Drummond praises House passage of anti-public corruption bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12, 2025) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the state House for yesterday’s unanimous passage of a measure that would ensure transparency and accountability in state purchasing, require disclosures of conflicts of interest, and establish ethics training for state officers.

Drummond said House Bill 2164 creates a level playing field for businesses seeking to contract with the State of Oklahoma. Under the proposal, business or family relationships are required to be disclosed as part of the bid submission process. It also establishes penalties for those who violate the state’s Central Purchasing Act.

“All too often, state officials take purchasing requirements as suggestions because no penalties exist for bid-rigging and other violations,” Drummond said. “HB 2164 would establish comprehensive measures to prevent and penalize public corruption to ensure that state officials are serving the public rather than their own interests.”

Authored by state Rep. John Pfeiffer and state Sen. John Haste, the measure also requires ethics training for new state officers so they understand how to identify conflicts of interest and follow purchasing requirements.

The legislation now goes to the Senate.