OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, this week secured House passage of a bill that would strengthen mandatory child abuse reporting requirements in schools. This measure would require that any allegation of abuse or neglect by a private or public school employee be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.
House Bill 2959 would require that law enforcement be notified prior to any formal investigation by the school or school board or the questioning of the subject of the accusation. Bashore said this is to ensure that trained individuals are aware of the misconduct and able to properly investigate the situation.
“We want to assure students that when they report an instance of abuse, allegations will be thoroughly investigated,” Bashore said. “Our response to these reports needs to be immediate and thorough. It is our job to prioritize and protect our students from child predators. We take this responsibility seriously.”
HB2959 specifies that law enforcement must be notified and have the opportunity to interview the involved parties first, unless law enforcement determines an immediate school response is necessary to protect student safety. It also would not relieve any person of the duty to report to law enforcement because of the resignation, termination, transfer or other separation from employment of the subject of the allegation.
Bashore said the measure would not limit the ultimate action or decision-making power of school authorities. It only would require that law enforcement be involved in their current process, so that allegations can be properly investigated.
This measure passed the House unanimously March 24. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.
House Passes Harris Bill Protecting Parental Rights
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, has passed legislation aimed at protecting parental rights and providing clarity in the state’s child welfare and adoption laws through the House.
House Bill 3586, known as the “Right to Raise Act,” would ensure that individuals cannot be denied the opportunity to become adoptive or foster parents based solely on the individual’s desire to raise or reference a child by their biological sex. The bill also specifies that such actions alone cannot be considered child abuse or neglect.
Harris said the legislation reinforces parents’ rights while ensuring Oklahoma’s child welfare laws remain focused on protecting children.
“Parents should not have to worry that expressing their sincerely held beliefs or using biologically accurate language could be mischaracterized as a crime,” Harris said. “House Bill 3586 provides important clarity in statute and protects the fundamental right of parents to raise their children without unnecessary government interference.”
HB3586 passed the House with a vote of 75–15 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.
House Advances Manger Proposal to Expand Property Tax Relief for Seniors
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed legislation by Rep. Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City, which aims to ease property tax burdens for seniors across the state.
House Joint Resolution 1081 seeks voter approval of a constitutional amendment to remove the income requirement for seniors to qualify for Oklahoma’s property tax freeze program, allowing more seniors to freeze their home’s taxable value and avoid increases tied to rising property values.
“This is about recognizing that many seniors are living on fixed incomes, even if they do not fall under an arbitrary income cap,” Manger said. “They have worked their entire lives, paid into their homesteads and should not be priced out of their homes because of rising property values.”
Under current law, seniors age 65 and older may freeze the taxable value of their homestead, but only if they meet certain income limits. HJR1081 would eliminate that income threshold, allowing eligibility to be based primarily on age and residency.
The measure would require homeowners to be at least 65 years old, have occupied the property as a homestead for at least seven years, and have a fair cash value of $700,000 or less.
Manger said the decision should ultimately rest with the people, since it is their money.
“This ultimately comes down to letting the people decide,” Manger said. “This is their money, and they deserve a say in whether this protection is expanded to more Oklahoma seniors.”
Manger has worked on ad valorem tax relief affecting seniors for more than six years during his time in the House and believes the proposal reflects a commonsense approach to tax relief.
“When property values go up, it may look good on paper, but it can create real pressure for seniors trying to stay in their homes,” Manger said. “This is why I have worked on property tax relief for several years. This is a meaningful step toward helping more seniors stay in their homes with stability and peace of mind by ensuring their property taxes do not continue to climb year after year.”
If approved by the Senate, HJR1081 would be placed on a statewide ballot for a vote of the people.
The measure is now eligible to be heard in the Senate, where it is authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa.
