Gann warns on unprecedented 'bonus' vote taken by House, dangers of setting new policy

Rep.-Tom Gann Issues Statement on Bonus Vote of SB224 and Warns of the Dangers of Setting New Policy

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 2nd) – Representative Tom Gann (R-Inola) released the following statement on the unprecedented bonus vote taken by the House on Thursday on Senate Bill 224. 

"On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Representative Kyle Hilbert, Speaker of the House, took actions regarding SB224 that did not align with the House Rules of the 60th Legislature. House rules dictate that once a bill is defeated it is not eligible for additional consideration. The House vote to defeat SB224 was considered final action under the rules."

"However, Hilbert, while presiding over the house allowed an additional bonus vote to occur by which the bill was approved. This breaks with years of clearly established House precedent that prevents never ending bonus votes on failed legislation and opens up a Pandoras box of potential abuse. 

What other bills will be allowed a bonus vote?

Allowing SB224 to stand renders it constitutionally infirmed. I urge the members of the House and Senate to reject the bill with restored title and or the Governor to veto SB224."

 

The relevant house rule and written precedent are attached to this release.

 

House Rule 6, Bills And Resolutions,

6.8 – Final Action

(a) The following action shall constitute final action on any

bill or resolution:

1. committee recommendation, including any oversight committee

recommendation or any policy committee recommendation of "Do Not

Pass";

2. if a motion to reconsider the vote on Third Reading or

Fourth Reading fails to prevail or expires;

3. if a motion to table the motion to reconsider prevails; or

4. if a vote is taken on Third Reading or Fourth Reading and no

notice is served to reconsider the vote.

(b) If final action is such as to defeat a bill or resolution,

no other bill or resolution having the same effect and covering the

same specific subject matter shall be considered by the House of

Representatives during either session of the current Legislature.

Page 53

 

On page 209 of Precedents

6.8 – 4 (2010) Motion to Rescind May Not Be Used to

Avoid Final Action

Rule – House Rule 6.8, paragraph (a) states in part:

(a) The following action shall constitute final action on any bill

or resolution:

…a motion to reconsider the vote on Third Reading or Fourth

Reading [that] fails to prevail…

History – Representative Nelson moved to reconsider the vote

whereby Senate Bill 2207 failed, which motion failed of adoption.

Representative Nelson moved to rescind the vote whereby the

reconsideration motion failed.

Representative Reynolds raised a point of order stating that the

motion to rescind was dilatory.

15 Okla. H. Jour., 1542, 1543, 52nd Leg., 1st Reg. Sess. (April 27, 2009).