Senate Aproves Single Subject Bill

The State Senate overwhelming approved Senate Bill 213 by President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, which requires every bill to contain a separate provision that clearly expresses the subject of the bill.

Pro Tem Coffee explained that SB 213 resulted from a court ruling that found the Freedom of Conscience Act, enacted last year, violated the one subject rule.  The Supreme Court gave no indication as to the multiple subjects contained within the measure.

As a result, SB 213 now requires a court to provide written findings detailing each of the multiple subjects in a bill if the court finds the measure to violate the one subject rule.

“Senate Bill 213 creates a legislative record that a particular piece of legislation has been debated and defended, in committee and on the floor, regarding its single subject,” said Coffee.  “Regardless of what subject matter a bill deals with, this legislation will create a way for courts to give us guidance in how to improve legislation, by citing specific areas we did not comply with Oklahoma law.”

Senate Bill 213 now heads to the House of Representatives for final passage.