Small: The political fringe should not control petition process

The political fringe should not control petition process

By Jonathan Small

Supposed advocates of “good government” often decry low voter turnout, arguing that more citizens need to be involved in our political process.

Yet, for some reason, many of those same advocates hold a very different view when it comes to Oklahoma’s initiative petition process. When efforts are made to put a question before all Oklahoma voters, they are fine with largely excluding the vast majority of the state from the petition process.

Fortunately, state policymakers are not so shortsighted.

Ban on obscene adult performances in public passed, heads to Governor to sign

Good bill:

Bill Banning Obscene Adult Performances in Public Goes to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 1st) – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, successfully secured final passage of a bill that bans obscene adult performances on public property or anywhere children may be present. 

On Thursday, the full Senate passed House Bill 1217, prohibiting individuals from performing sexually explicit or obscene acts in public places or areas where minors are present. It also prevents political subdivisions of the state from authorizing or hosting such performances on public property or in spaces that are open to children.

Violators of HB 1217 could be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines.

State law defines obscene material as any representation, performance, depiction or description of sexual conduct that the average person would find patently offensive.

“This bill is about protecting children and ensuring that our public spaces remain safe and family-friendly for all,” Bullard said. “There is no justification for exposing children to obscene, sexual performances, and it defies logic that some cities allow such offensive acts in public places. These inappropriate and obscene performances have no place in our society.”

Senate committee passes bill to criminalize abortion pill trafficking

Bullard Bill to Criminalize Abortion Pill Trafficking Clears Senate Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 22nd) – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, on Monday passed legislation through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that would make it a felony to traffic abortion pills.

House Bill 1168 would create a felony trafficking offense for someone to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver abortion-inducing drugs if that person knows or has reason to believe that the drug will be used by someone to have an illegal abortion as defined in law.

The bill will crack down on those distributing abortion-inducing pills, including delivery services that facilitate home delivery of mifepristone, misoprostol or similar drugs, Bullard said.

Senate committee passes tax credit for Pregnancy Resource Center donations

Senate Committee Approves Tax Credit Bill to Support Pregnancy Resource Centers

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 17th) – The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee this week easily passed legislation to establish an income tax credit for individuals who donate to pregnancy resource centers.

On Monday, the committee advanced House Bill 1201 by Rep. Cody Maynard and Sen. David Bullard, both Republicans from Durant.

The bill provides an income tax credit equal to 70% of what an individual contributes to a nonprofit pregnancy resource center, including entities that provide maternity housing and facilities that offer care for new mothers and their newborn children.

Sen. Bullard: Initiative petition reform needed to protect OK from outside influences

Bullard: Initiative petition reform needed to protect Oklahoma from outside influences

(Oklahoma City, April 7th)  Oklahoma’s initiative petition process was designed to empower the people, allowing residents to bypass the Legislature when lawmakers fail to act in the public’s best interest. Unfortunately, what was once a tool for direct democracy by Oklahomans and for Oklahomans has increasingly been manipulated by out-of-state interest groups and wealthy donors to push left-wing policies in a deeply conservative state. We’re now hearing that the groups that poured money and external resources into campaigns to legalize marijuana, expand Medicaid and push soft-on-crime policies are now among those strategizing on how to legalize abortion on demand through the ballot box and force blanket primaries on our parties. 

Bill to ban trafficking of abortion-inducing drugs passes OK House

Crosswhite Hader Bill to Penalize Trafficking of Abortion-Inducing Drugs Moves to Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 28th) – Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, on Tuesday passed legislation in the House that would outlaw the trafficking of chemical abortion pills.

House Bill 1168 would create a felony trafficking offense for anyone who knows or has reason to know that another person intends to use an abortion-inducing drug and knowingly delivers such a drug to that person or who possesses the drug with intent to deliver it.

State House approves bill requiring free photo voter IDs

House Approves Bill Requiring Photo Voter IDs

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27th) – Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, has passed legislation further enhancing the integrity of Oklahoma's electoral process.

If House Bill 1005 becomes law, all voter identification cards must include a photo of the voter beginning in 2027. Under the bill, Service Oklahoma would be tasked with working with the Secretary of the State Election Board to develop and provide a free photo identification card that meets HB1005's requirements.

Small: Initiative petition transparency an important reform

Initiative petition transparency an important reform

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma’s initiative-petition process allows voters to determine major policy issues, but some system flaws have become apparent. That’s why Oklahomans should support bringing greater transparency to the petition process.

Under Senate Bill 1027, the initiative-petition process would have to include clear language, transparent reporting of funders, and buy-in from a wider swath of Oklahoma.

None of these ideas should be controversial.

BREAKING: State Sen. Paxton defeats Bullard by 1 vote in Pro Tem-designate race

As I just broke on the Muskogee Politico Twitter feed,  establishment pick State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) defeated conservative challenger David Bullard (R-Durant) by one vote in the Oklahoma State Senate GOP caucus vote for President Pro Tempore-designate. 

In the vote to lead the legislature's upper chamber, Paxton received 20 votes to Bullard's 19.

Senate GOP elects Paxton as Pro Tem designee - at least for now

The Republican majority caucus of the Oklahoma Senate met today to elect the President Pro Tempore-designee who will ostensibly lead the chamber for the next legislative term. Again. Remember, the last guy (Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney) was shockingly defeated by a conservative challenger in the June primary. Today's designee, State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle), may not end up as the Pro Tem, either, as some controversy and complications swirled around today's vote.

For example, of the 40 Republicans, at least 11 are not returning to the body after November, due to term limits, not seeking reelection, or (as in McCortney's case) election defeat. These members still got to vote in-caucus on the leader for 2025-2026. Additionally, it seems that several conservative senators are in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, and were not present for the meeting. Perhaps this was by design.

Rep. Williams, Sens. Bullard and Jett to host March 26th medical freedom group hearing at State Capitol

Joint Senate and House Hearing to Advance Medical Freedom Legislation Hosted at Oklahoma State Capitol March 26

Oklahoma City, OK (March 19, 2024) – Under the auspices of The Former Feds Group Freedom Foundation and Mic Rosado’s 'Intentional Podcast', a Joint Senate and House Hearing is scheduled to take March 26th, from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm CST. This event will be hosted in Room 112.2 at the Oklahoma State Capitol, announced host House Representative Danny Williams, alongside Senate hosts David Bullard and Shane Jett.

Senate passes Bullard bill to fund local water, wastewater improvements

Senate passes Bullard bill to fund local water, wastewater improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 11th) – The Oklahoma Senate on Monday passed a bill from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, that would earmark $125 million for much-needed water and wastewater infrastructure projects in localities across the state.

Senate Bill 1331 directs the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish a program to provide loans to municipalities and rural water districts seeking matching funds for water or wastewater improvement projects. The state would provide $125 million in initial funding for the program.

Oklahoma Voice: GOP political fight brewing over who will be the next OK Senate leader

The below article from Oklahoma Voice is a good synopsis of the battle to be the next leader of the Oklahoma State Senate going on this week. The three Republican candidates are moderate Sen. Greg McCortney (one of the leaders who has killed measures to abolish abortion), conservative Sen. David Bullard, and Sen. Casey Murdock (somewhat in the middle of the two).

As a sign of how very concerned big corporate money and dark political money interests are about McCortney losing this race, they sent out mass text messages Saturday urging people to "thank" McCortney for being "conservative to the core" (he's clearly not). A Bullard win would be a huge deal for Oklahoma conservatives.

Federal judge upholds Oklahoma's ban on gender transition procedures for minors

A federal judge for the District of Northern Oklahoma has upheld Senate Bill 613, a measure passed during the 2023 legislative session that bans "gender transition" procedures for children under 18 years of age. Pat McGuigan at the Oklahoma City Sentinel has more on the story here; below are comments from Gov. Kevin Stitt, State Sen. David Bullard, and State Rep. Kevin West.

State GOP leaders denounce OK Supreme Court ruling striking down anti-abortion laws

Oklahoma's liberal Supreme Court continues to do what it has done for years -- in a 6-3 decision, justices overturned two 2022 laws restricting abortion. It's past time for judicial reform -- read Column: OK Supreme Court abortion ruling points to the need for judicial reform from April.

Below are comments from Gov. Kevin Stitt, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, and State Sens. David Bullard and Julie Daniels, and the Oklahoma Republican Party (Chairman State Sen. Nathan Dahm, Vice Chair Wayne Hill, and National Committeewoman Pam Pollard):

Bullard measure to keep marijuana grows away from churches passes Senate

Fully support this:

Bullard measure to keep marijuana grows away from churches passes Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate approved legislation Tuesday to keep marijuana grow operations away from Oklahoma’s religious institutions. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, authored the legislation to extend the same protections to churches as schools currently have regarding where grows can be established. Senate Bill 116 would create a 1,000 feet setback requirement from any place of worship for medical marijuana commercial grower facilities.

State Senate votes to strengthen law against illegal foreign ownership of Oklahoma land

Senate votes to strengthen law against illegal foreign ownership of Oklahoma land

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 8th) – A measure to stop the illegal purchase of Oklahoma land passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, worked with the attorney general’s office in crafting Senate Bill 212 to keep non-U.S. citizens from directly or indirectly, through a business entity or trust, owning land in the state unless otherwise authorized by law.

“Oklahoma land is as rich for growing crops as it is with the heritage of hard-working people.  It is no wonder a lot of people want land here, including those from other countries,” Bullard said. “It is not an excuse to allow foreign nationals to buy up one of our most valuable resources, especially when they are cartels and from communist parties. We cannot continue to auction our state off to the highest criminal bidder.”

Bullard bill to help state better monitor medical marijuana industry’s water usage

Bullard bill to help state better monitor medical marijuana industry’s water usage

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 28th) – The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Monday clarifying that medical marijuana is not an “agricultural product” and therefore does not qualify for the state’s agricultural sales tax exemption. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said Senate Bill 133 is needed to clarify marijuana’s status and to help the state be able to better track the industry’s water usage.     

State Senate passes bill banning "gender transition" procedures for minors

Good news:

Senate approves bill prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 15th) – The full Senate has approved a measure prohibiting gender transition procedures for children under the age of 18.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the author of Senate Bill 613, which bans the use of any medications or surgical procedures for the purpose of gender transition.  Behavioral and mental health counseling and medications for depression and anxiety are not included.

Missouri transgender clinic scandal adds urgency to Oklahoma child-protection effort

MISSOURI SCANDAL ADDS URGENCY TO OKLAHOMA CHILD-PROTECTION EFFORT

(Ray Carter | February 10, 2023) News that a Missouri children’s transgender clinic has been accused of unethical activity and is under investigation by law enforcement officials has added urgency to Oklahoma efforts to keep children from being subjected to sex-reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones, lawmakers say.