Oklahoma State Legislature

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Oklahoma State Legislature

Seal of Oklahoma.svg.png
General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   12 cumulative years in both chambers combined
Session start:   February 5, 2024
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Matt Pinnell (R)
House Speaker:  Charles McCall (R)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Greg McCortney (R)
House: Jon Echols (R)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Kay Floyd (D)
House: Cyndi Munson (D)
Structure
Members:  48 (Senate), 101 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary:   $47,500/year + per diem
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant

The Oklahoma Legislature is the legislative branch of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprised of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate. The House of Representatives has 101 members, each serving a two-year term. The Senate has 48 members, each serving a four-year term. Senators serve a staggered term, such that only half of the senate districts have elections in any election year.

The Oklahoma Legislature meets in the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

See also: Oklahoma House of Representatives, Oklahoma State Senate, Oklahoma Governor

Elections

2024

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2024 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 18, 2024, and a primary runoff is August 27, 2024. The filing deadline is April 5, 2024.

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 18, 2024, and a primary runoff is August 27, 2024. The filing deadline is April 5, 2024.

2022

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2022 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2022

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 28, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for August 23, 2022. The filing deadline was April 15, 2022.

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 28, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for August 23, 2022. The filing deadline was April 15, 2022.

2020

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2020 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 30, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for August 25, 2020. The filing deadline was April 10, 2020.

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 30, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for August 25, 2020. The filing deadline was April 10, 2020.

2018

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2018 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2018

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2018. A primary election took place on June 26, 2018, and a primary runoff took place on August 28, 2018.[1] Democrats use a hybrid primary and Republicans use a closed primary. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was April 13, 2018.[2]

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2018. A primary election took place on June 26, 2018, and a primary runoff took place on August 28, 2018.[3] Democrats use a hybrid primary and Republicans use a closed primary. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was April 13, 2018.[4]

2016

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2016 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 15, 2016.

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 15, 2016.

2014

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2014 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014.

Elections for the Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014.

2012

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2012 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 26, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was April 13, 2012.

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 26, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was April 13, 2012.

2010

See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2010 and Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on July 27, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was June 9, 2010.

Elections for the office of Oklahoma House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on July 27, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was June 9, 2010.

Sessions

Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 26 of Article V states that the Legislature is to meet in regular session on the first Monday in February of each year, and it is to adjourn its regular session by the last Friday in May of each year. Additionally, Section 26 also states that the Legislature is to meet for organizational purposes on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year.

Section 27 of Article V contains the rules for convening special sessions of the Legislature. Section 27 allows a special session to be called by the Governor of Oklahoma or by a written call signed by two-thirds of the members of both legislative houses.

2024

See also: 2024 Oklahoma legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on February 5, 2024, and adjourn on May 31, 2024.

2023

See also: 2023 Oklahoma legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 6, 2023, and adjourn on May 26, 2023.


Role in state budget

See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances
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The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[16]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor by October 1.
  3. Agency hearings are held from November through January.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February.
  5. The legislature typically adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.


Oklahoma is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[16]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[16]


Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Oklahoma State Legislature. These lines may be vetoed by the governor.[17]

If the legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The commission comprises the following seven members:[17]

  1. The governor appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
  2. The majority leader of the Oklahoma State Senate appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
  3. The majority leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
  4. The lieutenant governor serves as the non-voting chair of the commission.

The Oklahoma Constitution requires that state Senate district boundaries take into account "population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory, and other major factors."[17]

The redistricting committee of the state House adopted redistricting guidelines similar to the senatorial district requirements described above. These guidelines apply to state House and congressional districts, as well. These guidelines may be amended by the state legislature at its discretion.[17]

2020

See also: Redistricting in Oklahoma after the 2020 census

Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed new legislative maps into law on November 22, 2021.[18] The Senate approved the Senate map in a 46-1 vote on November 17, 2021, and the House approved the Senate map 95-1 on November 19, 2021.[19] The House approved the House map 88-3 on November 17, 2021, and the Senate approved the House map 44-2 on November 19, 2021.[20]These maps took effect for Oklahoma's 2022 legislative elections.


2010

See also: Redistricting in Oklahoma after the 2010 census

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma's population increased from 3.45 million to 3.75 million between 2000 and 2010.[21] The population was densest around Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Growth rates were highest in the suburban and exurban areas surrounding these cities, while rural Oklahoma counties grew at a lower rate or lost population. Of Oklahoma's 77 counties, 23 saw a drop in population between 2000 and 2010.[22] The state's overall growth rate was 8.7 percent, which was below the national average of 9.7 percent, but not low enough to cost the state a Congressional seat.[23]

Oklahoma officials received detailed Oklahoma results from the Census in February 2011. The legislature formed steering committees in each chamber to draft the maps before the May 27, 2011 deadline. The House of Representatives completed its work relatively quickly, producing a map that avoided putting any incumbents in a district together by early May.[24] The Senate did not produce a map until mid-May.[25][26][27] The House map was passed in its initial vote, while the Senate encountered minority opposition. However, opposition eased on the second round of votes, and the Gov. Mary Fallin (R) signed the bills into law seven days before the deadline.[28][29]

Legislators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2023
SalaryPer diem
$47,500/year$168/day

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Oklahoma legislators assume office 15 days following the general election.[30][31]

Senate

See also: Oklahoma State Senate

The Oklahoma State Senate is the upper house of the Oklahoma State Legislature. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution.

As of the 2020 Census, Oklahoma state senators represented an average of 82,573 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 78,435 residents.

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 8
     Republican Party 40
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 48

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Oklahoma State Senate in 2008. In 2022, they won a 40-8 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Oklahoma Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Oklahoma State Senate election results: 1992-2022

Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
Democrats 37 35 33 33 30 28 26 24 22 16 12 8 6 9 9 8
Republicans 11 13 15 15 18 20 22 24 26 32 36 40 42 39 39 40

House of Representatives

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house and larger body of the two houses of the Oklahoma Legislature, the other being the Oklahoma Senate. Originally, each county in Oklahoma was represented in the House proportional to its population, but after a court case in the early 1960s, the state has been divided into 101 House districts of equal population. Representatives serve two-year terms.

As of the 2020 Census, Oklahoma state representatives represented an average of 39,243 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 37,276 residents.

The presiding officer of the House is known as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 20
     Republican Party 80
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 101

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004. In 2022, they won an 81-20 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Oklahoma House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Oklahoma House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022

Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
Democrats 69 65 65 61 53 53 44 44 40 31 29 29 26 25 19 20
Republicans 32 36 36 40 48 48 57 57 61 70 72 72 75 76 82 81

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District maps

State Senate


State House


Veto overrides

Veto Override Graphic-Republican Party.png

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Oklahoma are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 68 of the 101 members in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 32 of the 48 members in the Oklahoma State Senate. Oklahoma is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

Are there other special rules?

If the governor vetoes an emergency measure, three-fourths of the members in both chambers are required to override the veto, which is 76 of the 101 state representatives and 36 of the 48 state senators.[32]

Authority: Article VI, Section 11 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

"Every bill which shall have passed the Senate and House of Representatives, and every resolution requiring the assent of both branches of the Legislature, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor; if he approve, he shall sign it; if not, he shall return it with his objections to the house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large in the Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members elected to that house shall agree to pass the bill or joint resolution, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and, if approved by two-thirds of the members elected to that house, it shall become a law, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor."

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Oklahoma
Partisan breakdown of the Oklahoma legislature from 1992-2013

Oklahoma State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Oklahoma State Senate for the first 15 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last five years. The final three years of the study depicted a shift in the Oklahoma senate with all three years being Republican trifectas.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Oklahoma State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives for the first 13 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last nine years. Oklahoma was under Republican trifectas for the final three years of the study.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Oklahoma state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Oklahoma state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the years of the study, Oklahoma had both Democratic and Republican trifectas. Its Democratic trifectas occurred from 1992-1994 and from 2003-2004. Its Republican trifectas occurred from 2011-2013. Oklahoma's SQLI ranking was in the bottom-10 for many years of the study, finishing 44th in 1994 at its lowest. In more recent years of the study, however, the state's ranking improved, finishing 31st in 2011 at its highest. Oklahoma's worst ranking occurred during a Democratic trifecta, and its best occurred during a Republican trifecta.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 41.80
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 31.50
  • SQLI average with divided government: 40.64
Chart displaying the partisanship of Oklahoma government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Oklahoma Constitution can be amended:

See also: Section 1, Article V, and Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Oklahoma requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oklahoma State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Oklahoma State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 2 of Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. However, the last time Oklahomans voted on such a question was in 1970.[33] According to the State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, "Since 1970, Oklahoma’s legislature has refused to follow its Constitution with regard to this provision. In 1994, it placed a referendum on the ballot to eliminate this requirement, but the people of Oklahoma defeated it. Since 1990, many bills have been introduced to implement this part of the Constitution but none has passed."[34]



2025 measures:

See also: 2025 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

No measures to list


Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

No measures to list

2024 measures:

Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

See also: Oklahoma 2024 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

No measures to list


Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

No measures to list

See also

Elections Oklahoma State Government State Legislatures State Politics
Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
Oklahoma State Flag-Close Up.jpg
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State Courts-Tile image.png

External links

Footnotes

  1. Oklahoma State Board of Elections, "Oklahoma Elections — 2018," accessed August 23, 2017
  2. Oklahoma State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing," accessed August 23, 2017
  3. Oklahoma State Board of Elections, "Oklahoma Elections — 2018," accessed August 23, 2017
  4. Oklahoma State Board of Elections, "Candidate Filing," accessed August 23, 2017
  5. Fox News 23, "Oklahoma Legislature closes, coronavirus increases in state," March 20, 2020
  6. KOSU, "Oklahoma Capitol Remains Empty Of Legislators During COVID-19 Crisis," March 30, 2020
  7. The Oklahoman, "Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Legislature convenes," April 6, 2020
  8. McAlester News-Capital, "State Capitol to reopen to public on Monday," May 2, 2020
  9. enidnews.com, "Legislators have eyes on budget," accessed February 2, 2015
  10. TulsaWorld.com, "Oklahoma Gov. Fallin to push education, reduced incarceration and improved health," accessed February 2, 2015
  11. www.tulsaworld.com, "2014 Oklahoma Legislature: Budget challenges, leadership matters await as session begins," accessed February 3, 2014
  12. Muskogee Phoenix, "State House Republicans unveil 2013 legislative agenda," February 1, 2013
  13. WatchDog.org, "OK special session puts lawsuit reforms back in place," accessed October 25, 2013
  14. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
  15. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 19, 2014(Archived)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 All About Redistricting, "Oklahoma," accessed May 6, 2015
  18. Oklahoma Office of the Governor, "Governor Kevin Stitt Signs Six Redistricting Bills into Law," November 22, 2021
  19. Oklahoma Legislature, "SB 1," accessed November 23, 2021
  20. Oklahoma Legislature, "HB 1001," accessed November 23, 2021
  21. U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Oklahoma Profile," accessed July 21, 2014
  22. USA Today, "Oklahoma City, suburbs see 'significant growth'," February 18, 2011
  23. The Express-Star, "State's congressional representation to stay the same," March 7, 2011
  24. Tulsa Today, "Not Kumbaya, but close: House reapportionment headed to a peaceful end," May 10, 2011(Archived)
  25. Tulsa World, "Redistricting draws criticism: One senator says lawmakers shouldn't be involved in the process," April 24, 2011
  26. News-Star, "House redistricting moves forward, Senate plan stalls," May 10, 2011
  27. NewsOK, "State Senate releases maps for proposed districts," May 12, 2011
  28. Real Clear Politics, "Fallin signs House, Senate redistricting bills," May 20, 2011
  29. The Oklahoman, "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signs redistricting bills," May 21, 2011
  30. Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 80.35.14," accessed November 2, 2021
  31. Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 145 ," accessed February 3, 2023
  32. National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Veto Process," accessed June 22, 2017
  33. Sooner Politics, "An Oklahoma Constitutional Convention Is Being Drawn Up", July 2, 2015
  34. State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, "Periodic Constitutional Convention Comparative Information"; retrieved January 4, 2016