As times change, it’s important that laws change as well. The Legislature is constantly looking at ways to modernize laws that are outdated and fix laws that aren’t working as intended. In a continued effort to modernize these laws, the Legislature passed several measures related to alcohol, tobacco and controlled substances.

House Bill 2122 created the Oklahoma Cocktails To Go Act of 2021, which went into law in late August. The bill allows establishments with caterer’s or mixed beverage licenses to sell single-serve wine or mixed drinks to go as long as they are in a sealed, tamper-proof container.

The beverage must be placed by an employee over the age of 21 into the trunk of the vehicle or, if there is no trunk, a rear compartment not easily accessible to the passenger area. It must have a label containing information about the beverage and the licensee selling the beverage.

Another bill we passed in this policy area is Senate Bill 85, which allows holders of multiple small brewer licenses to sell beer produced at up to three of their licensed breweries.

Both laws give our Oklahoma-owned businesses the ability to compete with larger, out-of-state companies.

We also passed two bills regarding the enforcement of existing tobacco laws.

House Bill 2674 clarifies that a person must be 21 years of age or older to purchase, receive or possess nicotine products.

House Bill 2292 creates the Tobacco Products Tax Enforcement Act of 2021, which authorizes the Oklahoma Tax Commission to establish a Tobacco Products Tax Enforcement Unit to enforce tobacco laws.

Lastly, we passed several bills dealing with other controlled substances.

We are cracking down on foreign entities trying to take advantage of loopholes and illegally participate in the Oklahoma medical marijuana industry to the detriment of our local farmers. We passed House Bill 2272 to require current medical marijuana business licensees and applicants to submit an attestation confirming or denying the existence of any foreign financial interests in their business operation. Failing to do so could lead to a termination of their license.

House Bill 2904 directs the Department of Health to hire more compliance and enforcement officers, legal staff, investigative officers and planning and logistics staff at the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA).

Additionally, House Bill 2646 ensures that consumers have a safe product and businesses have opportunities to make the profit margins they need to continue to operate.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office to ask questions or share thoughts on legislation. My office phone is (405) 557-7372 and my email is danny. williams@okhouse.gov.

Thank you for the honor of representing House District 28!