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Dahm & Moore Set The high marks for the two houses of the Oklahoma Legislature.
In our inaugural publication of legislative commitment to preserving & advancing individual freedom in Oklahoma, This year's 57th Oklahoma Legislature celebrates a very robust year of commitment to constitutional rights. We look at hundreds of bills to find a good sampling of floor votes which represent a broad spectrum of freedoms and we evaluate how each lawlaker weighed & cast their votes. We also looked at how leaders of committees conducted themselves and the vast power they hold. We added bonus points for legislators who took the time to draft and promote bills which are essential to protecting & advancing constitutional liberty.
What is the Freedom Index?
The Freedom Index seeks to identify how diligent a lawmaker is, to protecting individual freedom for the people of Oklahoma. We gathered a set of various bills which indicate many forms of freedom. Free Speech, Self Defense, Free Association, Vocational Freedom Economic Freedom, Parental authority, Healthcare access and options. Travel and Privacy. |
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How We Score the Lawmakers
We're using a scoring system that starts with a spectrum of -100 to +100, with 10 key floor bills in each chamber worth 10 points each. Unlike other indices which even award points for missed votes; This index awards 0 points for missed votes and -10 for votes deemed contrary to individual freedom & privacy. For comparison, Scoring a 70 in this index is sorta like scoring an 85 in most other indices. What Are Bonus & Penalty Points? We award 5 bonus points for primary sponsors in each chamber, on bills that advance individual freedom in the bills included in this index. We also assess 5 penalty points to primary sponsors for bills that harm individual freedom & privacy. |
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In addition, we selected a handful of other key Freedom bills which were left to die in committee during the spring session, without so much as a parliamentary motion allowed by the committee chair. That chairman who lets a key freedom bill sit unacted upon will be assessed a 5 point penalty to their own personal Freedom Score.
The Bills We Scored..
SB361 Campus Free Speech
This affirms a student's right to free expression while on any state-run higher ed. campus, in the outdoor venues. It prohibits
schools from limiting free speech to only specific 'free speech' zones, and banning free speech everywhere else.
HB2597 Permitless Self Defense Rights
This affirms a citizen's right to keep & bear arms in the state without the purchase of a special license. It still prohibits possession
by anyone who, through due process of law, was denied that right. (minors, felons, and incompetent individuals)
HB2339 Parent's Vaccine Consent
This bill directs public health mobile clinics to follow standard parental consent protocols in requiring informed consent of custodial
parents for all vaccination procedures. Parents retain all legal rights and choices in how to best assure their child's health.
HB1014 DNA Harvesting on Arrest
This bill authorizes state law enforcement to order and gather DNA evidence from anyone arrested in the state.
The DNA Harvesting Is allowed to be kept in a database in perpetuity and used as evidence, even if no guilt is found.
SB162 Restoring Physician Privileges
This bill restores the original intent of SQ788, for a person's primary physician to recommend Cannabis medicine to a patient
in need. Patients do not have to seek a separate "specialist" to meet the OMMA requirement.
HB1269 Expunge Felony to a Misdemeanor
This allows the Pardon & Parole Board to commute non-violent drug possession & petty theft to the misdemeanor crime, instead of a felony, as it used to be regarded 3 years ago. The voters insisted that the penalties be reduced, in SQ780.
HB1276 (House only) Child Custody & Parenting Reform
This gives all parents equal treatment in the determination of custody, parenting, and visitation, until a court deems otherwise
through due process. The other house held a floor vote on a similar bill.
SB65 (Senate only) Child Custody & Parenting Reform
This gives all parents equal treatment in the determination of custody, parenting, and visitation, until a court deems otherwise
through due process. The other house held a floor vote on a similar bill.
SB993 Restore Health Insurance Options
With the recent federal action on healthcare mandates, more latitude in writing special limited-duration & coverage health
insurance products will be made available to consumers who deem them preferable for their needs & affordabilities
HB1259 Legalize Voting Selfies
Old law forbids free speech in the local polling locations. While most of that set of restrictions remain, Many active voters want to
take a photo & electronically transmit it. this law assures voters of that right.
SB33 Ban Vaping Devices at Schools
While all public schools already ban Vaping devices at public schools; This makes any possession a crime. Even when used as a
medication delivery device, an adult can now be arrested and punished. It doesn't matter if it's used for nicotine or not.
Further Research:We've hyperlinked these bills for your further research
This affirms a student's right to free expression while on any state-run higher ed. campus, in the outdoor venues. It prohibits
schools from limiting free speech to only specific 'free speech' zones, and banning free speech everywhere else.
HB2597 Permitless Self Defense Rights
This affirms a citizen's right to keep & bear arms in the state without the purchase of a special license. It still prohibits possession
by anyone who, through due process of law, was denied that right. (minors, felons, and incompetent individuals)
HB2339 Parent's Vaccine Consent
This bill directs public health mobile clinics to follow standard parental consent protocols in requiring informed consent of custodial
parents for all vaccination procedures. Parents retain all legal rights and choices in how to best assure their child's health.
HB1014 DNA Harvesting on Arrest
This bill authorizes state law enforcement to order and gather DNA evidence from anyone arrested in the state.
The DNA Harvesting Is allowed to be kept in a database in perpetuity and used as evidence, even if no guilt is found.
SB162 Restoring Physician Privileges
This bill restores the original intent of SQ788, for a person's primary physician to recommend Cannabis medicine to a patient
in need. Patients do not have to seek a separate "specialist" to meet the OMMA requirement.
HB1269 Expunge Felony to a Misdemeanor
This allows the Pardon & Parole Board to commute non-violent drug possession & petty theft to the misdemeanor crime, instead of a felony, as it used to be regarded 3 years ago. The voters insisted that the penalties be reduced, in SQ780.
HB1276 (House only) Child Custody & Parenting Reform
This gives all parents equal treatment in the determination of custody, parenting, and visitation, until a court deems otherwise
through due process. The other house held a floor vote on a similar bill.
SB65 (Senate only) Child Custody & Parenting Reform
This gives all parents equal treatment in the determination of custody, parenting, and visitation, until a court deems otherwise
through due process. The other house held a floor vote on a similar bill.
SB993 Restore Health Insurance Options
With the recent federal action on healthcare mandates, more latitude in writing special limited-duration & coverage health
insurance products will be made available to consumers who deem them preferable for their needs & affordabilities
HB1259 Legalize Voting Selfies
Old law forbids free speech in the local polling locations. While most of that set of restrictions remain, Many active voters want to
take a photo & electronically transmit it. this law assures voters of that right.
SB33 Ban Vaping Devices at Schools
While all public schools already ban Vaping devices at public schools; This makes any possession a crime. Even when used as a
medication delivery device, an adult can now be arrested and punished. It doesn't matter if it's used for nicotine or not.
Further Research:We've hyperlinked these bills for your further research
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