The Fifty-third Oklahoma Legislature was the meeting of the

legislative branch A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the authority, legal authority to make laws for a Polity, political entity such as a Sovereign state, country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with th ...

of the

government of Oklahoma The government of the U.S. State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, an ...

, composed of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

and the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

. State legislators met at the

Oklahoma State Capitol The Oklahoma State Capitol is the house of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the building that houses the Oklahoma Legislature and executive branch offices. It is located along Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City and contains 452,50 ...

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

from January 4, 2011, to January 8, 2013, during the first two years of the first administration of Governor

Mary Fallin Mary Fallin (; née Copeland; born December 9, 1954) is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 Oklahoma gub ...

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

House of Representatives

Major legislation

As Long as the Waters Flow statue with Oklahoma Capitol building in background

Enacted

2011 Legislative Session *Abortion - HB 1888 banned

abortions Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnanci ...

after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in situations dangerous or life-threatening to the mother. *Abortion - SB 547 mandated that standard

health insurance Health insurance or medical insurance (also known as medical aid in South Africa) is a type of insurance that covers the whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses. As with other types of insurance, risk is shared among ma ...

policies sold in Oklahoma or sold through a state

health insurance exchange In the United States, health insurance marketplaces, also called health exchanges, are organizations in each state through which people can purchase health insurance. People can purchase health insurance that complies with the Patient Protection ...

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 Social promotion is an educational practice in which a student is promoted to the next grade at the end of the school year, regardless of whether they have mastered the necessary material or attended school consistently. This practice typically a ...

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 In law, the expression trial ''de novo'' means a "new trial" by a different tribunal (''de novo'' is a Latin expression meaning "afresh", "anew", "beginning again", hence the literal meaning "new trial"). A trial ''de novo'' is usually ordered by ...

. *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 Deadly force, also known as lethal force, is the use of force that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to another person. In most jurisdictions, the use of deadly force is justified only under conditions of extreme necessity a ...

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 The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE, commonly known and branded as CareerTech) is an agency of the state of Oklahoma located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. CareerTech oversees a statewide system of Career and technical edu ...

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 Tort reform consists of changes in the civil justice system in common law countries that aim to reduce the ability of plaintiffs to bring tort litigation (particularly actions for negligence) or to reduce damages they can receive. Such changes ...

- HB 2128 reduced the cap on non-economic damages in

tort A tort is a civil wrong, other than breach of contract, that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. Tort law can be contrasted with criminal law, which deals with cri ...

lawsuits from $400,000 to $350,000. *

- SB 862 eliminated

joint and several liability Where two or more persons are liable in respect of the same liability, in most common law legal systems they may either be: * severally liable, or * jointly liable, or * jointly and severally liable. Several liability In several or proportionat ...

from

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 The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the county sheriff offices and city police departments of the state, and works independent of the Ok ...

. *Public safety - HB 3052 establishes the ''Justice Reinvestment Initiative'' to provide grants to local criminal justice agencies, mandated

mental health Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...

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 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is an government agency, agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's transportation infrastructure. Under the leadership of the Oklahoma Se ...

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 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF ) is a federal assistance program of the United States. It began on July 1, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, providing cash assistance to indigent Ame ...

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 Pseudoephedrine, sold under the brand name Sudafed among others, is a sympathomimetic medication which is used as a decongestant to treat nasal congestion. It has also been used off-label for certain other indications, like treatment of lo ...

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 President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the Speaker (politics), speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's Order of succession, succes ...

: Todd Lamb (R-

Although 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 Mike Schulz (born March 5, 1964) is an American politician who served as a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2006 to 2018. A farmer from Southwestern Oklahoma, Schulz was first elected to office in 2006. Early life and education Schulz was bor ...

*Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Clark Jolley *Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Anthony Sykes *Assistant Majority Floor Leader:

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

*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 Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics. He was a c ...

*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 Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

*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

†Elected in a special election

House of Representatives

References and notes

External links

Oklahoma Legislature Homepage

State of Oklahoma's Website

{{Oklahoma Legislatures Oklahoma legislative sessions 2011 in Oklahoma 2012 in Oklahoma 2011 U.S. legislative sessions 2012 U.S. legislative sessions