Allen has tried to curb the demonstrations in the Capitol since teachers and their supporters occupied the building three years ago.
SB 403 from Senator Brenda Stanley, R-Oklahoma City, would make it a crime to “disrupt or disrupt” the business of local governments, including school boards, and would apply to public gatherings.
In recent years, lawmakers have also expanded the definition of criminal offenses, mainly to protect oil and gas facilities from protesters.
Some proponents of the first amendment see measures like this as intended to intimidate dissenters by giving law enforcement the freedom to arrest and prosecute protesters for relatively minor violations.
Session Notes: A House Committee has passed legislation that would require an extra step in prosecuting judicial officers charged with murder or manslaughter. HB 2505 author, Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City, said his action was due to what he viewed as unfair treatment of former Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby.
Two members of the district house are working on real estate tax relief for low-income homeowners.
House Bill 1009 from Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, would raise the annual income limit for double homestead exemption from $ 20,000 to $ 25,000. Sims is working with Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, on a land change that would exclude a one-time government emergency from income calculations.
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