The Fifty-third Oklahoma Legislature was the meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. State legislators met at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City from January 4, 2011, to January 8, 2013, during the first two years of the first administration of Governor Mary Fallin.Publications - Senate Journals, Oklahoma Senate (accessed July 2, 2013)
Dates of sessions Organizational day: January 4, 2011 First regular session: February 7, 2011 – May 27, 2011 Second regular session: February 6, 2012 – May 25, 2012 Previous: 52nd Legislature • Next: 54th Legislature
Party composition
Senate AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalRepublicanDemocraticVacantEnd of previous legislature 2622 480Begin 32 16 480Latest voting share66.7% 33.3%
House of Representatives AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalRepublicanDemocraticVacantEnd of previous legislature 62 39 1010Begin 70 31 1010July 4, 2011Republican Rusty Farley (District 1) died. 69 1001December 2011Republican Dan Sullivan (District 71) resigns. 68992February 14, 2012Democrat Curtis McDaniel is elected to succeed Farley. Democrat Al McAffrey (District 88) is elected to the State SenateApril 2012Republican Sue Tibbs (District 23) died. 67983End of LegislatureLatest voting share66.7% 33.3%
Major legislation
Enacted 2011 Legislative Session Abortion - HB 1888 banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in situations dangerous or life-threatening to the mother. Abortion - SB 547 mandated that standard health insurance policies sold in Oklahoma or sold through a state health insurance exchange do not include elective abortion coverage. Agency consolidation - HB 2140 consolidated the Oklahoma Department of Central Services, Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, Oklahoma State Employees Benefits Council, and the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board into the Oklahoma Office of State Finance. Corrections reform - HB 2131 expanded eligibility of low-risk, nonviolent inmates for community sentencing and electronic monitoring programs. Education reform - SB 346 eliminated social promotion from public schools after the third grade. Education reform - HB 1456 established an "A-F" Grade System for public schools. Education reform - HB 1380 eliminated the ability of public school teachers to appeal any termination to state district courts as a trial de novo. Education reform - HB 2139 increased the authority of the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction to manage the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Guns - HB 1439 expanded the right of Oklahomans to use deadly force at their place of business if they feel threatened. Guns - HB 1652 - allowed licensed Oklahomans to carry a concealed weapon on Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education facilities. Pensions - HB 2132 required any cost of living adjustment increases to be fully funded prior to implementation. Pensions - HB 1010 increased the retirement age for new members of the Oklahoma Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges from 65 to 67. Pensions - SB 377 increased the retirement age for new members of the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System from 62 to 65 and establishes a minimum age of 60 for full retirement benefits for teachers who meet the rule of 90 (age plus years of service). Pensions - SB 794 ensured that elected officials are treated the same as other public employees when calculating retirement benefits. Pensions - SB 347 provided for the forfeiture of a municipal employee's retirement benefits upon conviction of crimes related to their office. Public employee unions - HB 1593 repealed requirement that cities grant collective bargaining rights to their non-police and non-fire employees. Tort reform - HB 2128 reduced the cap on non-economic damages in tort lawsuits from $400,000 to $350,000. Tort reform - SB 862 eliminated joint and several liability from tort lawsuits.
2012 Legislative Session Education agency consolidation - SB 1797 consolidated the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Commission, which oversees teacher training requirements, and the Oklahoma Office of Accountability, which monitors the performance of public schools, into new Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability under the direction of the Oklahoma Secretary of Education. Guns - SB 1733 authorized citizens to openly carry firearms upon receiving a license from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Public safety - HB 3052 establishes the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to provide grants to local criminal justice agencies, mandated mental health screenings prior to sentencing, increased parole and community corrections for non-violent offenders, and included other provisions to reduce incarceration rates. Energy efficiency - SB 1096 directs all State agencies to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020 Energy research - SB 1627 established the Oklahoma Energy Initiative to fund energy research and development projects Litigation reform - HB 2654 limits the remedies available to royalty owners for disputes with oil and gas companies Transportation - HB 2248 increases annual funding to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to address failing bridges and highways Transportation - HB 2249 increases annual funding to the various counties to address failing bridges and highways Physicians - HB 3058 expands Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Program to address physician shortage in rural areas Welfare reform - HB 2388 requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services the drug-test all adult who apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program Abortion - SB 1274 requires doctors to inform pregnant women that she has the right to hear the heartbeat of fetus prior to performing an abortion Veterans - SB 1863 allows military veterans to transfer military experience for academic credits and other professional licensing requirements Meth production - HB 2941 limits the amount of pseudoephedrine which may be purchased within a given time span Veterans - HB 2689 allows children of military personnel from Oklahoma to receive in-state college tuition without regard for state of residency Water - HB 3055 commits the state to using no more fresh water in 2060 than is presently used
Failed 2012 Legislative Session HB 3061 - Income tax cut - Lowers the rate of the state income tax SB 1990 - American Indian Cultural Center - authorizes a bond issue to pay for the completion of an Oklahoma City-based museum
Added to 2012 ballot as a referendum HJR 1092 - Human Services Commission - Gave voters the opportunity to abolish constitutionally-authorized commission overseeing Department of Human Services, gives oversight to state legislators
Leadership
Senate President of the Senate:The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves as the President of the Senate. Todd Lamb (R-Oklahoma CityAlthough Lamb is formally listed as being from Oklahoma City, he does not represent any city either as Lieutenant Governor or as Senate President.) President pro tempore: Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa)
Republican caucus Majority Floor Leader: Mike Schulz Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Clark Jolley Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Anthony Sykes Assistant Majority Floor Leader: John Ford Majority Whip: Cliff Branan Majority Whip: Dan Newberry Majority Whip: Gary Stanislawski Majority Whip: Rob Johnson Majority Caucus Chairman: Bryce Marlatt Majority Caucus Vice-Chairman: David Holt
House of Representatives Speaker: Kris Steele (R-Shawnee) Speaker pro tempore: Jeffrey W. Hickman (R-Fairview)
Republican caucus Republican Majority Leader: Dale DeWitt Republican Majority Floor Leader: Dan Sullivan Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Lisa Johnson Billy Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Gary Banz Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Mike Jackson Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: George Faught Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Dennis Johnson Assistant Republican Majority Floor Leader: Leslie Osborn Republican Majority Whip: Skye McNiel Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Dennis Casey Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Marian Cooksey Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Corey Holland Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Fred Jordan Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Steve Martin Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Randy McDaniel Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Mike Sanders Deputy Republican Majority Whip: Paul Wesselhoft Republican Majority Caucus Chairman: Weldon Watson Republican Majority Caucus Vice Chairman: Harold Wright Republican Majority Caucus Secretary: Marian Cooksey
Democratic caucus Democratic Minority Leader: Scott Inman Democratic Minority Floor Leader: Mike Brown Deputy Democratic Floor Leader: Eric Proctor Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Wes Hilliard Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Steve Kouplen Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Al McAffrey Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Jeannie McDaniel Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Wade Rousselot Assistant Democratic Floor Leader: Mike Shelton Democratic Whip: Ben Sherrer Assistant Democratic Whip: Cory T. Williams Democratic Caucus Chairman: Jerry McPeak Minority Caucus Vice Chairman: Joe Dorman Democratic Caucus Secretary: Donnie Condit
Membership Changes in membership July 1, 2011: Jim Reynolds (R) resigned from SD-43 to take office as Cleveland County Treasurer. October 11, 2011: Greg Childers (R) ) is sworn in to fill Reynolds' vacant SD-43 seat.
Senate DistrictNamePartyHometownFirst electedLt-GovTodd Lamb RepOklahoma City2011 1 Charles Wyrick Dem Fairland 2004 2 Sean Burrage Dem Claremore 2006 3 Jim Wilson Dem Tahlequah 2004 4 Mark Allen Rep Spiro 2010 5 Jerry Ellis Dem Hugo 2008 6 Josh Brecheen Rep Coalgate 2010 7 Richard Lerblance Dem Hartshorne 2003 8 Roger Ballenger Dem Okmulgee 2006 9 Earl Garrison Dem Muskogee 2004 10 Eddie Fields Rep Pawhuska 2010 11 Judy Eason McIntyre Dem Tulsa 2004 12 Brian Bingman Rep Sapulpa 2006 13 Susan Paddack Dem Ada 2004 14 Frank Simpson Rep Ardmore 2010 15 Jonathan Nichols Rep Norman 2000 16 John Sparks Dem Norman 2006 17 Charlie Laster Dem Shawnee 2003 18 Kim David Rep Tulsa 2010 19 Patrick Anderson Rep Enid 2004 20 David Myers Rep Ponca City 2002 21 Jim Halligan Rep Stillwater 2008 22 Rob Johnson Rep Piedmont 2010 23 Ron Justice Rep Chickasha 2004 24 Anthony Sykes Rep Moore 2006 25 Mike Mazzei Rep Tulsa 2004 26 Tom Ivester Dem Sayre 2006 27 Bryce Marlatt Rep Woodward 2008 28 Harry Coates Rep Seminole 2002 29 John Ford Rep Bartlesville 2004 30 David Holt Rep Oklahoma City 2010 31 Don Barrington Rep Lawton 2004 32 Randy Bass Dem Lawton 2004 33 Tom Adelson Dem Tulsa 2004 34 Rick Brinkley Rep Owasso 2010 35 Gary Stanislawski Rep Tulsa 2008 36 Bill Brown Rep Broken Arrow 2006 37 Dan Newberry Rep Tulsa 2008 38 Mike Schulz Rep Altus 2006 39 Brian Crain Rep Tulsa 2004 40 Cliff Branan Rep Oklahoma City 2002 41 Clark Jolley Rep Edmond 2004 42 Cliff Aldridge Rep Midwest City 2002 43 Jim Reynolds (until July 1, 2011)Greg Childers (after October 11, 2011) Rep Oklahoma City 2000/2011† 44 Ralph Shortey Rep Oklahoma City 2010 45 Steve Russell Rep Oklahoma City 2008 46 Andrew Rice Dem Oklahoma City 2006 47 Greg Treat Rep Catoosa 2011 48 Constance N. Johnson Dem Oklahoma City 2006 †Elected in a special election
House of Representatives