House passes 214 Senate bills
In the House, Thursday was the third-reading deadline for bills to advance from the opposite chamber. In total, the Senate ended up passing 242 House measures, while the House advanced 214 Senate measures.
My two remaining House bills passed the Senate last week.
House Bill 2768 was approved by the Senate and will return to the House so I can accept an amendment by the Senate author, which I was agreeable to. The bill would have the dyslexia task force add information on dysgraphia to the State Department of Education’s Dyslexia Handbook. This would help teachers as well as parents to better recognize this learning disability so it can be addressed.
The Senate also approved House Bill 3261, which names the American Quarter Horse as Oklahoma’s official state horse. My granddaughter Julianne requested this bill after realizing Oklahoma didn’t have a state horse, and I’m so glad to see this bill pass both chambers so we can recognize the valuable role the American Quarter Horse has had in our state history. This bill is headed to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for his signature before becoming law.
I also presented Senate Bill 626 on the House floor last week, where it passed 73-4. It helps schools prepare for children who are severely handicapped, neurologically impaired or have an emotional disturbance.
So far, I’ve passed three bills this year and seven total during my time in office. I’ve coauthored dozens more and supported their passage, which I believe have helped improve the lives of Oklahomans, especially the people of House District 15.
Our work at the Legislature is not yet completed. Amended bills will still have to return to their chamber of origin to win final passage. If amendments are not accepted, the measures can be sent to conference committee where final language is deliberated. Bills that emerge with a do-pass recommendation from conference committee face a final vote in each chamber before advancing to Stitt for his consideration of signing them into law. There are a lot of bills that go through the Legislature every year, and it’s easy for misinformation to be circulated outside the Capitol building. If you have any questions, please reach out to my office. My staff and I have years of experiencing reading and interpreting bills and would welcome the opportunity to assist you in understanding these important issues. You may reach me by telephone at (405) 557-7375 or by email at randy.randleman@ okhouse.gov.