The Fifty-fifth Oklahoma Legislature was the 2015 meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma, which began with an organizational day on January 6, 2015. The first session met in February 2015 in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City during the first year of the second administration of Governor Mary Fallin. After the 2014 elections, the Republican Party held more than two-thirds of the seats in the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Dates of sessions Organizational day: January 6, 2015 First session: February 2-May 22, 2015 Previous: 54th Legislature • Next: 56th Legislature

Major legislation

Enacted 2015 Legislative Session Budget - HB 2244 contained the state budget that begins July 1, 2015 and ends July 1, 2016. Abortion - HB 1409 increased the time for voluntary and informed consent before an abortion from 24 to 72 hours and required abortion facilities with a website to link to the state's website, "A Woman's Right to know." Abortion - HB 1721 outlawed abortions in which doctors use forceps or other medical devices to dismember a living fetus in the womb, except when a dismemberment abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother. Criminal procedure - HB 1518 allows judges to impose shorter sentences for some nonviolent crimes. Criminal procedure - HB 1548 allows a judge to reduce the sentence of any inmate who was originally sentenced for a drug charge and ordered to complete the Drug Offender Work Camp at the Bill Johnson Correctional Facility if the judge is satisfied the best interests of the public will not be jeopardized. Drugs - HB 1948 requires doctors to check a Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database before writing prescriptions for potentially dangerous and addictive drugs like oxycodone. Public safety - HB 1965 makes driving while texting a primary offense in Oklahoma with a fine of $100 for a first offense. Education - SB 782 allows public school districts the ability to create public charter schools. Education - SB 630 amended the state Reading Sufficiency Act to eliminate social promotion for students in the third grade who do not demonstrate reading proficiency. Public safety - HB 2168 allows state licensing agencies discretion in allowing individuals with felony convictions to receive a professional license. Corrections - HB 1630 allows the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to negotiate with county jails to house state prisoners before transfer to private prisons. Budget - SB 189 requires state agencies to use performance-informed budgeting when submitting annual budget requests. Taxation - HB 2181 establishes an Incentive Evaluation Commission which is required to review all tax credits offered to businesses at least once every four years. Taxation - SB 806 requires all future business tax incentives to contain measurable goals. Voting - SB 313 allows citizens with a driver's license to register to vote over the internet. Unions - HB 1749 prohibits all state agencies from collecting union dues for its employees via payroll deductions. Taxation - SB 498 eliminates the property tax exemption for wind energy production facilities. Taxation - SB 502 eliminates tax credits for wind energy companies. Religion - HB 1007 prevents religious leaders from being compelled to perform marriage ceremonies which contradict their religious beliefs.

2016 Legislative Session

Failed 2016 Legislative Session Education - HB 2949 would have created a statewide school voucher program.

Major events Ervin Yen was sworn into the Oklahoma Senate becoming the first Asian-American legislator in Oklahoma.

Leadership

Since the Republican Party holds the majority of seats in both the Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives, they hold the top leadership positions in both chambers.

In Oklahoma, the lieutenant governor serves as President of the Oklahoma Senate, meaning that he serves as the presiding officer in ceremonial instances and can provide a tie-breaking vote. Todd Lamb serves as the current Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. The current President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, who presides over the state senate on the majority of session days is Brian Bingman. He is aided by Majority Floor Leader Mike Schulz.Senate Majority Leadership (accessed December 16, 2014) The Democratic Minority leader of the state senate is Randy Bass. Paul Ziriax serves as the Secretary of the Oklahoma Senate.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is led by Speaker Jeff W. Hickman. The Democratic Minority leader is Scott Inman. Joel Kintsel serves as Chief Clerk of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Membership Changes in membership January 6, 2015 - Jabar Shumate (D) resigned from representing SD-11 to accept another job. April 10, 2015 - David Dank (R) died, leaving HD-85 vacant. April 15, 2015 - Kevin Matthews (D) resigned from representing HD-73. April 15, 2015 - Matthews took office representing SD-11 filing the seat vacated by Shumate's resignation. July 21, 2015 - Regina Goodwin (D) takes offices representing HD-74 filling the vacant seat left by Matthew's resignation. September 17, 2015 - Cyndi Munson (D) takes office representing HD-85 filling the vacant seat left by Dank's death.

Senate Membership DistrictNamePartyHometownFirst electedSeat upLt-GovTodd Lamb RepOklahoma City20102018 1 Charles Wyrick Dem Fairland 2004 2016 (term-limited) 2 Marty Quinn Rep Claremore 2014 2018 3 Wayne Shaw Rep Grove 2012 2016 4 Mark Allen Rep Spiro 2010 2018 5 Joseph Silk Rep Broken Bow 2014 2016 6 Josh Brecheen Rep Coalgate 2010 2018 7 Larry Boggs Rep Wilburton 2012 2016 8 Roger Thompson Dem Okemah 2014 2018 9 Earl Garrison Dem Muskogee 2004 2016 (term-limited) 10 Eddie Fields Rep Pawhuska 2010 2018 11 Kevin Matthews (after April 15, 2015) Dem Tulsa 2015 2016 12 Brian Bingman Rep Sapulpa 2006 2018 13 Susan Paddack Dem Ada 2004 2016 (term-limited) 14 Frank Simpson Rep Ardmore 2010 2018 15 Rob Standridge Rep Norman 2012 2016 16 John Sparks Dem Norman 2006 2018 17 Ron Sharp Rep Shawnee 2012 2016 18 Kim David Rep Tulsa 2010 2018 19 Patrick Anderson Rep Enid 2004 2016 (term-limited) 20 Ann "AJ" Griffin Rep Guthrie 2012 2016 21 Jim Halligan Rep Stillwater 2008 2016 22 Stephanie Bice Rep Oklahoma City 2014 2018 23 Ron Justice Rep Chickasha 2004 2016 (term-limited) 24 Anthony Sykes Rep Moore 2006 2018 25 Mike Mazzei Rep Tulsa 2004 2016 (term-limited) 26 Darcy Jech Rep Kingfisher 2014 2018 27 Bryce Marlatt Rep Woodward 2008 2016 28 Jason Smalley Rep Stroud 2014 2018 29 John Ford Rep Bartlesville 2004 2016 (term-limited) 30 David Holt Rep Oklahoma City 2010 2018 31 Don Barrington Rep Lawton 2004 2016 (term-limited) 32 Randy Bass Dem Lawton 2004 2018 (term-limited) 33 Nathan Dahm Rep Tulsa 2012 2016 34 Rick Brinkley Rep Owasso 2010 2018 35 Gary Stanislawski Rep Tulsa 2008 2016 36 Bill Brown Rep Broken Arrow 2006 2018 37 Dan Newberry Rep Tulsa 2008 2016 38 Mike Schulz Rep Altus 2006 2018 39 Brian Crain Rep Tulsa 2004 2016 (term-limited) 40 Ervin Yen Rep Oklahoma City 2014 2018 41 Clark Jolley Rep Edmond 2004 2016 (term-limited) 42 Jack Fry Rep Midwest City 2014 2018 43 Corey Brooks Rep Washington 2012 2016 44 Ralph Shortey Rep 2010 2018 45 Kyle Loveless Rep Oklahoma City 2012 2016 46 Kay Floyd Dem Oklahoma City 2014 2018 47 Greg Treat Rep Oklahoma City 2011 2016 48 Anastasia Pittman Dem Oklahoma City 2014 2018

House of Representatives Membership Name District Party City First electedJohnny Tadlock 1 Dem Idabel 2014John R. Bennett 2 Rep Sallisaw 2010James Lockhart 3 Dem Heavener 2010Mike Brown 4 Dem Tahlequah 2004Doug Cox 5 Rep Grove 2004Chuck Hoskin 6 Dem Vinita 2006Ben Loring 7 Dem Miami 2014Ben Sherrer 8 Dem Pryor 2004Mark Lepak 9 Rep Claremore 2014Travis Dunlap 10 Rep Bartlesville 2014Earl Sears 11 Rep Bartlesville 2006Wade Rousselot 12 Dem Okay 2004Jerry McPeak 13 Dem Warner 2004George Faught 14 Rep 2014Ed Cannaday 15 Dem Porum 2006Jerry Shoemake 16 Dem Morris 2004Brian Renegar 17 Dem McAlester 2006Donnie Condit 18 Dem McAlester 2010R. C. Pruett 19 Dem Antlers 2004Bobby Cleveland 20 Rep 2012Dustin Roberts 21 Rep Durant 2010Charles McCall 22 Rep Atoka 2012Terry O'Donnell 23 Rep Tulsa 2000Steve Kouplen 24 Dem Holdenville 2008Todd Thomsen 25 Rep Ada 2006Justin Wood 26 Rep Shawnee 2000Josh Cockroft 27 Rep 2010Tom Newell 28 Rep Seminole 2010James Leewright 29 Rep Bristow 2014Mark McCullough 30 Rep Sapulpa 2006Jason Murphey 31 Rep Guthrie 2006Kevin Wallace 32 Rep Chandler 2014Lee Denney 33 Rep Cushing 2004Cory T. Williams 34 Dem Stillwater 2008Dennis Casey 35 Rep Morrison 2010Sean Roberts 36 Rep Hominy 2010Steve Vaughan 37 Rep Ponca City 2010John Pfeiffer 38 Rep Mulhall 2014Marian Cooksey 39 Rep Edmond 2004Chad Caldwell 40 Rep Enid 2014John Enns 41 Rep Waukomis 2006Lisa Johnson Billy 42 Rep Purcell 2004John Paul Jordan 43 Rep Yukon 2014Emily Virgin 44 Dem Norman 2010Claudia Griffith 45 Dem Norman 2014Scott Martin 46 Rep Norman 2006Leslie Osborn 47 Rep Mustang 2008Pat Ownbey 48 Rep Ardmore 2008Tommy Hardin 49 Rep Madill 2010Dennis Johnson 50 Rep Duncan 2006Scott Biggs 51 Rep 2012Charles Ortega 52 Rep Altus 2008Mark McBride 53 Rep Moore 2012Paul Wesselhoft 54 Rep Moore 2006Todd Russ 55 Rep Cordell 2009David Perryman 56 Dem Grady County 2012Harold Wright 57 Rep Weatherford 2008Jeff W. Hickman 58 Rep Dacoma 2004Mike Sanders 59 Rep Kingfisher 2008Dan Fisher 60 Rep Banner 2012Casey Murdock 61 Rep Guymon 2014John Montgomery 62 Rep Lawton 2014Jeff Coody 63 Rep Faxon 2014Ann Coody 64 Rep Lawton 2004Scooter Park 65 Dem Rush Springs 2014Jadine Nollan 66 Rep Sand Springs 2010Pam Peterson 67 Rep Tulsa 2004Glen Mulready 68 Rep Tulsa 2010Chuck Strohm 69 Rep Jenks 2014Ken Walker 70 Rep Tulsa 2012Katie Henke 71 Rep Tulsa 2004Seneca Scott 72 Dem Tulsa 2008Kevin Matthews (until April 15, 2015)Regina Goodwin (after July 21, 2015) 73 Dem Tulsa 2012/2015David Derby 74 Rep Owasso 2006Dan Kirby 75 Rep Tulsa 2008David Brumbaugh 76 Rep Broken Arrow 2010Eric Proctor 77 Dem Tulsa 2006Jeannie McDaniel 78 Dem Tulsa 2004Weldon Watson 79 Rep Tulsa 2006Mike Ritze 80 Rep Broken Arrow 2008Randy Grau 81 Rep Edmond 2010Kevin Calvey 82 Rep Oklahoma City 2014Randy McDaniel 83 Rep Oklahoma City 2006Sally Kern 84 Rep Oklahoma City 2004David Dank (Republican; died April 10, 2015)Cyndi Munson (after September 17, 2015) 85 Dem Oklahoma City 2007/2015William Fourkiller 86 Dem Stilwell 2010Jason Nelson 87 Rep Oklahoma City 2008Jason Dunnington 88 Dem Oklahoma City 2014Shane Stone 89 Dem Oklahoma City 2014Jon Echols 90 Rep Oklahoma City 2012Chris Kannady 91 Rep Oklahoma City 2014Richard Morrissette 92 Dem Oklahoma City 2004Mike Christian 93 Rep Oklahoma City 2008Scott Inman 94 Dem Oklahoma City 2006Charlie Joyner 95 Rep Midwest City 2006Lewis H. Moore 96 Rep Edmond 2008Mike Shelton 97 Dem Oklahoma City 2004Michael Rogers 98 Rep Tulsa 2014George Young 99 Dem Oklahoma City 2014Elise Hall 100 Rep Oklahoma City 2010Gary Banz 101 Rep Midwest City 2004

References

External links Oklahoma Legislature Homepage State of Oklahoma's Website Legislative Bill Tracking Website