Thursday, April 24, was the deadline for House committees to hear Senate bills. The same was truefortheSenate considering Housebills.The next few weeks will be devoted to hearing the bills that passed on the floor of each legislative chamber.
This week, I passed Senate Bill 1039 in the House Health and Human ServicesOversightCommittee.
This measure specifies that the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority must deny a dispensary, processor, laboratory or transport applicationthathasbeensubmitted more than twice with any errors or omissions that are not clerical or typographical in nature. This will actually give applicants one more try than is currently allowed. The thought is, if a licensee can’t get the required documentation right after three tries, it begs the question of whether they should be in operation.
I also passed three bills in the GovernmentOversightCommittee.
Senate Bill 403 would allow county purchasing agents to select the next lowest bidder during the bidding process, if that bidder agrees to perform at the original bid price. A lot of times, a bidder may win a contract with the county, but by the time the end of the bidding cycle is over, they can no longer provide the goods or services. This would save counties from having to spend 45 to 60 days to put out for another bid. Everything a county commissioner does is time-sensitive for the benefit of the residents of the county.
Senate Bill 405 would authorize the board of county commissioners to work with ambulance service districts to minimize costs for the districts.
Senate Bill 694 would prohibit territory attached to a municipality from being detached if it includes an intervening strip less than 66 feet wide without the consent of the political subdivision tasked with taking care of it. An example would be a bar ditch that a municipality has been taking care of. They can’t detach the territory with the intention of letting the county or the state take care of it without the consent of the county or the state.
Also this week, we celebrated Ag Day at the Capitol. Everyone in Oklahoma is touched in some way by the agriculture industry, whether it’s our farmers and ranchers or our food producers or just the people that eat or use what is produced.
We also recognized students from across the state on 4-H Day. 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization that gives young people a chance to participate in programs and projects and develop skills that will help them in life, in education and in their future jobs. Many legislators are former 4-Hers.
Remember, if I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out: (405) 557-7383 or Josh. Cantrell@OKHouse.gov.
Josh Cantrell serves District 49 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Love County and parts of Carter and Marshall counties.