Representative Toni Hasenbeck

R

District 65

Hi, I'm Toni Hasenbeck and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 65th District.


representative

Leadership

Majority Deputy Leader

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Feb 17, 2025
Recent Posts

House Members Praise Competency Reevaluation of Death Row Inmate

A Comanche County judge has ruled that the competency of Ricky Ray Malone, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 2003 execution-style shooting death of Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green, must be reevaluated to determine if he is eligible for execution. In December, Attorney General Genter Drummond filed a motion requesting the reevaluation, and last week a judge agreed. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will reevaluate Malone to determine if he is now able to be executed. An agreement on reevaluation requirements is due March 5. Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, praised Drummond's efforts in seeking justice for the Green family.  "This family has waited over two decades for justice to be served, and I am hopeful this evaluation will show Malone is fit to pay the ultimate price for brutally murdering a public servant in the line of duty," said Caldwell, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. It has been more than 20 years since Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nik Green was fatally shot after he stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the side of the road in Cotton County. In 2017, it was determined Malone was not mentally competent for execution and he was moved off death row in McAlester to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita. He will be reevaluated to determine if he is now competent to be put to death.  Caldwell, along with other Lawton-area Reps. Daniel Pae, Brad Boles, Toni Hasenbeck, Rande Worthen, Stacy Adams and Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, thanked Drummond for his swift action. "I hope the attorney general will continue to use the full weight of his office to make sure justice is carried out in this case," said Caldwell. "This family deserves closure." This case led to the introduction of  House Bill 1693  by Rep. Rande Worthen this legislative session, which puts concrete timelines and requirements on competency reevaluations and adds requirements on competency reevaluation services. The bill will be considered in the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee Tuesday. "Victims and their families deserve to know the timeline and status of a convicted murderer on death row," said Worthen, R-Lawton. "We want to make sure if someone is deemed incompetent to be executed that they are reevaluated on a recurring basis and the state is doing all it can to restore competency when possible so justice can be done." -END-

Feb 5, 2025
Recent Posts

House Leadership Reacts to OSU President Resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and members of his leadership team comment on the resignation of Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum. Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow: "Like everyone, I was surprised by the news of Dr. Kayse Shrum stepping down as President. I greatly appreciate her service to the university and our state. She was instrumental as a member of the Governor's cabinet throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring tests were available for Oklahomans. Her tenure as president improved rural health care workforce shortages in establishing a nursing program at OSU-Stillwater and a medical school in Tahlequah. She also faced other challenges such as shepherding my alma mater through conference realignment with the Big 12 going from the brink of disaster to emerging as an undisputed top-4 conference in the country. I wish her and Darren the best in their future endeavors." House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon: "Dr. Shrum's resignation is a loss for OSU and our state. In recent years we have invested in building up our state's research universities and Dr. Shrum and her team utilized those increased dollars to improve our state's workforce pipeline, especially in medical and STEM fields. We look forward to working with the next OSU leader to continue the momentum we have seen." House Postsecondary Education Chairwoman Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin: "I have known Dr. Shrum for years and was thrilled when she became president of my alma mater. She served with distinction as the first female president of a public research institution in Oklahoma and she has much to be proud of from her tenure. I look forward to working with the A&M Board of Regents as they seek the next university leader. Dr. Shrum's loss will be felt not only at OSU but by the state as a whole."

Jan 23, 2025
Recent Posts

Hasenbeck Files Bill to Prohibit AI Revenge Porn

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, has filed legislation to prohibit the sharing of revenge pornography developed through the use of artificial intelligence. House Bill 1364 , which Hasenbeck filed last week, would add sexual content created through artificial intelligence to the statute prohibiting the sharing of revenge pornography. The nonconsensual distribution of pornography with the intent to harass or humiliate the subject became a misdemeanor in 2016. "AI has its uses, but it also poses very serious threats," Hasenbeck said. "The sharing of revenge pornography, whether real or created by AI, destroys a person's sense of privacy and dignity, wrecks their mental health and ruins lives." Last year, Hasenbeck passed legislation to include artificial intelligence depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit content in the definition of "child pornography." After House Bill 3642 took effect on Nov. 1, people using AI to create or view child porn may now be prosecuted. "The rapid development of AI has brought an equally rapid development of threats," Hasenbeck said. "Anybody with a smartphone could create a deepfake pornography video or photo using a screenshot from someone's social media or dating profile. It's critical that our existing laws keep pace with the risks posed by new technology in order to protect Oklahomans from exploitation and harassment." HB1364 is eligible for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Feb. 3.