Latest news with #DavidBullard
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers discuss eliminating property tax during fall study
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma state senators will discuss 74 interim studies during the fall at the State Capitol. At least two senators have requested to discuss ways to eliminate property taxes. Tax reform was a hot topic at the Capitol during the session. Recent legislation led to cuts to state income and grocery taxes. Senators David Bullard (R-Durant) and Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) have requested interim studies to evaluate ways to reform the tax, which funds schools, law enforcement, and roads. Lawmakers agree on Oklahoma budget, could see income tax cut 'We're looking at what is a sound and meaningful way to make sure that we're protecting the property owners and we're also properly investing in the services that they care about,' said Jett. Bullard said he has already started collecting data on ways to replace property taxes. He said one idea would be with a consumption tax, which is a tax that a person pays when they spend money, rather than when they earn it.'With a consumption tax, if we can move that way when the economy's up, there's no end to how much they could get in revenue coming in,' said Bullard. 'The problem is going to be what do you do when it's down.' Bullard said there would be a risk because of the ebb and flow of that type of tax as a solution. According to the Tax Foundation, in 2024, Oklahomans paid an average of $914 in state and local property taxes per capita. It was among the lowest in the nation. New Jersey had the highest property taxes, with people there paying $3,539 per capita. Democratic Senator Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) questions why the state would want to eliminate a reliable form of funding for something that was uncertain.'Tell me the five-year plan. Tell me the 10-year plan, because we better be looking down the road,' said Kirt. 'What are [Oklahomans] willing to give up? Are they willing to give up having a county jail? Are they willing to give up having sheriffs if they need help in rural Oklahoma? I don't think they are.' Interim studies at the Capitol are expected to get underway in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Open primary proponents challenge Oklahoma law capping initiative petition signatures
Open primary supporters in Oklahoma have filed two lawsuits in the Oklahoma Supreme Court challenging a new state law that limits the number of initiative petition signatures that can be collected from a single county. One lawsuit asks the court to declare the "retroactive provision" of Senate Bill 1027 unconstitutional. The other lawsuit challenges the overall constitutionality of the bill. SB 1027, authored by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, mandates that the maximum number of signatures from a single county cannot exceed 11.5% of the number of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. For constitutional amendments, that maximum number is 20.8%. Opponents contend those limits disenfranchise voters, particularly in urban areas. More: Senate passes bill that places new restrictions on initiative petitions Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the bill into law, which was a priority for many GOP lawmakers this legislative session, on Friday, May 23. It took effect immediately. The bill comes as proponents of open primaries await a start date to begin collecting signatures for State Question 836, a measure that would open Oklahoma primary elections to all voters, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election. 'You don't have to agree with SQ 836 to see what's happening here is wrong,' said Dr. Ken Setter, a proponent of SQ 836 and a plaintiff in both lawsuits. 'Politicians should not be attempting to stop this measure by sabotaging it with unconstitutional laws. They should let the voters decide." The lawsuit challenging the bill's "retroactive" provision asks the court to temporarily block the law during litigation, arguing that attempting to comply with SB 1027 during such time will jeopardize signature-gatherers' ability to collect enough signatures to qualify their measure for the ballot. Supporters of SB 1027 have argued that the current process for state questions leaves out rural Oklahomans. In May, Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tulsa, said the bill gives more Oklahomans a voice in what qualifies for the ballot because signatures can't come solely from the state's biggest metro areas. Along with signature limits in single counties, SB 1027 also requires a petition's gist to be written in basic words explaining the measure. It requires petition circulators to be registered voters in Oklahoma and disclose the organization that's paying them. "All Oklahomans should know what they are voting on and who [is] behind the initiatives being pushed," Paxton, a co-author on the bill, said at the time. "I don't know how more transparency and more voices being heard in the process is a bad thing." Paxton, Bullard and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the legal challenges. Anthony Stobbe, a plaintiff in both lawsuits and a registered independent, said that as a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander, he served his country, "not a political party." He added that being politically independent is important to him, along with thousands of other veterans and active-duty military across Oklahoma. "Not being able to vote in Oklahoma's most meaningful elections is a slap in the face," Stobbe said in a news release. "Having an unconstitutional law try to block the very state question meant to fix that problem is even worse.' The lawsuit challenging SB 1027's overall constitutionality argues that the law infringes on the rights of Oklahomans to propose amendments to the state constitution through referendums. It also claims the law threatens restrictions on legislative authority, separation of powers, equal protection and political speech and association." 'Senate Bill 1027 is an outright attack on the people's right to govern themselves,' said Amy Cerato, a well-known opponent of the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike project. 'I've been organizing to hold the government accountable for years, and I've never seen such a blatant power grab to silence Oklahomans' voices. This law is designed to make direct democracy in Oklahoma impossible.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Two lawsuits challenge Oklahoma's new initiative petition restrictions
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public obscenity bill that could impact drag shows heads to Oklahoma governor
Sens. David Bullard, R-Durant, left, and Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, speak on the Senate floor ahead of the chamber's organizational day on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday sent Gov. Kevin Stitt a bill that would bar obscene performances on public property or areas where minors are present despite concerns that it is unconstitutional and aimed at impacting drag shows. House Bill 1217 makes it a crime to engage in adult performances, or to permit them, on public property where a minor could view them. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $1,000, one year in jail or both. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, the Senate author, said the bill does not mention drag shows. 'If the behavior is obscene, regardless of dress, then it should not be allowed in front of minors,' Bullard said. Critics said state law already prohibits obscene displays. They said the measure targets drag performances, the LGBTQ+ community and violates constitutionally protected free speech rights. 'Let's be clear from the outset that House Bill 1217 is an anti-speech, anti-queer, anti-art bill masquerading as a protection against obscenity,' said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. 'It does not use the word drag. But make no mistake. This bill is absolutely about drag.' Opposing the bill is a 'wink at corruption,' said Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin. 'We are living in a time where grown men parade around in lingerie and exaggerated prosthetics, performing in front of wide-eyed toddlers in public and at libraries, and some call that progress,' Deevers said. 'That's not progress. It is perversion. And Jesus calls it evil.' Deevers asked why it is acceptable to arrest someone for exposing themselves at a park, but not when they 'wear exaggerated prosthetics and gyrate in front of children.' Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, said because the language is so broad, it could ban theatrical performances, cultural performances and cheerleading routines. 'What this is really about is one small group in our community, a group of our neighbors, making another small group in our community uncomfortable, and so we're going to have a piece of legislation to go after one group because it makes another group uncomfortable,' Mann said. Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, said there was a time when Elvis Presley, known for gyrating his hips, could only be videoed from the top up because some felt he was so sexually obscene that it was not good for public viewing. The measure passed by a vote of 39-8. This story was updated at 3:33 p.m. to better describe the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Panel advances bill banning delivery of abortion-inducing drugs in Oklahoma
Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, sits at his desk on the Senate floor during the chamber's organizational day on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A Senate panel on Monday advanced a measure to prevent the use of popular abortion-inducing drugs, including mifepristone. House Bill 1168 makes it a felony to intentionally deliver abortion-inducing drugs in the state. 'We are stopping the pill from the abortion side of this just because of the damage it does to an unborn person, primarily, but also because of the damage it does to women and mothers,' said Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, the Senate author of the measure. Abortion in Oklahoma is already illegal, except to save the life of the mother. Abortion-inducing drugs, like RU486, better known as mifepristone, are not the same as the morning after pill. Abortion-inducing drugs end a pregnancy while the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy. 'RU486 has one intent and that intent is to murder an unborn child,' Bullard said. Bullard said the measure would also prevent it from being shipped into Oklahoma through major carriers. The measure would make it a felony with a fine not to exceed $100,000 or up to 10 years in prison or both. 'I simply cannot believe that we are continuing to try and create new felonies for substances that are legal, that do provide valid medical relief to individuals here in our state,' said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Hicks said she was appalled that the state continues to push the envelope when mothers are going into sepsis and experiencing fatal conditions before they can get medical intervention. 'This is the only medical procedure in the world that the success of the procedure depends on the death of the patient,' Bullard said. The measure passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 7-3. It is available for consideration in the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill provides tax credit for pregnancy resource center donors
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – This week House Bill 1201 authored by Rep. Cody Maynard (R-Durant) and Sen. David Bullard (R-Durant), is set to move forward after passing the Senate Revenue Taxation Committee, granting some tax relief for any individual contributing to nonprofit pregnancy resource centers. HB 1201 would give an income tax credit equal to 70% of what an individual contributes specifically to a nonprofit pregnancy resource center. Additionally, the bill includes qualifying entities providing maternity housing and facilities offering care for new mothers and newborns. School cell phone ban moves one step closer at Capitol Oklahoma Senate leaders highlighted Oklahoma has roughly 40 pregnancy resource centers across the state. 'These centers are on the forefront of helping new mothers and women in crisis pregnancies get the help and support they need,' Bullard said. 'This legislation encourages Oklahomans to donate to these vital organizations that play a key role in protecting the unborn by providing women with the resources they need to choose life. At its core, House Bill 1201 is a pro-life bill that enables women to build a better future for themselves and their children.' HB 1201 limits the tax credit to $50,000 per person each year, capping credits at $5 million annually. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
