By State Rep. Rick West
The House last week passed two pieces of legislation that focus on protecting our state’s rights as outlined in the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. I co-authored both measures.
House Bill 1236 gives the Oklahoma Legislature the right to ask our state attorney general to review any federal executive order, federal agency rule or federal legislative action to determine constitutionality. This measure also would keep an organization that gets public funds from implementing any action that restricts a person’s rights or is deemed unconstitutional.
House Resolution 1005 asserts Oklahoma’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and provides guidelines for federal government agencies and agents that operate within, or whose actions have an effect on, Oklahoma and its citizens.
We’ve already seen a number of actions recently on the federal level that threaten our economy and our personal freedoms. These measures will help ensure we’re protected from such broad federal overreach.
Meanwhile, this was committee deadline week. The next two weeks we’ll be hearing many bills on the House floor. Those that pass move to the Senate. Then we’ll start getting Senate bills to consider.
Here’s a look at bills I passed in committee this week:
House Bill 1115 would allow for chemical castration of anyone convicted of a sexually violent offense before they could be paroled or released from prison. This bill was passed by the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee with a vote of 3-1.
House Bill 118 would remove a provision that currently allows a resident alien to be employed as a peace officer. Someone with resident alien status is not a U.S. citizen, and they shouldn’t be allowed to arrest citizens. This bill also passed by the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee with a 3-1 vote.
House Bill 1120 would allow a state agency that is subject to the Central Purchasing Act but that is in a county without access to contracted vendors to be able to purchase necessary equipment or supplies from a local business without having to obtain a waiver or permission. Right now, I’ve got agencies that can’t even go to their local hardware store for de-icer because they didn’t go through Central Purchasing. Instead, they would have to wait to get something that might be more expensive or may even come from out of state. This bill will ease up a silly government regulation. It passed the General Government Committee 7-0.
House Bill 2930 is a request bill from the Department of Agriculture. They want to update the Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program to include first-time farmers and veterans who are agriculture producers and businessmen. This bill passed the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 15-0.
Remember to listen to me on KPRV Radio each Thursday morning during the legislative session. And if I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
- Rick West represents District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes part of LeFlore County.
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