Thursday was our final day to pass House bills through the House chamber, and we ultimately heard 477 bills ahead of the third reading deadline.

Two of the bills approved were two of my own.

One of those bills was House Bill 1774, which removes the exemption for the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission from the competitive bidding requirements of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. However, the bill still requires that the State Purchasing Director to review and audit those contracts. It also clarifies that exemptions cannot be used for the leasing or contracting for state-owned restaurants in Oklahoma State Parks.

A second bill I passed through the House ahead of the deadline was House Bill 1777, which removes several fines and fees that were implemented in the last 20-30 years. These fees were implemented because the state needed money, not because it was the right thing to do. I’ve been working to develop this legislation for several years and am glad to see it pass the House.

HB1777 now moves over to the Senate, where it will be carried through the process by Sen. Roger Thompson, who chairs the Senate Appropriations & Budget Committee. HB1774 is authored in the Senate by Sen. David Bullard.

Following Thursday’s deadline, the House and Senate will switch our approved bills and begin the process all over again. We’ll soon begin considering Senate bills in our House committees next week before considering them on the floor.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. You may reach me at danny.williams@ okhouse.gov or 405-5577372. Thank you for the honor of representing House District 28 at the State Capitol!

Rep. Danny Williams, a Republican, represents House District 28 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Seminole County and northern Pottawatomie County.