Committees pass bills on homeless encampments, opioid control, domestic violence victims
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Several bills are one step closer to becoming law after the 2024 Legislature met Thursday.
House Bill 1955, also referred to as the grocery tax bill, passed the Senate Thursday morning and heads to the Governor's desk for final approval.
Several other measures that would impact Oklahomans also passed through part of the legislation process.
House Bill 3686 would crack down on homeless encampments on state-owned lands.
The bill states any violators who have a tent, shelter, or bedding for overnight sleeping on property that's not a designated campsite would face a $50 fine, or up to 15 days in the county jail.
The first offense would be a warning, and a citation may be issued if the violator refused transportation to a shelter, food pantry, or other resources.
Another bill that passed its committee is Senate Bill 1216, which would add a new synthetic opioid to the controlled substance list, called N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, which is said to be 25 times more potent than fentanyl.
Another measure that passed its committee would create more requirements to start a referendum petition, which is used by voters to gather signatures to place a piece of legislation on the ballot for a vote.
House Bill 1105 would raise the petition filing fee to $1,000, which would be refundable if the petition meets the requirements to appear on the ballot.
It would also extend the objection period from 10 to 90 business days, and require a criminal background check on each person responsible for circulating the petition for signatures.
Another measure that passed its committee could help victims of domestic violence with their bills.
House Bill 3863 would provide another way for victims of domestic violence to be exempt from initial credit and deposit requirements for public utilities.
It expands on House Bill 2242, which was signed into law in 2023, and mandated that victims must have a certification letter proving they are victims of domestic violence through a protective order, law enforcement personnel, or representative from a domestic violence shelter or program to qualify.
House Bill 3863adds that a certification letter can also come from a representative of a domestic violence shelter or program that's operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe.
These bills still have a ways to go before possibly becoming law, but are one step closer to having that chance.