An Oklahoma Where Everyone is Equal

TENs 2014 Legislative Priorities April 4, 2014 Update Religious Freedom HB 2873 (Rep. Newell) Initial version of HB2873 allows an individual whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, which is a violation of the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, to use the violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding. Amended version of HB2873 prohibits restriction of students exercise of religion at publicly funded institutions of higher education. Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House Judiciary Committee February 25 Amended version introduced; House Judiciary Committee votes 12-1 DO PASS. March 10 House votes 79-4 to PASS. March 10 Referred for engrossment March 10 Reps. Kern and Bennett added as co-authors March 11 Engrossed, signed, sent to Senate March 11 First Reading March 17 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee March 31 Reported DO Pass as Amended by Education committee; Committee Report filed. Title stricken. TEN is NEUTRAL on this bill. SB 1427 (Senator Invester) Creates the Statute of Religious Freedom Act Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Rules DEAD for session SB 1846 (Senator Treat)

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.906.2134 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

Identical to initial version of HB2873 allows an individual whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, which is a violation of the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, to use the violation as a claim or defense in a judicial

Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Rules Committee February 5 Rep. Newell added as principal House co-author DEAD for session Taxation SB 1353 (Senator Standridge) Calls for a new law establishing tax credits for married couples. In view of a recent directive from the Oklahoma Tax Commission refusing to permit same-sex couples married in other jurisdictions to file their state taxes jointly, TEN will monitor this bill to ensure that it does not get amended to include language harmful to same-sex couples.

Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Finance Committee February 4 Rep. Newell added as principal House co-author DEAD for session TEN was NEUTRAL on this bill Education HB 2422 (Rep. Bennett) HB 2422 creates a new section of law entitled the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act protecting students expression of a religious viewpoint in speech, in homework, artwork, classroom assignments, and school activities.

Mandates that students shall not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work. Allows students to organize religious gatherings or prayer meetings on school grounds. Bars obscene speech, vulgar speech, offensively lewd spe ech, indecent speech, or speech that promotes illegal drug use.

Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House States Rights Committee February 11 House States Rights Committee votes 11-1 DO PASS February 12 - Representatives Walker, Hulbert, Cleveland, Blackwell, Moore, Fisher added as co-authors February 12 Senator Dahm added as principal Senate co-author February 18 House votes 88-0 to PASS February 18 Referred for Engrossment February 18 Reps. Ritz and Reynolds added as co-authors February 19 Engrossed, signed, to Senate February 19 First Reading February 19 Reps. Kern, Vaughnh, and Boggs added as co-authors March 3 Allen added as co-author March 19 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Education Committee TEN OPPOSES this bill. SB 1142 (Sen. Allen) Identical to HB 2422 SB 1142 creates a new section of law entitled the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act protecting students expression of a religious viewpoint in speech, in homework, artwork, classroom assignments, and school activities. Mandates that students shall not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work.

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

Allows students to organize religious gatherings or prayer meetings on school grounds. Bars obscene speech, vulgar speech, offensively lewd speech, indecent speech, or speech that promotes illegal drug use.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY February 3 1st Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Education Committee February 5 Rep. Bennett added as principal House co-author DEAD for this session TEN OPPOSED this bill SB 1470 (Rep. Newberry) Requires all materials used in Advanced Placement (AP) to be available for inspection by parents. Requires parental notification and consent prior to the use of salacious material, including, but not limited to, sexual situations or content which relates to preferences regarding religion, racial discrimination or sexual orientation in AP courses.

Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Education Committee DEAD for session TEN OPPOSED this bill Marriage HJR 1076 (Rep. Turner) Calls for a Joint House Resolution that asks the Secretary of State to call for a popular vote on a proposed amendment to the state constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage (originally called SQ 711, passed in 2004).

The only change that Rep. Turner proposes to the current constitutional amendment is the substitution of Oklahoma where the law currently reads the state.

Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House Rules Committee DEAD for session. TEN OPPOSED this bill HB 2466 (Rep. Turner) HB 2466 calls for the creation of a new law entitled the Preservation of Marriage Act (POMA) The bill is currently in a skeletal form, but could be amended. Because Rep. Turner has also introduced a House Joint Resolution (HJR 1076) calling for a second statewide ballot banning same-sex marriage, it is assumed that this bill also aims to keep same-sex marriage illegal. Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House Rules Committee DEAD for session. TEN OPPOSED this bill HB 3127 (Rep. Sean Roberts) HB 3127 calls for the creation of a new law entitled the Oklahoma Marriage and Family Act of 2014. The bill is currently in a skeletal form, but could be amended. It will be monitored to ensure that does not change into something harmful to LGBT couples and families. Legislative History February 3 First Reading

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org

February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House Rules Committee DEAD for session. TEN was NEUTRAL on this bill

HB 3270 (Rep. Morrissette) Identical to HB 3127 HB 3270 calls for the creation of a new law entitled the Oklahoma Marriage and Family Act of 2014. The bill is currently in a skeletal form, but could be amended. It will be monitored to ensure that does not change into something harmful to LGBT couples and families. Legislative History February 3 First Reading February 4 Second Reading, Referred to House Rules Committee DEAD for session. TEN was NEUTRAL on this bill

Judicial Reform SB 1894 (Sen. Sykes) Establishes a code of conduct for judges; establishes standards and requirements for extrajudicial, avocational, governmental, civic, charitable, financial and fiduciary activities of judges; prohibits the practice of law by judges; establishes requirements for judicial candidates. This proposed legislation violates the separation of powers and imperils the independence of the judiciary.

Legislative History February 3 First Reading

February 4 Second Reading, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee DEAD for session. TEN OPPOSED this bill

3701 A S. Harvard Ave., #183 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 918.671.3733 info@theequalitynetwork.org www.theequalitynetwork.org