Veto message: HB 3228 is a lengthy bill that alters Oklahoma's medical marijuana program. The language in the bill makes substantial policy changes to the medical marijuana program that were not fully scrutinized through normal legislative procedure before the bill was received by my office in the middle of the night Saturday.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 38-5-4 on May/15/20; State Sen. Bice voted YES; Passed House 67-11-22 on May/15/20; Vetoed by Gov. Stitt on May/21/20
Recommendation to vote NO by CAIR-Oklahoma (Council on American-Islamic Relations): The State cannot put conditions on public contracts that require a writt-en allegiance to another specific country. This bill is not about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. It is an attempt to stifle free speech in our communities.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 75-20-5 on Mar/3/20; Passed Senate 36-7-4 on May/15/20; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on May/21/20
Oklahoma Policy Institute analysis: Just a day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court removed barriers to absentee voting, the Oklahoma Legislature is quietly advancing a bill to make it harder to vote by mail. SB 1779 would require voters to include a photocopy of identification, which would put Oklahoma as one of only three states with similar requirements. In 2021, it would reinstate the notarization requirement--the very one struck down by the Supreme Court.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 88-1-11 on Mar/15/20; Passed Senate 43-0-4 on May/15/20; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on May/21/20
Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18
NPR analysis: For the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18
KFOR Oklahoma's News-4 analysis: The Grand Casino in Shawnee went live with something they've never had before--ball and dice. The casino has long had their own versions of roulette and craps but they were played with cards instead of a ball and dice.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-22-9 on Mar/8/18; Passed Senate 29-16-3 on Apr/6/18; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on Apr/10/18
The above quotations are from Legislative voting records for Oklahoma House and Senate.
Click here for other excerpts from Legislative voting records for Oklahoma House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts by Stephanie Bice. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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