State Rep. Jim Grego
By Rep. Jim Grego
Week 15 and “wow!” Week 14 kinda got sideways as we in the House continued to hear Senate bills. Problem was, the Senate decided to call it a wrap and stopped hearing House Bills on Tuesday. I agreed with House leadership’s call that we carry on with our work, even staying past 11 p.m. Wednesday in order to get as many bills as possible heard on the House floor. Not sure about the Senate’s decision to shut her down, but I will admit, it was definitely quieter with our chamber being the only one in session.
One of the consequential items of interest to me with the Senate’s sudden departure was a couple of my bills got tied up and failed to get a hearing on the Senate floor. House Bill 2947 deals with getting more mental health therapist out into the field. House Bill 2952 would have stopped some of the double taxation on new vehicles from an excise standpoint. Both have stalled. Unfortunately, the old saying that “a good bill this year will make a great bill next year” may come into play.
The House did send what we could onto the governor for his consideration of signing the measures into law. We also amended a few Senate bills and sent them back to that chamber with the hope they will reconvene and hear them. The House also voted to override five of the governor’s vetoes. House Bill 3320 would remove the sunset dates for certain agencies, board and commissions. House Bill 4324 would authorize district attorneys to adjust certain sentences. House Bill 4342 would allow evidence of prior acts of domestic abuse to be admissible in criminal cases involving domestic violence or abuse. House Bill 4432 would allow taxpayers to itemize gambling losses beginning in tax year 2027. House Bill 4434 would require the governor or any officer acting as governor to electronically notify the next in line of succession if they plan to be absent from the state. The Senate will have to reconvene and vote to override these before they can take effect.
The Senate did not convene Monday or Tuesday. We’ll see what happens the rest of the week. If nothing happens, our session will be adjourned sine die at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14.
As always, we will get through this session and be looking forward to next year. Thank you always for allowing me to serve. If I can help you in any way, I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part and Pittsburg County.
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