Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

2018 Oklahoma legislative session

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
SLP badge.png
2018 legislative sessions coverage
Oklahoma State Legislature

Seal of Oklahoma.svg.png
General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   12 cumulative years in both chambers combined
Session start:   February 5, 2018
Session end:   May 3, 2018[1]
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Todd Lamb (R)
House Speaker:  Charles McCall (R)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Greg Treat (R)
House: Jon Echols (R)
Minority Leader:   Senate: John Sparks (D)
House: Steve Kouplen (D)
Structure
Members:  48 (Senate), 101 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary:   $38,400/year + per diem
Elections
Redistricting:  Oklahoma Legislature has control

This page provides an overview of the 2018 Oklahoma State Legislature and its general and special sessions. The timelines below contain noteworthy events from the sessions Ballotpedia curated throughout the year.

One of the main issues legislators faced was a statewide public education strike. Educators went on strike April 2—four days after Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed a tax increase bill that would raise teacher pay. It ended April 12, when the Oklahoma Education Association declared the end of the strike after a week with no legislative response to educator demands.[2] Click here for more information.

In 2018, the Oklahoma State Legislature was in session from February 5 through May 3. The legislature adjourned three weeks prior to its expected adjournment date of May 25.[3] The legislature also held a special session from December 18, 2017, to April 19, 2018.[4]

Click the links below to access relevant session information:

If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview

Partisan control

Oklahoma was one of 26 Republican state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.

The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Oklahoma State Legislature in the 2018 legislative session.

Senate

Party As of July 2018
     Democratic Party 8
     Republican Party 39
     Vacancies 1
Total 48

House

Party As of July 2018
     Democratic Party 27
     Republican Party 72
     Vacancies 2
Total 101

Leadership in 2018

Senate

House

Status of legislation

Status of legislation
Legislation Subject area Actions during the regular session Status at the end of the regular session
HB 3375 Expand authorized casino games Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed
SB 1030 Change Medicaid eligibility threshold Passed Senate
 Did not see further action
SB 1078 Add fentanyl to list of drugs eligible for felony trafficking charge Passed legislature Governor signed
HB 2632 Authorize individuals to use deadly force for self-defense in places of worship Passed Senate
Passed House 		Governor signed
SB 1212 Allow carrying a gun without a permit Passed legislature Governor vetoed
SB 133 Raise teacher pay Passed Senate Did not see further action
SB 1446 Limit prescription opioids Passed legislature Governor signed
SB 1600 Budget Passed legislature Governor signed
Status of legislation at the end of the 2018 special session
Legislation Subject area Actions during the special session Status at the end of the special session
HB 1033xx Raise revenue in fiscal year 2019 Introduced Failed to pass House
Failed to pass Senate
HB 1020xx Budget adjustment for fiscal year 2018 Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 1010xx Raise taxes for teacher pay raises Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 1011xx Change state income tax code Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 1023xx Change teacher salary schedule Passed legislature Governor signed
House Bill 1019xx Require sales tax collection on internet sales Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 1012xx Repeal $5-per-night hotel tax from HB 1010xx Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor signed

Regular session

March 8, 2018

House approves bill expanding casino games
The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved HB 3375 by a vote of 68 to 22.[5] The bill would allow casinos to offer ball and dice games, like roulette and craps, and sports betting pools. The state would receive 10 percent of the monthly net proceeds. According to a bill summary, the legislation would raise an estimated $24 million in fiscal year 2019.[6]

HB 3375 was similar to a bill considered in the state's special session that was approved by the House on March 26 by a 72-27 vote.[7]

The Oklahoma State Senate said it would meet on April 6 to consider HB 3375. If the bill passed, the revenue would be earmarked towards education funding.[8]

Update: The state Senate approved HB 3375 on April 6, and Gov. Fallin signed it on April 10.

March 12, 2018

Oklahoma Senate advances bill changing Medicaid eligibility threshold
The Oklahoma State Senate advanced by a vote of 25 to 17 legislation that would order the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to ask for federal government authorization to decrease the Medicaid eligibility threshold for parents and caretakers from 40 percent or below the federal poverty level ($20,420 for a family of three) to 20 percent ($4,084 for a family of three), meaning parents or caretakers would be ineligible to receive Medicaid if they earn more than 20 percent of the federal poverty level.[9] A summary of the bill said that of the 106,624 people enrolled in Medicaid under the caretaker/parent group for fiscal year 2017, 40.9 percent (43,611) would no longer be eligible for Medicaid. The summary also estimated the bill would result in $84.1 million in savings.[10] The bill was sent to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.

Update: The legislation was sent to the state House, where it did not see further action in 2018.

April 6, 2018

Lawmakers pass bill allowing ball and dice games in casinos
The Oklahoma State Senate approved HB 3375 in a 29-16 vote, sending it to Gov. Mary Fallin's (R) desk. HB 3375 would allow casinos in the state to offer ball and dice games and sports betting pools. The measure was expected to raise $24 million, earmarked for education spending.[11]

Update: Gov. Fallin signed HB 3375 on April 10.

April 9, 2018

Fallin signs bill adding fentanyl to list of drugs eligible for felony trafficking charge
Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 1078, which adds fentanyl to the list of drugs eligible for a felony charge. Other eligible drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and oxycodone.[12] Under the bill, possession of "one gram or more of a mixture containing fentanyl or carfentanil, or any fentanyl analogs or derivative" is punishable by a $100,000 to $500,000 fine.[13]

The Oklahoma State Senate approved SB 1078 on March 6 by a 42-1 vote, and the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill on April 2.[14]

The legislation was recommended by the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse, which was created by Attorney General Mike Hunter (R) to help combat the opioid epidemic in Oklahoma.[12] Read more here.

April 10, 2018

Gov. Fallin signs gaming bill to raise education funds
Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed HB 3375. A press release from the governor described the bill as allowing "tribal casinos to use traditional roulette and dice games, which were specifically prohibited since a 2004 vote of the people. Exclusivity fees generated by the change will put substantial additional dollars into education."[15] The bill summary estimated $24 million in revenue in 2019.[6]

April 12, 2018

Legislature approves bill authorizing Self-Defense Act in places of worship
The Oklahoma State Senate voted 42 to 1 in favor of HB 2632, which would add places of worship to the list of locations where individuals are authorized to use deadly force to defend themselves or others. Oklahoma law at the time of the bill's passage authorized the use of deadly force in a home/residence, vehicle, and/or place of business. The House passed HB 2632 on March 6 by a 62-21 vote. A second House vote on Senate-approved amendments was required for the bill to be sent to the governor's desk.[16][17]

Update: The House approved Senate amendments legislation on April 30, and Gov. Fallin signed it on May 7.

May 2, 2018

Legislature sends bill allowing gun carrying without a permit to governor's desk
The Oklahoma State Legislature sent Senate Bill 1212 to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin's desk. The bill would allow individuals 21 and older to carry handguns, openly or concealed, without a permit. It would also remove the training requirement for carrying a firearm. At the time of the bill's passage, Oklahoma required individuals to have a license to carry a handgun.[18]

Rick Adams, deputy director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, an agency that issues handgun licenses, told The Associated Press that he was opposed to the bill for reasons of public safety. It would also reduce the bureau's budget by an estimated $4.7 million per year.[18]

Several Republican gubernatorial candidates, including Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb, Gary Richardson, Dan Fisher, and Mick Cornett encouraged Fallin to sign the bill, emphasizing their belief that carrying firearms without a permit was a constitutional right.[19]

Gov. Fallin's office did not comment on whether she would sign the bill.[18]

Update: Gov. Mary Fallin (R) vetoed the bill on May 11.

Gov. Fallin signs bill limiting prescription opioids
Gov. Fallin signed SB 1446, which established limits on prescription opioids, prohibiting practitioners from prescribing more than a seven-day supply for patients with acute pain. The law went into effect November 1, 2018.[20]

See also: Opioid prescription limits and policies by state

Special session from December 18, 2017, to April 19, 2018

Gov. Mary Fallin (R) called for a special session that began on December 18, 2017, to address a $111 million budget gap in the 2018 fiscal year. Fallin amended her original budget call in January 2018, asking legislators to agree on a revenue plan that would increase the cigarette tax, oil and gas gross production tax, diesel and gasoline tax; expand games allowed in tribal casinos; and make changes to the state income tax code.[21][22]

February 12, 2018

Tax increase bill fails to pass state House
The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 63 to 35 on HB 1033xx, a revenue-raising bill that needed a three-fourths supermajority (76 votes) to pass. The bill was projected to raise $581.4 million in fiscal year 2019 by increasing taxes on tobacco, motor fuels, and oil and natural gas production.[23][24] A second bill dependent on HB 1033xx would have raised teacher pay by $5,000.[25]

February 19, 2018

Oklahoma State House passes 2018 budget
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a budget through June 30, 2018—the end of the fiscal year. HB 1020xx decreased funding to all state agencies by approximately 2 percent. According to the Tahlequah Daily Press, "The cuts are expected to save about $44.7 million, according to budget analysts. Lawmakers plan to use cash to fill the rest of the $98 million shortfall."[26] HB 1020xx was sent to the Oklahoma State Senate for approval.

Update: The Senate approved HB 1020xx on February 21 and Gov. Fallin signed it on February 27.

March 14, 2018

Senate passes teacher pay raise, fails to approve funds
The Oklahoma State Senate voted on two bills—HB 1033xx and SB 133—related to a teacher pay raise, approving a measure (SB 133) to raise teacher pay 12.7 percent by a 35 to 11 vote but failing to pass a revenue package (HB 1033xx) to fund the raise. Senators voted 34 to 12 on HB 1033xx—two votes short of the 36-vote supermajority required to pass revenue-raising legislation. The revenue package would have increased the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, gasoline and diesel taxes by 6 cents, and the gross production tax on oil and natural gas to 4 percent. The measure was estimated to generate $450 million.[27]

According to the Oklahoma Education Association, the bill would give teachers a $5,000 raise and state employees a $2,500 raise.[28] The group previously demanded a $10,000 teacher pay raise, which Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz (R) said was unrealistic. Oklahoma teachers announced they would begin a strike on April 2 unless lawmakers approve teacher pay raises before then.[27]

March 26, 2018

Oklahoma House approves tax bill to raise teacher pay
The Oklahoma House of Representatives advanced House Bill 1010xx, which would raise taxes in order to give teachers a pay raise. The bill would raise $447 million in revenue by increasing gasoline and diesel taxes and taxes on oil and natural gas production. It would also place a $5 room tax on hotels and raise the cigarette tax by $1. HB 1010xx would provide new teachers with a $5,000 salary increase and experienced teachers with a $7,700 increase. The House approved the legislation by a 79-19 vote. It was sent to the state Senate for consideration.

The bill's proposal to raise teacher salaries addressed concerns expressed by state educators, who announced they would protest starting April 2 unless lawmakers raised teacher pay. At the time of the bill's passage in the House, it was unclear whether teachers would strike. The Oklahoma Education Association continued to encourage a walkout.[29]

Legislators approved a bill that would raise teacher pay but failed to approve a measure to fund the raise on March 14.

Update: The state Senate approved HB 1010xx on March 28, and Gov. Fallin signed it on March 29.

March 28, 2018

Teacher pay raise bill clears Senate
The Oklahoma State Senate voted 36 to 10 in favor of HB 1010xx, which would raise taxes on gasoline and diesel, cigarettes, hotels, and oil and natural gas production in order to give teachers a pay raise—the first in a decade. Legislators agreed to pass a separate bill repealing the $5-per-night hotel tax.[30][31]

Senators also passed House Bill 1011xx, which would change the state income tax code to raise $84.3 million in additional funds for teacher pay raises.[30]

HB 1010xx was sent to Gov. Mary Fallin (R), who expressed support for the legislation.

The bill would raise revenue to increase teacher salaries by 16 percent (about $6,000) in the next fiscal year. The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) sought a $10,000 pay raise over three years for teachers and a $5,000 raise for school personnel.[30][31]

Time reported that Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), encouraged teachers to still strike on April 2: "This package does not overcome the shortfall that has caused four-day weeks, overcrowded classrooms that deprive kids of the one-on-one attention they need. We must show up on April 2. We must keep fighting for everything our students deserve."[32]

Update: Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed HB 1010xx and HB 1011xx on March 29.

March 29, 2018

Gov. Fallin signs teacher pay raise bill into law
Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed three bills that increase pay for teachers and other state employees. The package of bills funds a 16 percent ($6,100) teacher pay raise.

  • HB 1010xx raises funds to provide a teacher pay raise. For more information, click here.
  • HB 1023xx establishes a new teacher salary schedule, increasing teacher pay beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.
  • HB 1011xx limits deductions on adjusted gross income to $17,000.

In a press release, Fallin said, "By signing these measures, Oklahoma will move to second-highest in the region, up from the lowest, in average teacher pay. It is the largest teacher pay raise in the history of the state."[33]

The funding package did not meet the demands of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), which released a statement calling for educators to strike on Monday, April 2: "The goal of Oklahoma educators has always been to avoid a walk out, because lawmakers continue breaking promises, even promises made less than 24 hours ago, we call on schools to remain closed on Monday so educators can send a clear message at the Capitol: Oklahoma educators won’t stand for these games any longer."[34]

April 4, 2018

State House approves education tax bill
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House Bill 1019xx, a bill that would require third-party vendors on the internet, such as Amazon, to pay state sales taxes. The measure would raise a projected $20 million in funds that would be allocated to education. Legislators approved the bill on the third day of the teacher strike that began on April 2.[35]

House members approved the legislation by a vote of 92 to 7. It was sent to the state Senate.[36]

Update: The state Senate approved HB 1019xx on April 6, and Gov. Fallin signed it on April 10.

April 6, 2018

Lawmakers approve bill related to education funds
In a rare Friday session, the Oklahoma State Legislature sent two special session bills and one regular session bill to Gov. Mary Fallin's desk.

The Oklahoma State Senate voted 42 to 2 in favor of HB 1019xx, which would require internet vendors like Amazon to pay state sales taxes. Senators projected the bill would raise $20 million.

The Senate also approved HB 1012xx by a 42-3 vote. HB 1012xx would repeal the $5-per-night hotel tax provision of the revenue package signed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on March 29. The revenue package raised revenue to fund a teacher pay raise. A press release from the state Senate said that funds from HB 1019xx would make up for any funds lost by repealing the hotel tax.[8]

Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Gov. Fallin to veto HB 1012xx.[37] Read more here.

Update: Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed both bills on April 10.

April 10, 2018

Gov. Fallin signs bills related to education funding
Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed two bills related to education funding.

Fallin signed HB 1019xx, which requires "third-party online retailers to collect and remit sales tax back to state coffers." A press release from the governor projected the legislation would bring in $20.5 million for public schools.[15]

Fallin also signed HB 1012xx, which repealed a $5-per-night tax on hotel and motel rooms. The tax was part of a revenue package to raise teacher pay that Gov. Fallin signed in March.[15] The repeal of the $5 hotel tax angered educators, and Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Fallin to veto the bill.[37] In the press release, Fallin said, "The revenue package that funded the teacher pay raises would not have passed the Senate with the required super majority, or three-fourths support, had a bipartisan agreement not been struck to repeal the hotel/motel tax."[15]

Budget

2018

Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed a $7.6 billion budget bill on April 30, 2018. The budget contained the following provisions:

  • An increase in education funding by 19.8 percent, including $353 million for teacher pay raises, $52 million for school support staff pay raises, $24 million for health benefits, and $33 million for textbooks.
  • $11 million for criminal justice changes, including $5 million for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to pay for risk/needs assessments and fund drug and mental health treatment courts and $4.8 million for the Department of Corrections to install a new tracking and monitoring system.
  • $23 million for the Department of Human Services to fund programs such as the Pinnacle Plan, which aids students in state custody.

In a press release, Gov. Fallin said, "For the first time in years, no agency is receiving a cut. This budget provides a long-term solution to the re-occurring budget deficits and helps reduce the reliance on one-time funds."[38] However, Rep. Scott Inman (D) said the budget did not replace millions of dollars of budget cuts that happened over time: "You [are] going to go home and tell your constituents that cutting higher ed by 26 percent, the health department by 27 percent, by cutting common ed when you adjust for inflation by 32 percent, by cutting career tech by 25 percent, juvenile affairs 18 percent, veterans 20 percent over the last decade that somehow they ought to be thankful for that."[39] Read more here.

Process

See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances
Oklahoma on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[40]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor by October 1.
  3. Agency hearings are held from November through January.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February.
  5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Oklahoma is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[40][41]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[40]

Noteworthy events

Oklahoma public school teachers strike

Schools closed across the state as teachers went on strike—the first since 1990—on April 2, 2018, to protest a lack of education funding. The strike occurred four days after Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed a tax increase bill that would raise teacher pay. It lasted for nine days, ending on April 12, 2018, when the Oklahoma Education Association declared the end of the strike after a week in which there was no legislative response to educator demands.[2]

Background

  • The National Education Association (NEA) ranked the average salary for Oklahoma teachers ($45,292) in 2017 as one of the lowest (50th) out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Teacher salaries were lower in Mississippi. The national average for teacher salaries in 2017 was $59,660.[42]
  • The NEA also ranked Oklahoma among the states with the lowest per-student spending (ranked 45th) in 2017, at $8,249. The national average for per-pupil expenditures in 2017 was $11,642.[42]
  • According to The Oklahoman, education funding when adjusted for inflation decreased 28 percent per student between 2008 and 2018, and student enrollment increased 8 percent.[43]
  • Oklahoma school funding is linked to the state budget and was impacted by the decline in oil and natural gas prices, a major tax revenue source for the state.[44]
  • Tax increases require a three-fourths majority in the state.[44]
  • Voters rejected a ballot initiative in 2016 to increase teacher salaries by $5,000 through a 1 percentage point increase in the sales tax. The measure failed 59.4 percent to 40.6 percent.
  • The last teacher strike occurred in 1990 and the state legislature responded by passing a bill that, among other things, increased taxes to pay for raises. An attempt to repeal the bill through an initiated constitutional amendment failed in October 1991. However, in March 1992 voters passed State Question 640, which required voter approval for tax increases unless three-fourths (75 percent) of each legislative chamber voted for the increases. After this, no tax increases were approved until 2017.[45]

March 8: Oklahoma Education Association demands funding, threatens strike

  • The Oklahoma Education Association threatened to strike beginning April 2 if lawmakers did not approve $800 million in education funding, including a $10,000 teacher pay raise and a $5,000 school support staff pay raise, before then. OEA President Alicia Priest said raises could be funded over the course of three years, beginning with a $6,000 raise for the next fiscal year. The association also demanded $200 million in public school funding. According to The Oklahoman, the OEA suggested increasing the gross production tax, income tax, and cigarette tax, as possibilities for funding their demands.[46]
  • House Speaker Charles McCall (R) issued a statement before the OEA's press conference in which he said the Republican caucus supported raising revenue to increase teacher pay but had no help from Democrats.[46]

March 14: Lawmakers pass pay raise but fail to approve funds

  • On March 14 lawmakers approved a bill to raise teacher pay by 12.7 percent but failed to pass a measure that would have funded the raise. Lawmakers were two votes short of the required three-fourths majority.
  • According to the Oklahoma Education Association, the bill would have given teachers a $5,000 raise and state employees a $2,500 raise.[47]

March 28: Teacher pay raise clears legislature

  • A bill to raise teacher pay by 16 percent, about $6,000, cleared the state legislature on March 28. The bill proposed raising taxes on gasoline and diesel, cigarettes, hotels, and oil and natural gas production.[30]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association continued to encourage a strike, tweeting, "April 2 is still on. Our ask is still our ask. The House is considering a number of bills tonight that could be a step in the right direction. We’re still asking for a complete package, including funding for years 2 and 3."[48]

March 29: Gov. Fallin signs pay raise into law

  • Gov. Fallin signed a package of bills intended to raise $450 million in revenue towards increasing teacher pay and providing additional education funding. It was the state's first tax increase in 25 years.[49]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association released a statement calling for educators to strike on April 2: "The goal of Oklahoma educators has always been to avoid a walk out, because lawmakers continue breaking promises, even promises made less than 24 hours ago, we call on schools to remain closed on Monday so educators can send a clear message at the Capitol: Oklahoma educators won’t stand for these games any longer."[50]

April 2: Teachers walk out

  • Schools closed across the state as teachers went on strike for the first time in 30 years to protest a lack of education funding. About 200 of the state's 512 school districts closed.[51]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) continued to call for a $10,000 pay raise over three years, a $5,000 raise for school support staff and state employees, and $200 million in additional education funding.[51]
  • Ellen Kraft, a teacher at Truman Primary in Norman, Oklahoma, told Oklahoma News 4: "You can’t cut 28%, and then fill it with half of that and call it a day. There’s more work to be done than that."[52]
  • Gov. Mary Fallin (R) issued a statement saying, "I appreciate teachers coming to the Capitol today to talk with their elected officials. ... Just like Oklahoma families, we are only able to do what our budget allows. Significant revenue-raising measures were approved to make this pay raise and additional school funding possible. We must be responsible not to neglect other areas of need in the state such as corrections and health and human services as we continue to consider additional education funding measures. I look forward to continuing to talk with legislative leaders and teachers as we forge a positive pathway forward for education."[53]
  • OEA President Alicia Priest said before the strike, "Teachers are so drastically underpaid they are forced to donate plasma, work multiple jobs and go to food pantries to provide for their families. Oklahoma is better than this."[44]

April 3: State's 10 largest districts remain closed

  • Oklahoma's 10 largest school districts remained closed on April 3.[54] Teachers, parents and students statewide protested declining education funding.[44]
  • The Oklahoma City Public Schools system, the largest school district in the state, announced that classes were cancelled for April 4: "Classes are cancelled again tomorrow, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. We are hopeful that our legislators will continue working this afternoon toward a solution, but we wanted to make this decision as early as possible to give our families adequate time to plan."[55]
  • Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb (R), a candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial election, said that a minimum of 65 percent of education funding should be allocated for teacher pay, textbooks, technology, and in-classroom infrastructure.[56]
  • Rep. Kevin McDugle (R) posted a Facebook video which he later removed saying that he disagreed with teachers' behavior and would not vote for another education funding measure "when they’re acting the way they’re acting." He continued, "I understand the frustration, but this is not the way to go about it. You’re losing support of people who supported you all year long."[57]
McDugle later released a second video apologizing for the way the first video came across and saying, "I have voted for teachers. I will continue to vote for teachers." He reiterated his belief that teachers were losing public support because of the strike.[58]
Cyndi Ralston, a school teacher with Haskell Public Schools, announced on Facebook that she would be running as a Democratic against McDugle for the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 12 seat. She said that McDugle "disrespected and denigrated teachers and administrators who have come to the capitol to protest the legislature’s wholly inadequate support for education," and continued, "Republican members of the legislature have made it crystal clear that they do not believe they work for us, that our concerns do not matter."[59]

April 4: State House approves education tax bill

  • Teachers from the state's largest school districts continued to strike on April 4. They demanded revenue-raising legislation that would eliminate the capital gains income tax deduction and expand tribal gaming. The measures, which face Republican opposition, would bring in about $120 million and $20 million, respectively.[60]
  • The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation that would raise a projected $20 million for education by requiring third-party sellers on the internet to pay state sales taxes.[35]
    • Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) President Alicia Priest said the bill "is a win for students and educators and signals major progress toward funding the schools our students deserve."[35]
    • Rep. Scott Inman (D) said teachers shouldn't be satisfied with the legislation: ""You're here for more than a $20 million band aid. You're here for the kids and you're here for fixing the systemic problems facing the budget and education funding in this state."[61]

April 5: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos responds to strike

  • U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos reportedly said teachers should think about the students: "I think we need to stay focused on what’s right for kids. And I hope that adults would keep adult disagreements and disputes in a separate place, and serve the students that are there to be served."[62]
  • Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King responded to Devos' comment: "We have to be careful not to draw a false distinction between adult issues and student issues. If teachers can't be compensated to the level where they can afford to live and teach in this state, that's not just an adult issue, that's a student issue. If schools don't have adequate resources to provide textbooks, that's not an adult issue, that's a student issue."[63]

April 6: Senate sends education funding bill to governor

  • The Oklahoma State Senate rarely convenes on Fridays but senators were in session April 6 to consider three revenue-raising bills that could provide more education funding.[64]
  • The Senate approved the following bills:
    • HB 1019xx requires internet vendors like Amazon to pay state sales taxes. Senators projected the bill would raise $20 million. They approved the bill 42 to 2.
    • HB 1012xx repeals the $5-per-night hotel tax provision of the revenue package signed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on March 29 that funded part of the teacher pay raise. A press release from the state Senate said that funds from the internet sales tax bill would make up for any funds lost by repealing the hotel tax.[8] The Senate approved the measure 42 to 3.
    • HB 3375 allows casinos in the state to offer ball and dice games and sports betting pools. The measure was expected to raise $24 million. It passed the Senate in a 29-16 vote.[11]
  • Responses to Senate action.
    • Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Republican Gov. Mary Fallin to veto HB 1012xx. She also encouraged lawmakers to vote on a bill removing capital gains exemptions.[37]
    • Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat (R) said the OEA's demands were unclear: "They wanted the Amazon they wanted ball and dice what did you see on our floor, you saw Amazon and ball and dice. I'm not sure what their next set of demands will be."[65]
  • The state's largest districts remained closed.[66]

April 9: Teachers rally at the state capitol, starting second week of strike

  • Teachers rallied at the state capitol in what was reportedly the biggest assembly since the beginning of the protests.[67]
  • Teachers asked the legislature to repeal the capital gains tax exemption and re-implement a $5-per-night hotel tax that lawmakers repealed on April 6. The two measures together would raise a projected $150 million.[67]
  • According to Reuters, schools serving 500,000 of the state's 700,000 public school students were closed.[67]

April 10: Gov. Fallin signs education funding bills

  • Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed two bills to help raise revenue earmarked for education. She also signed a third bill repealing a provision of the revenue package raising teacher pay that she signed in March.
    • HB 1019xx requires third-party online retailers to pay sales taxes to the state. A press release from the governor projected the legislation would bring in $20.5 million for public schools.[15]
    • HB 3375 allows tribal casinos to use traditional roulette and dice games, which were prohibited in 2004. HB 3375 requires casinos to pay 10 percent of the monthly net proceeds from the games to the state.[15] Revenue expected from the bill was estimated at $24 million.[11]
    • HB 1012xx repeals a $5-per-night tax on hotel and motel rooms. Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest called on Fallin to veto HB 1012xx, but Fallin said that the original revenue package containing the $5 hotel tax provision and funding the teacher pay raise would not have passed without an agreement to repeal the hotel tax.[37][15]
  • The Oklahoma Education Association responded that Fallin and the legislature were not doing enough for public education.
  • Republican Rep. John Pfeiffer said, "As far as this year, we’ve accomplished a whole lot, and I just don’t know how much more we can get done this session."[68]
  • Multiple school districts were closed.[69]

April 12: Oklahoma Education Association declares end of strike

  • Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest announced the end of the teacher strike. She applauded educators for securing $479 million in education funding in a matter of weeks and encouraged teachers to focus on elections: "Instead of making our case at the steps of the Capitol, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard at the ballot box."[2]
  • Priest voiced disappointment in Senate Republicans, whom she said refused to provide more education funding. "They say they don't believe Oklahoma students need more funding. They're wrong," she said.[2]
  • Democratic Rep. Emily Virgin tweeted about the strike ending:
  • A statement from Gov. Mary Fallin's (R) office said she appreciated teachers and was glad they were returning to class.[70] The statement also said,
“ I am very proud that Republican lawmakers have led the way on increasing educational expenditures for Oklahoma’s students this session. In addition, they have protected Oklahomans, especially small businesses and farmers, from an irresponsible capital gains tax.[71] ”
  • Teachers demanded that lawmakers repeal the capital gains tax exemption to raise revenue for education funding.[72]
  • Schools in districts such as Moore and Shawnee returned to school. Teachers in Moore, however, responded to the superintendent's order to return with disappointment.
    • The Oklahoman reported that Diane Milam, a chemistry teacher at Southmoore High School, said, "I'm really disappointed that this wasn't communicated better to our teachers. I know that this was a big decision and that he truly cares for every student in our district, but the teachers feel like they had the rug pulled out from under them."[73]


Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods by which the Oklahoma Constitution can be amended:

See also: Section 1, Article V, and Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Oklahoma requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oklahoma State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Oklahoma State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 2 of Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. However, the last time Oklahomans voted on such a question was in 1970.[74] According to the State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, "Since 1970, Oklahoma’s legislature has refused to follow its Constitution with regard to this provision. In 1994, it placed a referendum on the ballot to eliminate this requirement, but the people of Oklahoma defeated it. Since 1990, many bills have been introduced to implement this part of the Constitution but none has passed."[75]


See also

Elections Oklahoma State Government State Legislatures State Politics
Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
Oklahoma State Flag-Close Up.jpg
State Houses-Tile image.png
State Courts-Tile image.png

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The legislature adjourned three weeks prior to its anticipated adjournment date of May 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 KTUL, "OEA ends teacher walkout after 9 days, shifts focus to November elections," April 12, 2018
  3. ↑ Bartlesville Radio, "State Legislature Adjourns Early," May 4, 2018
  4. ↑ Tulsa World, "Oklahoma special session ends; regular 2018 legislative session continues next week," April 20, 2018
  5. ↑ Oklahoma State Legislature, "Bill Information for HB 3375," accessed April 6, 2018
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oklahoma State Legislature, "Bill summary: HB 3375," March 2, 2018
  7. ↑ Oklahoma State Legislature, "Bill Information for HB 1013," accessed April 6, 2018
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Oklahoma Senate, "Oklahoma Senate to take up revenue measures Friday," April 5, 2018
  9. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Senate votes to tighten Medicaid eligibility limits," March 13, 2018
  10. ↑ Oklahoma State Senate, "SB 1030: Bill Summary and Fiscal Impact," accessed March 14, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Non Doc, "Senate sends 'ball and dice,' Amazon bills to governor," April 6, 2018
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Signs Bill to Help Tackle Oklahoma's Opioid Abuse Epidemic," April 9, 2018
  13. ↑ Oklahoma Legislature, "Bill summary: SB 1078," March 26, 2018
  14. ↑ Oklahoma Legislature, "Bill information for SB 1078," accessed April 11, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Signs Legislation Repealing Hotel/Motel Tax," April 10, 2018
  16. ↑ Tulsa World, "State Senate approves 'stand your ground' provision for churches," April 13, 2018
  17. ↑ Oklahoma State Legislature, "Bill Information for HB 2632: Engrossed," accessed April 16, 2018
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 U.S. News & World Report, "Oklahoma Governor Faces Decision on Gun Carry Without Permit," May 3, 2018
  19. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Several GOP Governor Candidates Urge Fallin to Sign Gun Law," May 7, 2018
  20. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Opioid prescribing laws to change Nov. 1," October 19, 2018
  21. ↑ The Bond Buyer, "Oklahoma's second special session week before Christmas," December 8, 2017
  22. ↑ The Miami News-Record, "Gov. Fallin amends second special session call," January 20, 2018
  23. ↑ News9.com, "Bill On Tax Increase, Teacher Pay Fails To Pass House," February 13, 2018
  24. ↑ Oklahoma State Legislature, "Fiscal Impact Statement," February 10, 2018
  25. ↑ Fox 25 News, "Step Up Oklahoma plan fails to garner enough votes to pass House," February 13, 2018
  26. ↑ Tahlequah Daily Press, "State House advances budget-balancing plan," February 20, 2018
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Tulsa World, "State Senate passes 12.7 percent teacher pay raise but fails to pass measure to fund it," March 15, 2018
  28. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association on March 15, 2018," accessed March 15, 2018
  29. ↑ News9.com, "State House Passes Deal, But Likely Won't Stop April 2 Walkout," March 26, 2017
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 The Shawnee News-Star, "Potential teacher strike: Deal reached on teacher pay hike, goes to Fallin," March 28, 2018
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 KFGO, "Oklahoma approves tax hike to avert teachers' strike," March 29, 2018
  32. ↑ Time, "Oklahoma Teachers Just Got a $6,100 Pay Raise. They're Going to Strike Anyway," March 29, 2018
  33. ↑ Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Signs Revenue Package to Fund Largest Teacher Pay Raise in State History," March 29, 2018
  34. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association," March 29, 2018
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Reuters, "Oklahoma House approves education tax bill amid teacher walkout," April 4, 2018
  36. ↑ Oklahoma Legislature, "Bill Information for HB 1019," accessed April 5, 2018
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 Tulsa World, "Update: OEA calls for veto of hotel/motel tax repeal, vote on capital gains tax exemption," April 7, 2018
  38. ↑ KRMG, "Gov. Fallin signs $7.6 billion Oklahoma budget bill," May 1, 2018
  39. ↑ Newson6.com, "Historic State Budget Passes House, Senate," April 27, 2018
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  41. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 The National Education Association, "Rankings of the States 2017 and Estimates of School Statistics 2018," April 2018
  43. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Your guide to the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 1, 2018
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 Governing, "Teachers Strike in Oklahoma and Protest in Kentucky," April 3, 2018
  45. ↑ Brookings, "Not just a ‘red-state revolt’: The story behind the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 12, 2018
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 The Oklahoman, "OEA demands pay raise for teachers and school staff," March 8, 2018
  47. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association on March 15, 2018," accessed March 15, 2018
  48. ↑ News9.com, "State House Passes Deal, But Likely Won't Stop April 2 Walkout," March 26, 2017
  49. ↑ KFOR, "House passes bill to fund teacher, state employee pay raises," March 26, 2018
  50. ↑ Facebook, "Oklahoma Education Association," March 29, 2018
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 PBS, "What you need to know about the Oklahoma teacher walkout," April 2, 2018
  52. ↑ Fortune, "What You Need to Know about Teachers on Strike in 2018," April 3, 2018
  53. ↑ Governor Mary Fallin, "Governor Mary Fallin Statement on Oklahoma Teacher Rally," April 2, 2018
  54. ↑ AZcentral.com, "Teacher walkouts to close all 10 of Oklahoma's largest school districts Tuesday," April 2, 2018
  55. ↑ The Hill, "Oklahoma schools to close for third day due to teachers' strike," April 3, 2018
  56. ↑ Fox News Insider, "Oklahoma Teacher Strike: Lt. Gov. Calls for Minimum Requirement for Classroom Funding," April 3, 2018
  57. ↑ Tulsa World, "'Go ahead, be pissed at me': Oklahoma lawmaker walks back vow not to vote for education," April 4, 2018
  58. ↑ Koco News 5, "Oklahoma lawmaker's video in response to teacher walkout stirs controversy," April 3, 2018
  59. ↑ Facebook, "Cyndi Ralston for Oklahoma House District 12 on April 3, 2018," accessed April 5, 2018
  60. ↑ Kentucky New Era, "As Oklahoma teachers strike drags on, frustration mounts," April 4, 2018
  61. ↑ NewsOn6.com, "State Senate Expected To Vote Thursday On Education Funding Measure," April 5, 2018
  62. ↑ The Washington Post, "Betsy DeVos to Oklahoma teachers: 'Serve the students,'" April 9, 2018
  63. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Past and present ed secretaries comment on walkout," April 9, 2018
  64. ↑ KTUU, "Teacher protests: Oklahoma lawmakers planning rare Friday sessions," April 5, 2018
  65. ↑ NewsOn6.com, "State Senator Responds To OEA Demands," April 8, 2018
  66. ↑ NPR, "Oklahoma's Teachers Continue Walkout As Lawmakers Vote On Giving Them More Money," April 5, 2018
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 Reuters, "Oklahoma teachers press lawmakers for tax plan to end strike," April 9, 2018
  68. ↑ Reuters, "Striking Oklahoma teachers push for more funds, Republicans say done," April 11, 2018
  69. ↑ Oklahoma News 4, "List of Oklahoma school districts closed Wednesday, for 8th day of teacher walkout," April 10, 2018
  70. ↑ Governor Mary Fallin, "Gov. Fallin Statement on End of Nine-Day Public School Teacher Walkout," April 12, 2018
  71. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  72. ↑ The New York Times, "Oklahoma Teachers End Walkout After Winning Raises and Additional Funding," April 12, 2018
  73. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Morning Bell: Walkout continues, but some return to class," April 12, 2018
  74. ↑ Sooner Politics, "An Oklahoma Constitutional Convention Is Being Drawn Up", July 2, 2015
  75. ↑ State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, "Periodic Constitutional Convention Comparative Information"; retrieved January 4, 2016
v • e
State legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
SLP badge.png
2025
2024
2023
Historical elections
2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000
Features of
state legislatures
State senates
State houses
Leadership positions
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=2018_Oklahoma_legislative_session&oldid=7587325"