Texas," Cantrell said. "In Oklahoma, we're all too aware of the threat of severe weather. Camp should be about making memories, having fun, enjoying some of the best days of your life. By having these site-specific emergency plans in place ahead of licensing, we give parents and all involved more peace of mind that campers will be taken care of in the event of severe weather. We all want camp to be the enjoyable and safe experience it's designed to be." Under the measure, youth camps would be required to maintain two independent methods of receiving severe weather alerts, an internal communication system, procedures for notifying guardians, and provide access to shelters. Potential threats of severe weather and emergency response procedures must be disclosed to all participants. Camp staff are required to receive annual emergency procedure and hazard recognition training and conduct periodic drills. A copy of the emergency action plan must be kept on file with the applicable local emergency management agency. Local emergency management agencies are authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions and can impose corrective action plans, civil penalties, and suspend or revoke licensure for material noncompliance. HB1675 advanced from the House on a vote of 91-2. It has been referred for engrossment to the State Senate where it is authored by Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed House Bill 4425, authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, establishing the Good Faith Reporting for Child Protection Act to encourage prompt reporting of sexually inappropriate conduct involving minors while protecting those who report in good faith. House Bill 4425 provides civil liability protection for charitable organizations and volunteers who report suspected sexually inappropriate conduct involving a minor, provided the report is made in good faith and follows clear reporting guidelines. To qualify for the protections, the report must be made within 72 hours to both law enforcement and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The legislation also creates a presumption of good faith when a report is made in accordance with an organization’s established reporting policy defining sexually inappropriate conduct. The immunity does not apply to individuals reporting their own misconduct. Speaker Hilbert said the bill is designed to ensure adults feel supported and obligated to speak up quickly when a child may be in danger. “Protecting children must always come first,” said Hilbert. “This bill makes it clear that when someone sees warning signs of inappropriate conduct involving a child, they should report it immediately. By protecting those who act in good faith, we’re removing barriers that might prevent someone from speaking up and ensuring potential abuse is reported as quickly as possible.” Representative Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, also helped champion the legislation. “House Bill 4425 sends a clear message that protecting children must always come first,” Duel said. “This bill empowers people to speak up when they see suspicious behavior involving a child and establishes clear standards for how those reports are made. Just as importantly, it protects those who act in good faith and ensures law enforcement receives critical information quickly so potential threats can be addressed before a child is harmed.” Both the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptists applaud this legislation. "I commend Speaker Hilbert's legislation and his leadership in protecting children from abuse," said Archbishop Coakley. It is imperative that we encourage all adults aware of potential abuse to swiftly report their concerns without fear to proper authorities to ensure children are protected." “It is essential that children are protected from harm, and a key to help in that is to create a culture of timely reporting and accountability," said Dr. Todd Fisher, Executive Director-Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists. "This bill does just that.”  House Bill 4425 now advances to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.