Out of state influences making their way into Oklahoma legislation
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — It's a strategy that's recently come to light: The concept that many call bill-mills, copy-and-paste-bills, or model legislation.
It's the idea that outside organizations can influence our local politicians.
While thousands of bills make their way through the state chamber, many of them aren't originally written in Oklahoma.
“Oklahomans need to ask the question of every single bill that is passed and signed by this governor, where did it come from? Who’s really pushing this narrative?” said Rep. Andy Fugate.
Bills come from all sources, original ideas, agency or private business requests, and then think tanks and larger organizations that streamline policy issues.
Rep. Mark Lepak is the public sector's state chair for one of those organizations called the American Legislative Exchange Council.
“We will take ideas that we observe from happenings in other states, maybe at home, or from one of these big organizations,” Lepak said. “I’ve personally taken some of what we call model legislation and then file something along those lines.”
But how does legislation that starts from one organization pop up in almost identical language throughout the country?
Lepak says it all starts with a policy issue.
“They study them, they run them through task forces, they’re vetted,” he said. “Both the public and private sector vote on them before they become what’s called model policy.”
Dozens of policy bills mirroring other states end up on the Senate and House floors. Some this session included a Texas-style abortion ban, the Save Women's Sports Act, a gender-specific bathroom bill, critical race theory, and school vouchers.
“I’ve run bills based on what I’ve seen happening in other states, whether it was COVID related or election-related,” Lepak said. “We had riots before and different governors and legislators were doing things in response. And even though we didn’t see the same issue, you can learn in those 50 states.”
I asked Lepak what he would tell an Oklahoman, a taxpayer, who maybe is concerned that some of the bills that are being passed here aren’t originated here.
“Oh, because you learn by observation,” Lepak said. “You see what’s going on elsewhere.”
Lepak says the information is a supplement to the expertise of his colleagues. Fugate isn’t sold.
“I’m not convinced there is any good to bill mills,” Fugate said. “They take advantage of the fact that we have term limits in the state of Oklahoma and we oftentimes have legislators who have limited experience in areas and lots of ambition. And so they leverage that ambition to find someone who will carry legislation for them that will make whomever the legislator is look like they know what they’re talking about.”
This isn't a partisan issue. Both Republicans and Democrats run legislation from outside sources.
While a state lawmaker isn't always the one drafting the language most still aim for bills that ultimately benefit their constituents.
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