OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Legislature has more than 3,000 bills to consider in the upcoming session, with some, including measures targeting homelessness, expected to spark concern.
The 60th Oklahoma Legislature filed a record number of bills for the 2025 session, which begins Feb. 3. The House submitted more than 1,900 pieces of legislation, and the Senate filed more than 1,100.
When committees meet next month, lawmakers are expected to consider measures related to taxes, teacher pay, student cell phone usage and the authority of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, but a handful of bills on other topics are raising questions and eyebrows.
More cockfighting bills
State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has once again filed multiple bills related to cockfighting.
The lawmaker from southeast Oklahoma saw his bill from 2023 carried over to last year’s session, hoping to reduce penalties for what’s widely considered a barbaric sport. He said if they wanted to, law enforcement could enforce current law, which carries a 10-year sentence for cockfighting, but the “majority of people would be up in arms if they do.”
“If they wanted to go out and start enforcing these (laws), they could, especially in rural areas,” said Humphrey when his bill was proposed. “They could do that, but the majority of people would just be up in arms if they do. Here we have a situation where everybody knows it’s going on, nothing’s being done.”
He once again renewed that effort in 2025 with House Bill 1313, which reclassifies cockfighting as a misdemeanor from a felony.
Another measure authored by Humphrey, House Bill 1326, permits cockfighting between a live fowl and a robot, but the robot shall not harm the animal, according to bill language.
Humphrey’s cockfighting bills have frequently made headlines in past years and have drawn opposition from animal rights groups including Animal Wellness Action.
Several bills filed by lawmakers to address homelessness
Homelessness looks to be a hot topic at the Capitol this year.
Senate Bill 484, written by state Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, prevents municipalities with less than 300,000 residents from providing services to those experiencing homelessness. Tulsa and Oklahoma City are the only cities in the state that exceed 300,000 people. Homeless is among the most contentious topics for Norman residents and city leaders.
The freshman senator’s bill has circulated on social media, with responses ranging from supportive to outraged. Another Norman lawmaker, state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, said Standridge should toss the bill in the trash and consider “what Jesus would do for these folks.”
Standridge said she plans to re-work the bill to ensure victims of domestic violence would not be affected by it.
House Bill 1689, written by state Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, makes it illegal to remove a shopping cart from the parking area of a retail establishment. The act would be a misdemeanor and punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
State Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee filed House Bill 1798 for the upcoming session, which allows municipalities to use general revenue funds to purchase one-way bus tickets out of Oklahoma for people experiencing homelessness.
Bills targeting LGBTQ+ community
Measures filed in both chambers have implications for Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ community.
A House lawmaker will renew a previous effort to ban state agencies from allowing LGBTQ+ flags on state property. State Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, looks to get House Bill 1219 , which in addition to the aforementioned, prohibits state funds from being used by a state agency to develop, organize, administer, engage in, promote or endorse any activity, event, campaign or education program recognizing Pride Month or those with similar themes.
The ACLU of Oklahoma called a similar measure by West last year “a blatant attack on expression” and Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ community.
Senate Bill 591, by state Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, establishes the Free to Speak Act. According to bill language, an employee of a public school or institution of higher learning shall not intentionally address an emancipated minor student by a name other than their legal name or pronouns inconsistent with the student’s sex without written permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Employees and students would not be subject to disciplinary action for declining to address a person using a name other than their legal name or a pronoun inconsistent with their sex. Those who suffer any harm as a result of a violation of the act would have a cause of action for relief and monetary damages.
Standridge filed Senate Bill 1049, which she calls the “Wrongful Life Act.” It prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care on individuals less than 18 years old. Banned care would include gender-transition surgery, hormone therapy and puberty blockers.
Another Deevers measure, Senate Bill 550, would ban drag performance and story hour on public property or locations where such acts could be viewed by minors. Violations would be punishable by up to five years imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.
