Protecting state sovereignty
Last week in the House, I was able to pass Senate Bill 426. As amended, this would prohibit the State of Oklahoma from enforcing any mandates or recommendations by the World Health Organization, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum. This would include those that relate to masks, vaccines, medical testing, or gathering any public or private information about Oklahoma residents. The bill now moves back to the Senate for final consideration.
We also adopted House Resolution 1042,which states that the State of Oklahoma is a sovereign governmental entity and the people of the state have fundamental rights, which should not be subject to the influence of nongovernmental entities such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations or the World Economic Forum. The resolution notes that these organizations should have no jurisdiction in our state nor our political subdivision such as counties, cities, towns, precincts, water districts, school districts and more.
The Biden Administration has proposed rules and regulations that will come to a vote within these organizations that could threaten our state sovereignty and the liberty of all Oklahomans should another pandemic be declared. This preemptive legislation is necessary to keep such dictates from having an affect here in our state.
Our nation was founded on the belief that the state’s should in most cases retain their sovereign rights to operate as the citizens of each state see fit. We already have too much government creep when it comes to ceding power to the federal government. We have no business giving our power or authority to global, nongovernmental entities. We must protect ourselves from this intrusion, which threatens the freedoms we hold so dear.
Also last week, House Bill 1010 was signed into law by the governor. This bill, relating to the Central Purchasing Act, will allow a state agency to purchase equipment from a local business if they can acquire what they need at or below state contract pricing. This was a request from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Department of Tourism. It would keep these and other agencies from having to go out of state to get any equipment they might need. This would help places like Wister State Park. It’s important to rural counties that might not have quick access to large suppliers.
Senate Bill 1442 also was signed by the governor. This bill will extend permit renewals for poultry waste applications from one year to five years for $75. This is a request bill from several constituents in our House district who say this will be much more convenient than having to renew each year. All regulations regarding the spread of the poultry litter remain in place.
As always, 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 serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.