OKLAHOMA CITY – Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today received passage of House Bill 4156 by a vote of 77-20. The legislation, aimed at addressing the illegal immigration crisis, creates the crime of impermissible occupation. Details include: A person commits an impermissible occupation if the person willfully and without permission enters and remains in the State of Oklahoma without having first obtained legal authorization to enter the United States. Penalties for violating the new law will be: First offense – Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $500, or both, required to leave the state within 72 hours of being released from custody and prohibited from reentering the state at any time thereafter. Second or subsequent offense – Felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Dept. of Corrections for a term of not more than two years, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, required to leave the state within 72 hours of being released from custody and prohibited from reentering the state at any time thereafter. Additionally, the legislation includes a preemption clause prohibiting municipalities from becoming 'sanctuary cities.' "I am thankful that my Republican colleagues saw fit to address this issue and pass meaningful legislation to protect the citizens of Oklahoma from the illegal immigration crisis plaguing our country right now," said McCall. "The failure of the federal government to address this issue, and the lack of leadership by the Biden Administration, has turned every state into a border state. Those who want to work through the process of coming to our country legally are more than welcome to come to Oklahoma; we would love to have them here. Those who jump the line, and skip the process, cheapen the value of the work put in by those who went through the full legal process to become a citizen of our great country. We will not reward that behavior in Oklahoma, and we will protect our state borders." Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, who presented the bill on the House floor, said that this is common sense legislation that allows the state to properly protect its borders and citizens. "Anyone saying that there is not an illegal immigration crisis in our state and nation is simply ignoring reality," Echols said. "This is a common sense piece of legislation that allows Oklahoma to protect our citizens and our state borders, while also preemptively signaling to those in our country illegally that they should choose another state to migrate to. The Legislature has an obligation to ensure that the rights, privileges and safety of our citizens, authorized residents and lawfully present visitors is protected at all costs. Other states can take whatever action they see fit, but Oklahoma is now going to be less attractive for those who enter our country unlawfully." The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration. -END- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Daniel Seitz, House Leadership Communications Liaison Phone: (405) 962-7649
Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, secured passage of a bill that would allow employees at establishments that sell wine, beer, and liquor to sample the products if they are over 21. Senate Bill 2001 defines "Straw Testing" as allowing licensed employees aged 21 or older to evaluate beverage quality responsibly through minimal alcohol consumption. It would also lower the registration fee for brand-label spirits from $375 to $75 for those producing less than 53 gallons a year. "Restaurants were told they had been misinterpreting the law," Hays said. "As it stands, Oklahoma law does not allow servers to take a straw test sample of the drinks they are about to serve customers. The goal here is to clarify that language and allow these businesses to provide the level of service their customers have come to expect." Hays emphasized that SB2001 has defined regulations, such as on-premises sampling under licensee supervision, and emphasizes that alcohol tasting is voluntary, not obligatory, for employees. Several lawmakers and industry stakeholders worked together to develop SB2001, which modernizes alcohol regulations and supports industry growth, Hays said. SB2001 passed the House 69 – 20.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would create a procedure for the removal of unlawful occupants of property. Senate Bill 1994 would allow a property owner to request the sheriff of a county in which the property is located to immediately remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying real property if certain conditions are met. Ford, along with co-authors Reps. Terry O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, issued a joint statement about the importance of the bill. "Property owners throughout our state are being inundated with illegal occupancy," the lawmakers said. "This is exacerbated by the number of people coming across our Southern border illegally, property thefts through methods such as unlawful title changes, or just people moving a trailer onto someone else's land or moving into someone's home while they're on vacation and refusing to leave. Oklahoma is a property rights state, and we are working with our sheriffs and others to identify and stop this type of crime and to advocate for the rights of our property owners. Private property ownership is one of the very foundations of our constitutional system of government and protects an individual's ability to prosper and participate in the free market and in our representative form of government. This legislation is important to ensuring this fundamental right is protected." Ford explained that currently such matters are treated through civil process, and law enforcement are reluctant to get involved. This forces private property owners to hire an attorney, and the process often drags out for lengthy periods. Worthen pointed out the measure does not allow anyone in a landlord-tenant relationship to circumvent the Landlord-Tenant Act. It only applies to someone who is occupying private property and refusing to leave when asked. SB1994 would create a form for the property owner to submit to their county sheriff. Once verified, the sheriff must serve a notice to immediately vacate on all unlawful occupants. If appropriate, the sheriff may arrest any person found on the property for trespass, outstanding warrants or any other legal cause. The sheriff is entitled to the fee for service of the notice. The measure also would create a crime for someone unlawfully detaining or occupying or trespassing upon a property and who intentionally damages the dwelling in an amount of greater than $1,000. Those found guilty would receive a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Any person who presents a false document purporting to be a valid lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property rights would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. The measure states that these provisions are not to be used to circumvent any rights or laws governing the landlord tenant relationship. Any person wrongfully removed may bring a civil cause of action. SB1994 passed the House with a vote of 77-16. The amended bill now returns to the Senate for final consideration.