Goals for Legislative Session
I expect the upcoming legislative session, which begins Feb. 6, to be interesting, exciting and productive. Between the 149 legislators in the Oklahoma House and Senate, thousands of bills were filed this session.
I expect the upcoming legislative session, which begins Feb. 6, to be interesting, exciting and productive. Between the 149 legislators in the Oklahoma House and Senate, thousands of bills were filed this session.
When I consider how to vote on the various bills, I use a highly principled approach. I ask myself: is this bill Biblical, constitutional, necessary and fiscally responsible?
I want to review several of the bills that I have been working on for this session.
I have received numerous complaints regarding the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries. The feeling of many is that this is especially egregious when they are in close proximity to a church.
A constituent in my district requested this several years ago, but the bill didn’t make it through the legislative process then. I am running it again as House Bill 1014, which requires a distance of 900 feet between a dispensary and a church.
Constitutional rights in general, and the second amendment in particular is of great interest to people in Sequoyah County. Second amendment freedoms have improved in the last several years.
I was privileged to be a primary author on our constitutional carry bills that became law in 2019. However, opportunities for improvement remain, so I am running House Bill 1021 to allow concealed carry of a weapon at the Oklahoma State Fair and the Tulsa State Fair.
At the time of our nation’s founding, 18-year-olds were recognized as fully functioning adult members of our society, with all of the rights and responsibilities thereof. House Bill 1001 would change the age of constitutional carry from 21 to 18.
Continuing on the theme of constitutional rights, due process rights must always be protected. You are innocent until proven guilty. Civil asset forfeiture should never happen until and unless someone is found guilty in a court of law. You should not lose your money or your property until you have your day in court. House Bill 1020 will address the issue of civil asset forfeiture.
I think that people all over our state are in agreement that drunk driving is a bad thing, and that if someone is killed that this is a terrible crime. House Bill 1003 would require some financial restitution is a drunk driver kills a parent with children in their home. The driver would have to pay part of the cost of raising the children until they are 18 years old.
Gender transition is something that has exploded among our youth in the last several years. This is a tragedy on several levels.
The great majority of young people who experience gender dysphoria, or confusion about their gender, resolve this without medical interventions. They go on to live a satisfactory and fulfilled life in the original gender that the Lord made them.
Gender transitions often have long-term adverse physical and emotional effects. Permanent sterility is often one of those effects of the most common procedures.
Many who have undergone gender transition go on to later regret their decision. It is the proper role of the state to protect its most vulnerable members, notably children. HB 1011 will prohibit gender transition of children and teenagers.
I am privileged to serve as your representative in House District 2.
Rep. Jim Olsen represents District 2 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes portions of Sequoyah County.
