We’re about a quarter of the way through the legislative session at this point. Out of the 1,987 House bills and joint resolutions filed this session, only 503 - about a quarter - made it out of committee.

We have until March 11 to vote on those in the House or they languish until next year. After that deadline, we’ll restart the committee process to begin hearing Senate bills. Then we’ll vote on those on the House floor. At the same time, the Senate will consider House bills.

House budget leaders also are in the process of finalizing the state budget. The State Board of Equalization approved a constitutional limit on appropriations of $7.9 billion. A total of $9.6 billion in revenue actually was certified, but that includes $1.7 billion in one-time cash and non-recurring revenue. In comparison, the Legislature appropriated $7.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2021, so we’re in good shape this year. This budget will allow us to shore up state services such as transportation, education, public safety and health care. We also intend to save some money like the Legislature did last year. That prudence resulted in our good budget picture now.

Last week in the House, we voted on several measures to protect our state’s rights.

House Bill 1236 allows our state Legislature to request our Attorney General to review and challenge any federal executive order, federal agency rule or federal legislative action determined to be unconstitutional. It also precludes a publicly funded organization from implementing any action that restricts a person’s rights or that is deemed unconstitutional. It passed by a vote of 79-18 and now awaits action in the state Senate.

House Resolution 1005 asserts Oklahoma’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which specifically states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

The Tenth Amendment limits the scope of federal power and prescribes that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states, rather than the states being agents of the federal government.

HR 1005 provides guidelines for federal government agencies and agents that operate within, or whose actions have an effect on, Oklahoma and its citizens. It passed by a vote of 80-14. The adopted measure now will be distributed to the President of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each member of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.

Both pieces of legislation will help protect us from the broad overreach of the federal government and the executive branch.

This week, we passed a bill to protect the religious freedom of Oklahomans and their constitutional right to worship. During the onset of COVID-19 last year, some government actions and executive orders forced churches to close for week or months while allowing other businesses, such as home improvement or liquor stores to remain open - allbased on what was deemed essential or non-essential. Our right to gather to worship is one of the most foundational in our nation. This bill will ensure that nothing going forward will stop us from enjoying this freedom.

Please reach out to me anytime at mike.dobrinski@okhouse.gov or (405) 557-7407. It is my honor to represent you at our State House.

In your service, Rep. Mike Dobrinski