The following legislative action took place from April 10-16:

House Approves Bill to Eliminate Wind Tax Credit

On Wednesday, April 15, the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation that eliminates a tax credit for the state’s wind energy industry.

Senate Bill 502 bans companies engaged in using the wind to produce electricity from claiming the state’s new investment tax credit. The industry has never used that tax credit. Other tax credits routinely claimed by the wind energy industry will remain available.

The legislation now returns to the Oklahoma Senate.

Bill Headed to Governor Increases Penalties for Assault on Off-Duty Officer

On Wednesday, April 15, the Oklahoma Senate approved legislation to increase the penalty for assaulting an off-duty law enforcement officer.

Currently, the assailant would face a felony charge for an assault on a uniformed officer, but only a misdemeanor if off-duty.

House Bill 1318 now proceeds to the governor’s desk.

House Approves Charter School Bill

On Tuesday, April 14, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted to allow rural school districts to sponsor a charter school.

Senate Bill 782 allows all Oklahoma school districts to adopt a charter school model. It also provides a way for the community to override a school board in order to create a charter school.

The measure has the support of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, the Oklahoma Education Workforce Initiative and various chambers of commerce from around the state.

If House amendments are approved by the Senate, the measure will proceed to the governor’s desk.

Bill to Allow Older Volunteer Firefighters Heads to Governor

On Tuesday, April 14, the Oklahoma Senate approved legislation to eliminate the current age limit of 45 for new volunteer firefighters.

House Bill 2005 gives potential volunteers the option to join without a pension if they are above the age of 45.

The legislation now proceeds to the governor’s desk.

Measure Protecting Private Property Rights Heads to Governor

On Tuesday, April 14, the Oklahoma Senate approved a bill to protect the property rights of Oklahomans by restricting how small municipalities annex land.

House Bill 1456 would modify municipality annexation procedures by requiring written consent of at least a majority of the property owners to be annexed. The bill also prohibits municipalities of less than 12,000 citizens from annexing more than eight square miles at one time.

Supporters of the measure included the Oklahoma Municipal League and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

The bill now proceeds to the governor’s desk.

Right-to-try Measure Heads to Governor

On Tuesday, April 14, the Oklahoma Senate approved a measure to help terminally ill patients get experimental medicine.

House Bill 1074 would loosen restrictions on patients who have a terminal illness and cannot get into clinical trials. The legislation would allow those who qualify to receive pharmaceuticals that have passed initial safety trials but haven’t been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Under the bill, drug manufacturers wouldn’t be forced to provide the drug. Liability provisions in the measure protect drug companies, insurers, patients and doctors.

The proposed law is part of a national push by the Goldwater Institute.

The legislation now proceeds to the governor’s desk.

Measure to Reduce Recidivism Passes Senate

On Monday, April 13, the Oklahoma Senate passed a measure which could reduce criminal recidivism by allowing nonviolent offenders to have greater ability to reenter the workforce and become productive citizens.

House Bill 2179 would change current law to allow nonviolent offenders who are on probation to obtain a commercial driver’s license, thus increasing their marketability to employers during that probation time-period. License holders will only be able to utilize their privileges for the purpose of employment.

Currently, the Department of Public Safety allows people on probation to obtain a provisional noncommercial driver’s license only. Rehabilitated offenders on average owe hefty fines to DPS when they are released which financially prevents them from obtaining a CDL for employment. This bill allows them to pay $25 a month toward those fines and obtain a CDL. Offenders who are not on probation and have a suspended or revoked CDL license due to DUI will not be eligible.

The legislation will now go to the desk of Gov. Mary Fallin.

Open Carry for Reformed Offenders Measure Heads to Governor

On Monday, April 13, the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a measure to allow and individual convicted of a drug misdemeanor to obtain an open carry permit.

Senate Bill 164 would allow individuals with a misdemeanor conviction to apply for an open carry permit 10 years after they complete their sentence and/or parole.

The legislation now proceeds to the governor’s desk.

Governor Signs Human Trafficking Wiretap Bill

On Friday, April 10, Gov. Mary Fallin signed a measure into law that will expand wiretapping statutes to cover crimes of human trafficking for labor, commercial sex and the prostitution of children.

House Bill 1006 was approved by a vote of 91-0 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives earlier this year. Wiretap approval involves the attorney general’s office and the approval of an Oklahoma Supreme Court justice.

Prosecutors and law enforcement will be able to use the new law to pursue human traffickers without relying on the cooperation of victims, who are often too afraid to testify or even provide information to investigators.

The law will take effect Nov. 1.