The legislative session is in full swing, and the House has been working hard to move legislation forward. As of now, we’ve passed more than 200 bills to the Senate, with the deadline for House bills to pass off the floor set for March 27. I have three bills on the General Order that are eligible to be heard and voted on by the full House in the coming weeks.
The bills I have authored include repealing an outdated statute related to the Joint Utility Restructuring Task Force, which was terminated in 2009; removing a mandate requiring fire chiefs or principal officers of fire departments to post certain notices, which could result in administrative cost savings without impacting the overall state budget; and eliminating the obsolete Task Force for the Study of State Banking Services.
One of the bills I’ve co-authored with Rep. Gerrid Kendrix is House Bill 2729. The bill ensures that state courts, hearing examiners and administrative officers independently interpret state laws and regulations without automatically deferring to a state agency’s interpretation. If there’s any confusion after applying standard interpretation methods, the courts would have to settle it in a way that limits agency power and protects individual rights. HB2729 passed the House with a strong 79-6 vote and has had its first reading in the Senate.
A major piece of legislation that we passed this week is House Bill 1362, which takes a firm stance on illegal immigration by making it a felony for anyone arrested for violating a state law and found to be unlawfully present in the United States. Following the lead of President Trump and his administration, this bill strengthens Oklahoma’s approach to illegal immigration. If convicted, the person would face a minimum prison sentence of five years. However, the bill allows the court to dismiss the charges and order the person to return to their home country if they voluntarily agree to leave, have no prior convictions for violent crimes, and are not facing any other felony charges.
The person could also post a $35,000 cash bond. If ordered to return, the Department of Corrections would notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection within seven days to arrange repatriation. This bill reinforces our commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration and would send a clear message that we will not tolerate it in our great state.
Another important measure that recently passed is the Unfair Sales Tax Act.House Bill 1024wouldremove Oklahoma’s mandatory 6% markup on retail products, including groceries, over-the-counter medications, pet food, health and beauty aids, paper and plastic goods, baby supplies and more. Oklahoma is one of only seven states with a mandatory markup on retail goods, which has created an uneven playing field for consumers and store owners. The markup was originally designed to protect small retailers from larger competitors undercutting their prices, but it has since become an outdated policy that drives up costs for Oklahoma families. Eliminating this markup will help make everyday essentials more affordable for everyone.
I remain committed to fighting for District 33. Thank you for allowing me to represent you at the Capitol. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. My email address is molly.jenkins@okhouse.gov, or you can call my office at (405) 557-7304.
Rep. Molly Jenkins, a Republican, represents House District 33 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes portions of Logan and Payne counties.
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