Representative Steve Bashore

R

District 7

Hi, I'm Steve Bashore and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 7th District.


representative

Leadership

Deputy Floor Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Nov 18, 2024
Recent Posts

Lauria and Ashley's Law Refiled

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, has refiled a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 1001 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve 1999. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Pitcher mine pit, but their remains have not been recovered. Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire. The bill was filed on the first day new House measures were eligible to be requested for the 2025 legislative session, which convenes Feb. 3. "I made a promise to the Bible family that I would continue to fight for justice for victims like Lauria and Ashley," Bashore said. "For almost 25 years, these families have lived with the unimaginable pain of not knowing the full details of this crime or where their loved ones' bodies are located. They've endured the long, arduous process of court cases and agonizing searches for the bodies of the missing girls. While this legislation can't lessen their pain, they deserve to know that justice will be fully served in similar cases moving forward." Lauria Bible's mother, Lorene Bible; her cousin, Lisa Bible-Brodrick; and other family members, have been vocal in support of the legislation. A similar bill passed the House last year with an overwhelming majority, but the bill was not considered in the Senate. The legislation addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick in 2020 received a 10-year prison sentence with five years' probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well as time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He was released back into the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live. It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They still have not been found.  "This legislation will ensure going forward that anyone connected with a felony murder such as this will not be released prematurely from prison and will not receive any type of credits for time served," Bashore said. Lorene Bible said the family was never told that accessory to felony murder was not an 85% crime. They would never have agreed to Busick's sentence had they known. Bible said when the family found out Busick would be released after just three years in prison, they were furious, but they soon realized there was nothing they could do. She said the family wants criminals who go along with these crimes to know that if they get caught, they will do as much time as the person who commits the murder. HB1001 will be available for consideration during the first session of the 60th Legislature. If enacted, Lauria and Ashley's Law would go into effect Nov. 1, 2025. 

Sep 20, 2024
Recent Posts

Bashore Requests AG Opinion on out-of-State Prescribers

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, has requested an opinion from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond concerning Oklahoma residents' ability to fill prescriptions at an Oklahoma pharmacy when prescribed by an out-of-state medical provider. Bashore said the problem affects Oklahomans statewide. He meets with members of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Board in Miami on Monday to discuss the issue and potential next steps to get Oklahomans access to the prescriptions they need. "This issue impacts constituents not only in my House district but any Oklahoman that seeks medical care outside of our state," Bashore said. "Rural areas disproportionately suffer from a lack of health care specialists, forcing residents to seek care where they can find it, including across state lines. My goal is to ensure Oklahomans can obtain needed health care and medications at places that are optimal for them."  Bashore said the problem was brought to his attention by a local pharmacist, who shared a letter from the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners explaining that a recent Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) audit of the Prescription Monitoring Program returned prescriptions for controlled substances written by a doctor in Joplin. The letter stated the doctor holds no valid Oklahoma license to practice medicine – a violation of state law, according to the board. The letter directed the physician to cease practice in Oklahoma immediately. Failure to comply could result in legal action, including a complaint being filed with his state medical board, the letter advised. After reviewing the letter and receiving additional information from the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association, Bashore sought the opinion of the attorney general. He asks the answer to four questions: Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license to practice health care in the state by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient (an Oklahoma resident) travels to another state for care? Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a non-controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma? Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma required under state law to obtain a license by an Oklahoma professional licensing board when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma?  Is a medical provider (MD/DO/Podiatry/PA/APRN/Dentist/Vet) located outside the geographical boundaries of the State of Oklahoma and is not licensed by an Oklahoma professional licensing board required to obtain a registration from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) when the patient care occurs outside the state but a prescription for a controlled drug is sent to a pharmacy within Oklahoma?  Bashore said he feels the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners is being overly broad in its interpretation of state statute, the reason he's seeking clarification. "I want to keep people safe, but we must allow rural residents the freedom to find health care that meets their needs, even if that is from an out-of-state provider." Bashore said he'll run legislation if necessary to clarify the law, depending on the response from the attorney general. 

Feb 21, 2024
Recent Posts

Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today earned passage of a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 2946 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve in 1999. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Pitcher mine pit. Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire. Lauria Bible's mother, Lorene Bible; her cousin, Lisa Bible-Brodrick; and Melissa Dixon, another family member, watched from the House gallery as the bill passed on the House floor on a vote of 85-13. The act addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick was sentenced in 2020 to 10 years prison sentence with five years' probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He's now back in the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live. It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They still have not been found.  "While I can't rewind the clock and re-prosecute this horrible crime, I can do the only thing I know to do to try to bring some measure of peace to this family that has suffered so much," Bashore said. "I've authored legislation to ensure going forward that anyone connected with a felony murder such as this will not be released prematurely from prison and will not receive any type of credits for time served." For more than 24 years, the family members of Lauria and Ashley have lived with the unimaginable pain of not knowing the full details of the crime or where their loved ones' bodies are located. They've endured the long, arduous process of court cases and agonizing searches for the bodies of the missing girls fore more than two decades. "For twenty-four years we've searched and searched and searched for the girls, always asking what do we do next. What haven't we done," Lorene Bible said. "We were never told that accessory to felony murder was not an 85% crime. We would never have agreed to that had we known." Bible said when the family found out Busick would be released after just three years in prison, they were furious, but they soon realized there was nothing they could do. "Busick basically has more rights than we do at this point," she said. "And while we cannot help Lauria and Ashley, if this law helps another family so they don't have to be in the same place we are, then we want that. "We also want criminals who go along with these crimes to know that if they get caught they will do as much time as the person who pulls the trigger." If enacted, Lauria and Ashley's Law would go into effect Nov. 1, 2024.