55th Oklahoma Legislature explained

55th Oklahoma Legislature
Coa Pic:	Flag of Oklahoma.svg
Leader1 Type:	President of the Senate
Leader1:	Todd Lamb (R)
Leader2 Type:	President Pro Tem of the Senate
Leader2:	Brian Bingman (R)
Leader3 Type:	Speaker of the House
Leader3:	Jeff W. Hickman (R)
Leader4 Type:	Composition:
Leader4:	Senate 40 8 House 72 29

The Fifty-fifth Oklahoma Legislature was the 2015 meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, which began with an organizational day on January 6, 2015. The first session met in February 2015 in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City during the first year of the second administration of Governor Mary Fallin. After the 2014 elections, the Republican Party held more than two-thirds of the seats in the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Dates of sessions

Organizational day: January 6, 2015
First session: February 2-May 22, 2015

Previous: 54th Legislature • Next: 56th Legislature

Major legislation

Enacted

2015 Legislative Session

Budget - HB 2244 contained the state budget that begins July 1, 2015 and ends July 1, 2016.
Abortion - HB 1409 increased the time for voluntary and informed consent before an abortion from 24 to 72 hours and required abortion facilities with a website to link to the state's website, "A Woman's Right to know."
Abortion - HB 1721 outlawed abortions in which doctors use forceps or other medical devices to dismember a living fetus in the womb, except when a dismemberment abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother.
Criminal procedure - HB 1518 allows judges to impose shorter sentences for some nonviolent crimes.
Criminal procedure - HB 1548 allows a judge to reduce the sentence of any inmate who was originally sentenced for a drug charge and ordered to complete the Drug Offender Work Camp at the Bill Johnson Correctional Facility if the judge is satisfied the best interests of the public will not be jeopardized.
Drugs - HB 1948 requires doctors to check a Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database before writing prescriptions for potentially dangerous and addictive drugs like oxycodone.
Public safety - HB 1965 makes driving while texting a primary offense in Oklahoma with a fine of $100 for a first offense.
Education - SB 782 allows public school districts the ability to create public charter schools.
Education - SB 630 amended the state Reading Sufficiency Act to eliminate social promotion for students in the third grade who do not demonstrate reading proficiency.
Public safety - HB 2168 allows state licensing agencies discretion in allowing individuals with felony convictions to receive a professional license.
Corrections - HB 1630 allows the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to negotiate with county jails to house state prisons before transfer to private prisons.
Budget - SB 189 requires state agencies to use performance-informed budgeting when submitting annual budget requests.
Taxation - HB 2181 establish an Incentive Evaluation Commission which is required to review all tax credits offered to businesses at least once every four years.
Taxation - SB 806 requires all future business tax incentives to contain measurable goals.
Voting - SB 313 allows citizens with a driver's license to register to vote over the internet.
Unions - HB 1749 prohibits all state agencies from collecting union dues for its employees via payroll deductions.
Taxation - SB 498 eliminates the property tax exemption for wind energy production facilities.
Taxation - SB 502 eliminates tax credits for wind energy companies.
Religion - HB 1007 prevents religious leaders from being compelled to performance marriage ceremonies which contradict their religious beliefs.

2016 Legislative Session

Failed

2016 Legislative Session

Education - HB 2949 would have created a statewide school voucher program.

Major events

Ervin Yen was sworn into the Oklahoma Senate becoming the first Asian-American legislator in Oklahoma.^[1]

Leadership

Since the Republican Party holds the majority of seats in both the Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives, they hold the top leadership positions in both chambers.

In Oklahoma, the lieutenant governor serves as President of the Oklahoma Senate, meaning that he serves as the presiding officer in ceremonial instances and can provide a tie-breaking vote. Todd Lamb serves as the current Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. The current President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, who presides over the state senate on the majority of session days is Brian Bingman. He is aided by Majority Floor Leader Mike Schulz.^[2] The Democratic Minority leader of the state senate is Randy Bass. Paul Ziriax serves as the Secretary of the Oklahoma Senate.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is led by Speaker Jeff W. Hickman. The Democratic Minority leader is Scott Inman. Joel Kintsel serves as Chief Clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Membership

Senate

District	Name	Party	Hometown	First Elected	Seat Up
Lt-Gov		Rep	Oklahoma City	2010	2018
1		Dem	Fairland	2004	2016 (term-limited)
2	Marty Quinn	Rep	Claremore	2014	2018
3	Wayne Shaw	Rep	Grove	2012	2016
4	Mark Allen	Rep	Spiro	2010	2018
5	Joseph Silk	Rep	Broken Bow	2014	2016
6	Josh Brecheen	Rep	Coalgate	2010	2018
7	Larry Boggs	Rep	Wilburton	2012	2016
8	Roger Thompson	Dem	Okemah	2014	2018
9	Earl Garrison	Dem	Muskogee	2004	2016 (term-limited)
10	Eddie Fields	Rep	Pawhuska	2010	2018
11	Kevin Matthews	Dem	Tulsa	2015	2016
12	Brian Bingman	Rep	Sapulpa	2006	2018
13	Susan Paddack	Dem	Ada	2004	2016 (term-limited)
14	Frank Simpson	Rep	Ardmore	2010	2018
15	Rob Standridge	Rep	Norman	2012	2016
16	John Sparks	Dem	Norman	2006	2018
17		Rep	Shawnee	2012	2016
18	Kim David	Rep	Tulsa	2010	2018
19	Patrick Anderson	Rep	Enid	2004	2016 (term-limited)
20	Ann "AJ" Griffin	Rep	Guthrie	2012	2016
21	Jim Halligan	Rep	Stillwater	2008	2016
22	Stephanie Bice	Rep	Oklahoma City	2014	2018
23	Ron Justice	Rep	Chickasha	2004	2016 (term-limited)
24	Anthony Sykes	Rep	Moore	2006	2018
25	Mike Mazzei	Rep	Tulsa	2004	2016 (term-limited)
26		Rep	Kingfisher	2014	2018
27	Bryce Marlatt	Rep	Woodward	2008	2016
28	Jason Smalley	Rep	Stroud	2014	2018
29	John Ford	Rep	Bartlesville	2004	2016 (term-limited)
30	David Holt	Rep	Oklahoma City	2010	2018
31	Don Barrington	Rep	Lawton	2004	2016 (term-limited)
32	Randy Bass	Dem	Lawton	2004	2018 (term-limited)
33	Nathan Dahm	Rep	Tulsa	2012	2016
34	Rick Brinkley	Rep	Owasso	2010	2018
35	Gary Stanislawski	Rep	Tulsa	2008	2016
36	Bill Brown	Rep	Broken Arrow	2006	2018
37	Dan Newberry	Rep	Tulsa	2008	2016
38	Mike Schulz	Rep	Altus	2006	2018
39	Brian Crain	Rep	Tulsa	2004	2016 (term-limited)
40	Ervin Yen	Rep	Oklahoma City	2014	2018
41	Clark Jolley	Rep	Edmond	2004	2016 (term-limited)
42	Jack Fry	Rep	Midwest City	2014	2018
43	Corey Brooks	Rep	Washington	2012	2016
44	Ralph Shortey	Rep		2010	2018
45	Kyle Loveless	Rep	Oklahoma City	2012	2016
46	Kay Floyd	Dem	Oklahoma City	2014	2018
47	Greg Treat	Rep	Oklahoma City	2011	2016
48	Anastasia Pittman	Dem	Oklahoma City	2014	2018

House of Representatives

Name	District	Party	City	First elected
	1	Dem		2014
	2	Rep		2010
	3	Dem		2010
	4	Dem		2004
	5	Rep		2004
	6	Dem		2006
	7	Dem		2014
	8	Dem		2004
	9	Rep		2014
	10	Rep		2014
	11	Rep		2006
	12	Dem		2004
	13	Dem		2004
	14	Rep		2014
	15	Dem		2006
	16	Dem		2004
	17	Dem		2006
	18	Dem		2010
	19	Dem		2004
	20	Rep		2012
	21	Rep		2010
	22	Rep	Atoka	2012
	23	Rep		2000
	24	Dem		2008
	25	Rep		2006
	26	Rep		2000
	27	Rep		2010
	28	Rep		2010
	29	Rep		2014
	30	Rep		2006
	31	Rep		2006
	32	Rep		2014
	33	Rep		2004
	34	Dem		2008
	35	Rep		2010
	36	Rep		2010
	37	Rep		2010
	38	Rep		2014
	39	Rep		2004
	40	Rep		2014
	41	Rep		2006
	42	Rep		2004
	43	Rep		2014
	44	Dem		2010
	45	Dem		2014
	46	Rep		2006
	47	Rep		2008
	48	Rep		2008
	49	Rep		2010
	50	Rep		2006
	51	Rep		2012
	52	Rep		2008
	53	Rep		2012
	54	Rep		2006
	55	Rep		2009
	56	Dem		2012
	57	Rep		2008
	58	Rep		2004
Mike Sanders	59	Rep		2008
	60	Rep	Banner	2012
	61	Rep		2014
	62	Rep		2014
	63	Rep		2014
Ann Coody	64	Rep		2004
	65	Dem		2014
	66	Rep		2010
	67	Rep		2004
	68	Rep		2010
	69	Rep		2014
	70	Rep		2012
	71	Rep		2004
	72	Dem		2008
Kevin Matthews (until April 15, 2015) Regina Goodwin (after July 21, 2015)	73	Dem		2012/2015
	74	Rep		2006
	75	Rep		2008
	76	Rep		2010
	77	Dem		2006
	78	Dem		2004
	79	Rep		2006
	80	Rep		2008
	81	Rep		2010
	82	Rep		2014
	83	Rep		2006
	84	Rep		2004
David Dank (Republican; died April 10, 2015) Cyndi Munson (after September 17, 2015)	85	Dem		2007/2015
	86	Dem	Stilwell	2010
	87	Rep		2008
	88	Dem		2014
	89	Dem		2014
	90	Rep		2012
	91	Rep		2014
	92	Dem		2004
	93	Rep		2008
	94	Dem		2006
	95	Rep		2006
	96	Rep		2008
	97	Dem		2004
	98	Rep	Tulsa	2014
	99	Dem		2014
	100	Rep		2010
	101	Rep		2004

External links

Notes and References

News: KGOU . First Asian American Oklahoma Legislator Elected: Historical Marker, But No Milestone . 20 October 2021 . KGOU . 18 November 2014.
http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/Default.aspx?selectedtab=1 Senate Majority Leadership