56th Oklahoma Legislature

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Oklahoma Legislature
56th Oklahoma Legislature
Seal of Oklahoma
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Term limits	12 years total
History
Preceded by	55th
Succeeded by	57th
New session started	January 3, 2017
Leadership
President of the Senate	Todd Lamb (R) since January 10, 2011
President Pro Tem of the Senate	Mike Schulz (R) since January 3, 2017
Speaker of the House	Charles McCall (R) since January 3, 2017
Structure
Seats	48 Senate 101 House
Senate political groups	Republican (40)   Democrat (8)
House political groups	Republican (75)   Democrat (26)
Authority	Article V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary	$38,400
Elections
Last Senate election	November 8, 2016
Next Senate election	November 6, 2018
Meeting place
Oklahoma State Capitol Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Website
Oklahoma Legislature

The Fifty-sixth Oklahoma Legislature was the most recent meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019, during the final two years of the second administration of Governor Mary Fallin. The November 2016 elections maintained Republican control of both the House and Senate.

• Organizational day: January 3, 2017
• First session: February 2-May 22, 2017
• First extraordinary session: September 25, 2017
• Second extraordinary session: December 18, 2017
• Second session: February 5-May 25, 2018

Previous: 55th Legislature • Next: 57th Legislature

Politics of Oklahoma
Constitution United States Constitution Oklahoma Constitution Impeachment in Oklahoma
Executive Government Governor: Kevin Stitt (R) Lieutenant Governor: Matt Pinnell (R) Secretary of State: Josh Cockroft (R) State Auditor: Cindy Byrd (R) Attorney General: Gentner Drummond (R) State Treasurer: Todd Russ (R) State School Superintendent: Ryan Walters (R) Labor Commissioner: Leslie Osborn (R) Insurance Commissioner: Glen Mulready (R) Corporation Commission: Kim David (R) Bob Anthony (R) Todd Hiett (R) Governor's Cabinet and State Agencies
Legislature Legislature: 59th Senate President: Matt Pinnell (R) President pro tempore: Greg Treat (R) Majority leader: Greg McCortney (R) Minority leader: Kay Floyd (D) House of Representatives Speaker: Charles McCall (R) Speaker pro tempore: Kyle Hilbert (R) Majority leader: Jon Echols (R) Minority leader: Cyndi Munson (D)
Judiciary Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Criminal Appeals Court of Civil Appeals Court on the Judiciary Court of Impeachment Nominating Commission
Elections Elections State Election Board Last election Political parties Democratic Party Republican Party Political party strength
Divisions Counties Cities and Towns
Congressional delegation Senate Markwayne Mullin (R) James Lankford (R) House of Representatives 1: Kevin Hern (R) 2: Josh Breechen (R) 3: Frank Lucas (R) 4: Tom Cole (R) 5: Stephanie Bice (R)
Politics of the United States Politics portal
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• Criminal Justice - SB603 mandates the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to create individualized case plans for each offender
• Education - HB1693 revised Oklahoma's A-F school grading system to comply with federal law
• Education - SB301 expands the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program
• Public Health - HB1703 expands pregnancy resource centers
• Public Health - HB2039 authorizes prescriptions of Naloxone to combat state's opioid crisis
• Taxation - SB845 raises the state tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack to $2.53 per pack
• Taxation - HB2433 raises the state tax on motor vehicle by extending a portion of state sales tax to include motor vehicle purchases
• Drivers License - HB1845 brings Oklahoma into compliance with the federal REAL ID Act
• Drivers License - SB643 eliminates Oklahoma's administrative hearing procedure for revocation of drivers licenses
• Crime and Punishment - HB1468 expands time limits for prosecution of sex crimes against children
• Taxation - HB2298 eliminates tax credits for wind industry
• Energy - SB867 expand ability for oil companies to conduct horizontal drilling
• Tourism - SB872 transfer ownership of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum from the state to the city of Oklahoma City
• Taxation - SB120 extends tax credits for aerospace industry

Following the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling the tax increases found in SB845 unconstitutional, Governor Mary Fallin issued Executive Order 2017-29, later amended by subsequent order, to convene a special meeting of the Oklahoma Legislature. Pursuant to Section 7 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Governor recommended the legislature adopt the following matters:

• Address the budget shortfall associated with the loss of revenue from the unconstitutionality of SB845
• Increase pay for public teachers
• Increase pay for public employees
• Provide supplemental funding for the Oklahoma State Department of Health

Following her veto of the amended fiscal year 2018 Oklahoma state budget, Governor Mary Fallin issued Executive Order 2017-43,^[1] later amended by subsequent order^[2] and again by an additional subsequent order,^[3] to convene a special meeting of the Oklahoma Legislature. Pursuant to Section 7 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Governor recommended the Legislature:

• Provided supplemental funding for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority
• Adopt wide-ranging tax increases and elimination of tax deductions and credits
• Authorize expanded gambling by Native American tribes
• Grant the Governor greater appointment powers over Executive agencies
• Increase pay for public teachers

• On August 10, 2017, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, in the case of Naifeh v. Oklahoma ex rel Oklahoma Tax Commission, ruled 7-2 that SB845 violated the Oklahoma Constitution's tax raising clause by failing to obtain the super-majority of votes in the legislature needed to raise taxes. SB845 had sought to raise the tax on cigarettes in an attempt to balance the fiscal year 2018 Oklahoma state budget. The legislature had classified the measure as a "fee" as opposed to a "tax" but the Court disagreed with such classified. Without the revenues from the bill, the state budget lost over $200 million in anticipated revenue, forcing Governor Mary Fallin to convene an extraordinary session of the legislature to revise the budget.
• On August 31, 2017, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, in the case of Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association v. Oklahoma ex rel Oklahoma Tax Commission, ruled 5-4 that HB2433 did not violate the Oklahoma Constitution's tax raising clause. HB2433 eliminated an exemption under the current state sales tax code which excluded motor vehicle purchases from the tax. By removing the exemption, the legislature did not raise a tax for the purposes of the Constitution's tax raising clause and therefore was not required to obtain the super-majority of votes in the legislature needed to raise taxes.
• On December 19, 2017, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, in the case of Hunsucher v. Fallin, ruled 5-4 that SB643 unconstitutional under the Oklahoma Constitution's single-subject clause and Due Process Clause. SB643 eliminated Oklahoma's administrative hearings procedures for revocation of drivers licenses and allowed the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to revoke the license without granting the affected driver a hearing before the Department or an administrative opportunity to object.

Since the Republican Party holds the majority of seats in both the Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives, they hold the top leadership positions in both chambers.

In Oklahoma, the lieutenant governor serves as President of the Oklahoma Senate, meaning that he serves as the presiding officer in ceremonial instances and can provide a tie-breaking vote. Todd Lamb serves as the current Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. The current President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, who presides over the state senate on the majority of session days is Mike Schulz of Altus. He is aided by Majority Floor Leader Greg Treat of Oklahoma City. The Democratic minority leader of the state senate is John Sparks of Norman. Paul Ziriax serves as the Secretary of the Oklahoma Senate.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is led by Speaker Charles McCall of Atoka. He is aided by Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols of Oklahoma City. The Democratic minority leader is Steve Kouplen of Beggs. Joel Kintsel serves as Chief Clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

• March 27, 2017— Ralph Shortey (R) resigned from representing SD-44 after being charged with three felonies relating to soliciting prostitution from a male minor.
• April 27, 2017— Kyle Loveless (R) resigns from representing SD-45 following a embezzlement investigation into his campaigns.
• July 11, 2017— Michael Brooks-Jimenez (D) takes office representing SD-44 filling the vacant seat left by Ralph Shortey's resignation. (Democratic gain)
• September 12, 2017 — Bryce Marlatt (R) resigned from representing SD-27 after being charged with felony sexual battery.
• November 22, 2017— Paul Rosino (R) takes office representing SD-45 filling the vacant seat left by Kyle Loveless's resignation.
• January 31, 2018- Dan Newberry (R) resigned from representing SD-37 in order to accept a position with Tulsa Teacher's Credit Union.
• February 2018- Allison Ikley-Freeman (D) takes office representing SD-37 filing the vacant seat left by Dan Newberry.
• February 26, 2018— Casey Murdock (R) takes office representing SD-27 filing the vacant seat left by Bryce Marlatt's resignation.

†Elected in a special election

• December 31, 2016- Tom Newell (R) resigned from representing HD-28 to accept a private sector job, leaving the seat vacant at the beginning of the session.^[4]
• February 4, 2017- Dan Kirby (R) resigned from representing HD-75 after sexual assault allegations by his former legislative assistant came to light and the legislature scheduled a vote on his expulsion. Kirby's resignation before the vote prevented him from potentially becoming the first member of the state legislature ever to be expelled.^[5]
• April 15, 2017- David Brumbaugh (R) died leaving HD-76's seat vacant.^[6]
• May 31, 2017- Scott Martin (R) resigned from representing HD-46 to lead the Norman Chamber of Commerce.^[7]
• July 20, 2017- Karen Gaddis (D) takes office representing HD-75 filling the vacancy left by Dan Kirby's resignation. (Democratic flip)^[8]
• September 20, 2017-Jacob Rosecrants (D) takes office representing HD-46 filling the vacancy left by Scott Martin's resignation. (Democratic flip)^[9]
• November 28, 2017- Ross Ford (R) takes office representing HD-76 filling the vacancy left by David Brumbaugh's death.^[10]
• 2017- Zack Taylor (R) takes office representing HD-28 filling the vacancy left by Tom Newell.^[11]

• Oklahoma Legislature Homepage Archived 2013-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
• State of Oklahoma's Website
• Legislative Bill Tracking Website