Cecily Zamora
Ideas for bills in Oklahoma can come from constituents, interest groups, government agencies, interim studies, and the Governor. Once an idea is formed, the author of the bill requests that it be researched and drafted. The bill is then filed electronically and assigned a number. After being introduced, the bill undergoes First and Second Readings and is assigned to a committee or directed to a calendar. If the bill is reported do pass or do pass as amended, it moves to General Order and is available to the Floor Leader for possible scheduling on the Floor Agenda. The bill is then scheduled, explained, possibly amended, debated, and voted upon. If the bill passes, it moves to the Senate and goes through a similar process. If the bill passes in the Senate, it is enrolled to the Governor. If the Governor approves the bill, it becomes a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First step | A member of the state House of Representatives files the bill |
| What happens in the committee? | Committee members can hold hearings on a filed bill. If it passes out of committee, it is placed on the House Calendar and is subject to being debated and having amendments added by other House members. |
| What happens if the bill is passed by the House and sent on to the Senate? | It will be given a first and second reading by the Senate and then referenced to the appropriate Senate committee, where Senate committee hearings will be held. Following a Senate committee report, it will be placed on the Senate Calendar. |
| What is the next action by the Senate? | The bill can be heard and debated by the entire Senate, and will be given a third Senate reading. The Senate will then vote on final passage of the bill. |
| What is the final step? | The bill becomes law when the governor signs it. If the governor fails to sign the bill, or if the governor vetoes it, the bill could still become law by the legislature overriding the veto by a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate. |
What You'll Learn
The first reading
During the first reading, the bill is also assigned to a specific committee that will review it. The committee consists of fellow House members who will hold hearings and discuss the bill's merits. This committee plays a vital role in shaping the bill, as they can suggest amendments and changes before it advances to the next stage.
Overall, the first reading of a bill in Oklahoma is a critical step that sets the stage for the bill's progression through the legislative process. It involves the introduction, filing, and assignment of the bill to a committee for further review and discussion. This stage is essential for shaping the bill and ensuring that it receives the necessary attention and consideration before advancing further.
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Committee consideration
Once a bill has been introduced and undergone its First and Second Readings, it is assigned to a committee or committees by the Speaker. The committee(s) can hold hearings on the bill and make amendments. If the committee does not pass the bill, it will not move forward and will not be considered further.
If the committee passes the bill, it is reported "do pass" or "do pass as amended." The bill then moves to the General Order and is made available to the Floor Leader for possible scheduling on the Floor Agenda. The bill is then scheduled on the Floor Agenda, where it is explained, possibly amended, debated, and voted upon. If the bill passes, it will move on to the next stage of the process; if it does not pass, it will not proceed further.
The committee stage is a crucial step in the legislative process, as it allows for detailed scrutiny and debate of the bill by a smaller group of legislators. Committees may also call on experts and stakeholders to provide testimony and input on the bill, helping to ensure that it is thoroughly vetted before proceeding to the next stage.
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Floor consideration
The bill is scheduled on the Floor Agenda and is open to explanation, amendment, debate, and voting. This is the Third Reading of the bill. If the bill passes, it will be sent to the Senate. If it fails, it could receive no more consideration during the session, or it could go back to committee for more study.
The bill is heard by the entire chamber, either the Senate or the House, and members of the chamber can vote on the bill or add amendments. This is the point at which every single person in the chamber hears the bill. If the bill passes this stage, it moves on to the other chamber for further consideration. If the bill does not pass, it may still have a chance to be reconsidered or amended.
The bill must be read at least three times in the opposite chamber. This means that after the first chamber has finished considering the bill, it moves to the other chamber for further scrutiny and debate. The bill must be read three times in this new chamber, providing ample opportunity for discussion and amendment.
If the bill passes the second chamber, it can be sent to the governor for their signature. However, if the second chamber makes amendments to the bill, it will return to the first chamber for their approval. This back-and-forth process ensures that both chambers agree on the final version of the bill before it reaches the governor.
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The Governor's signature
Once a bill has been passed by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the Governor for their signature. The Governor has three options: they can sign the bill, do nothing, or veto it. If the Governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If they do nothing, the bill will become law after a certain number of days have passed. However, if the Governor vetoes the bill, it will not become law unless the Legislature overrides the veto with a two-thirds vote in each house.
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Overriding a veto
In Oklahoma, if the Governor vetoes a bill, it does not become state law unless the Legislature overrides the veto. Overriding a veto requires a high level of approval, with at least two-thirds of both legislative chambers needing to agree to the override.
In 2023, the Oklahoma Senate voted to override Governor Kevin Stitt's veto of SB 1130, which would have given the Oklahoma Health Care Authority $600 million in appropriations from FMAP funds in 2024 instead of 2023. The bill also would have given the legislature the power to decide how those funds were spent, rather than the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The Senate voted 45-2 to override the veto, with Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat characterising the Governor's veto message as "offensively inaccurate". The bill then went to the House for a veto override.
In 2024, the Oklahoma Legislature spent the final day of the regular session overriding several of Governor Stitt's vetoes, but opted not to override his veto of several key budget provisions. The Legislature's plan to offer one-time cash rebates, which Stitt vetoed, did not become law as the House and Senate did not override those vetoes.
Among the vetoes the House and Senate successfully overrode were a bill to require the governor’s cabinet members and appointees to lead agencies to fill out financial disclosures. The House and Senate also overrode Stitt's veto of a bill that would direct the Department of Public Safety to recognise traffic convictions from tribal courts.
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Frequently asked questions
A member of the state House of Representatives files the bill, which is given a first and second reading, then it is assigned a number and sent to the appropriate committee.
Committee members can hold hearings on a filed bill. If it passes out of committee, it is placed on the House Calendar and is subject to being debated and having amendments added by other House members. The resulting document is given a third reading and is then voted on by the entire House membership.
It will be given a first and second reading by the Senate and then referenced to the appropriate Senate committee, where Senate committee hearings will be held. Following a Senate committee report, it will be placed on the Senate Calendar.
