In 2015, ACU Foundation was proud to make history by being the first organization to rate every single state legislature across the full spectrum of issues, helping each voter understand how his or her state ranks among the rest. Ultimately, we are trying to help people understand what conservatism is and how it improves the lives of everyday Americans. Conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person. We think that understanding this idea is essential if Americans are to successfully govern themselves again. Working with our policy centers and fellows, the ACU Foundation engages in deep policy analysis to help create our annual state scorecards. We have enhanced the vote descriptions this year to show this effort more clearly.
By examining all 50 of our State Ratings, we can see which states have most effectively promoted conservative solutions and which have struggled. Our ratings also help identify legislators who have courageously fought against liberal majorities. We hope that this guide helps you learn how well, or poorly, your legislators work to preserve the values we share.
Senate Scored Bills
1. HB 1198 Increasing Executive Authority. This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to bypass the legislative process and establish penalties for violations of the Oklahoma Occupational Health and Safety Standards Act and the Asbestos Control Act. ACU opposes this expansion of executive branch authority and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 3, 2016 by a vote of 33-12. SJR 64 Voting ID. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring voters to state their name to an election official and produce proof of identity. ACU supports strengthening ballot integrity and protections against voter fraud and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on March 7, 2016 by a vote of 39-8.
3. SB 1206 Taxpayer-Funded Marketing Promotion. This bill permits municipalities ttax hotels with 50 or more rooms in order to fund marketing promotions for private and public events. ACU believes government should not be in the marketing business and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 7, 2016 by a vote of 32-13.
4. SB 1130 Legislative Authority. This bill authorizes the legislature to amend executive agency rules by joint resolution and allows the legislature to write their own rule through a joint resolution. ACU supports giving the legislature authority on major regulations and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2016 by a vote of 26-15.
5. SB 770 Open Meetings Act. This bill expands the state’s open meetings act to include the Judicial Nominating Commission. ACU supports government transparency and open meetings whenever possible and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 9, 2016 by a vote of 40-4.
6. SB 1462 Sanctuary Cities. This bill prevents local governments from adopting a “sanctuary” policy that limits law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal agencies to report on anyone’s immigration status and makes these “sanctuary cities” ineligible for state grant programs. ACU supports enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 9, 2016 by a vote of 35-7.
7. SB 1187 Public School Deregulation. This bill allows public schools to have some of the same flexibility as charter schools in the areas of teacher hiring and pay, among other provisions. Educational attainment is an important cultural value that yields substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports school choice and reforming the education bureaucracy and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 10, 2016 by a vote of 25-20.
8. SB 1264 Education Spending Oversight. This bill requires school districts to submit quarterly statements of expenditures to the state Department of Education and for these statements to be turned over to the Office of Management. ACU supports strengthening oversight of government spending and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 10, 2016 by a vote of 37-8.
9. SB 1379 EPA Clean Power Mandate. This bill prohibits state agencies from developing or implementing the federal EPA’s clean power mandate, now stalled due to a court injunction, unless the Attorney General determines that action is required. ACU opposes the EPA mandate which will drive up the cost of energy for everyone and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 10, 2016 by a vote o 34-8.
10. HB 3142 Open Records Website. This bill creates an open records website that will allow the public to obtain on one website any public document available under t-open records act. ACU supports increased government transparency and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 14, 2016 by a vote of 30-11.
11. HB 2962 Health Insurance Mandate. This bill requires all health insurance policies to include coverage for autism but exempts companies that can show it would require more than a one percent increase in premiums for consumers. ACU opposes these mandates that drive up the cost of insurance for everyone and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 14, 2016 by a vote of 36-5.
12. HB 2820 Musical Therapy License. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to administer examinations and licenses for musical therapy. Those issued a license must have a bachelors’ degree in musical therapy and log 1,200 hours of training. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licenses that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 19, 2016 by a vote of 38-7.
13. HB 3156 Regulatory Reform of Education. This bill gives public schools some of the same flexibility enjoyed by charter schools while maintaining requirements for schools to maintain a grade of “C” or better on their A-F report cards. Educational attainment is an important cultural value that yields substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports reforming rigid public school regulations to benefit students and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 19, 2016 by a vote 31-14.
14. HB 2929 Employer Mandate. This bill prohibits employers from firing or “discriminating against” an employee for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing other employees’ wages. ACU opposes this government interference with employeremployee relations, primarily designed to open up avenues for more lawsuits, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 20, 2016 by a vote of 39-8.
15. HB 3098 Unconcealed Carry. This bill allows unconcealed carry of a firearm by anyone 21 years of age or older who is not otherwise precluded from carrying a firearm. In Oklahoma, concealed carry requires a license. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 20, 2016 by a vote of 37-9.
16. HB 2248 Sales Tax Ballot Measures. This bill requires sales tax levies submitted to county voters for approval be limited to one subject for each measure. ACU opposes forcing voters to vote up or down on multiple tax increases on different subjects and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 20, 2016 by a vote of 39-6.
17. HB 3016 Parental Rights. This bill requires the informed consent of a parent or guardian before a health-care provider administers a vaccine. The parent must be informed of the benefits and risks of the vaccine. ACU supports strengthening parental rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 21, 2016 by a vote of 39-6.
18. SB 687 Massage Therapy Licensing. This bill sets up a new bureaucracy to administer massage therapy licenses and sets requirements for the license, including five years of work experience in Oklahoma and 500 hours of education. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licenses that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 4, 2016 by a vote of 34-6.
19. SB 1603 Energy Efficiency Tax Credits. This bill ends the energy efficiency tax credit for home construction. The credit was awarded through a complicated formula involving home size and adherence to an international energy efficiency code. ACU opposes government interference in home construction and using the tax system for favored government programs and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 16, 2016 by a vote of 35-5.
20. SB 1604 Eliminating “Refundable” Tax Credits. This bill makes the earned income tax credit in the state non-refundable as part of an effort to eliminate a budget shortfall. ACU supports returning the earned income tax credit to its original purpose of reducing the tax burden on working families instead of the welfare cash payment it has become and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 16, 2016 by a vote of 30-11.
21. HB 3164 Franchise Rules. This bill clarifies the law related to seasonal employment so that businesses only operating for six months or less out of the year are not responsible for unemployment compensation for the rest of the year and clarifies the franchise law in response to a National Labor Relations Board ruling, saying that even if the company name is on a franchise store, the franchisee is considered the owner of the business. ACU supports common sense regulatory reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 23, 2016 by a vote of 43-1.
22. SJR 68 Sales of Beer and Wine. This resolution authorizes a ballot referendum to overhaul the state’s alcoholic beverage laws and allow retail stores other than liquor stores to sell beer and wine. It also allows liquor stores to sell products other than alcohol, such as soda and ice. ACU supports allowing the voters to modify these strict government regulations and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on May 23, 2016 by a vote of 30-14.
23. SB 1185 Concealed Carry. This bill expands the reciprocal agreement with other states regarding concealed carry permits to include persons visiting Oklahoma from states that do not require permits and gives them the right to carry a concealed firearm as long as that person would be authorized for concealed carry in Oklahoma. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 24, 2016 by a vote of 42-2.
24. SB 1607 Open Records Act. This bill exempts from the Open Records and Open Meetings Act any entity created by a joint venture entered into by the Oklahoma University Medical Trust or the University Hospitals Trust or an entity created by an acquisition by these trusts. ACU supports strengthening taxpayer accountability and government transparency and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 25, 2016 by a vote of 47-0.
25. HB 2267 Medicaid Reimbursement Scheme. This bill forces private hospitals (but not government hospitals) to pay a fee so the state can obtain a matching grant from the federal Medicaid fund to increase Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals. ACU opposes this manipulation of the wasteful and dysfunctional Medicaid system and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 26, 2016 by a vote of 38-8.
House Scored Bills
1. HB 2250 Restrictions on Animal Rights Organizations. This bill prohibits animal rights organizations from soliciting contributions that will be spent for activities outside Oklahoma or for political purposes. ACU supports the constitutionally protected free speech rights of private organizations and the right to spend their private funds as they see fit and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2016 by a vote of 56-26.
2. HB 2276 Eminent Domain. This bill allows landowners to petition the court for a “judicial location exception” for cases involving eminent domain for a pipeline, utility line, or transmission line. This will strengthen the right of property owners and allow them to move easements to be less detrimental. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and supports strengthening property rights. ACU supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2016 by a vote of 62-29.
3. HB 2665 Medicaid Eligibility. This bill would remove from the Medicaid rolls nonpregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65. ACU supports reforms of a program rife with waste and fraud that was designed for the truly needy and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 2, 2016 by a vote of 65-34.
4. HB 2820 Musical Therapy License. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to administer examinations and licenses for musical therapy. Those issued a license must have a bachelors’ degree in musical therapy and log 1,200 hours of training. ACU opposes the proliferation of licenses that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 2, 2016 by a vote of 54-42.
5. HB 3142 Open Records Website. This bill creates an open records website that will allow the public to obtain on one website any public document available under the open records act. ACU supports increased government transparency and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 3, 2016 by a vote of 63-26.
6. HB 3059 Movie Theater Liquor License. This bill removes the prohibition on selling alcoholic drinks in movie theaters as they are currently allowed at theaters with live performances. ACU supports common sense regulatory reform and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 7, 2016 by a vote of 14-77.
7. HB 3156 Regulatory Reform of Education. This bill gives public schools some of the same flexibility enjoyed by charter schools while maintaining requirements for schools to maintain a grade of “C” or better on their A-F report cards. Educational attainment is an important cultural value that yields substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports reforming rigid public school regulations to benefit students and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 8, 2016 by a vote of 81-13.
8. HB 3098 Unconcealed Carry. This bill allows unconcealed carry of a firearm by anyone 21 years of age or older who is not otherwise precluded from carrying a firearm. In Oklahoma, concealed carry requires a license. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 10, 2016 by a vote of 73-15.
9. SB 1206 Taxpayer-Funded Marketing Promotion. This bill permits municipalities to tax hotels with 50 or more rooms in order to fund marketing promotions for private and public events. ACU believes government should not be in the marketing business and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 6, 2016 by a vote of 56-37.
10. HB 1198 Increasing Executive Authority. This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to bypass the legislative process and establish penalties for violations of the Oklahoma Occupational Health and Safety Standards Act and the Asbestos Control Act. ACU opposes this expansion of executive branch authority and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 11, 2016 by a vote of 52-30.
11. SB 361 Eminent Domain. This bill reforms the eminent domain laws by prohibiting its use for mill construction and some coal projects, among other provisions. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and opposes the use of eminent domain for anything other than necessary public use. ACU supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on April 13, 2016 by a vote of 61-26.
12. SB 687 Massage Therapy Licensing. This bill sets up a new bureaucracy to administer massage therapy licenses and sets requirements for the license, including 5 years of work experience in Oklahoma and 500 hours of education. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licenses that are primarily
designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 14, 2016 by a vote of 68-18.
13. SB 770 Open Meetings Act. This bill expands the state’s open meetings act to include the Judicial Nominating Commission. ACU supports government transparency and open meetings whenever possible and supported this bill. The
House defeated the bill on April 19, 2016 by a vote of 41-44. 14. SB 1264 Education Spending Oversight. This bill requires school districts to submit quarterly statements of expenditures to the state Department of Education and for these statements to be turned over to the Office of Management. ACU supports strengthening oversight of government spending and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 19, 2016 by a vote of 56-31.
15. SB 1185 Concealed Carry. This bill expands the reciprocal agreement with other states regarding concealed carry permits to include persons visiting Oklahoma from states that do not require permits and gives them the right to carry a concealed firearm as long as that person would be authorized for concealed carry in Oklahoma. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 21, 2016 by a vote of 68-2.
16. SB 1283 Morrissette Amendment Local Government Drilling Bans. The Morrissette amendment to the gross production tax allows local government to ban drilling for oil and natural gas. ACU supports increasing the supply of domestically produced oil and gas and opposed this amendment. The House tabled (killed) the amendment on April 21, 2016 by a vote of 63-21. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position).
17. HB 2962 Health Insurance Mandate. This bill requires all health insurance policies to include coverage for autism but exempts companies that can show it would require more than a one percent increase in premiums for consumers. ACU opposes these mandates that drive up the cost of insurance for everyone and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 27, 2016 by a vote of 65-26.
18. HB 3016 Parental Rights. This bill requires the informed consent of a parent or guardian before a health-care provider administers a vaccine. The parent must be informed of the benefits and risks of the vaccine. ACU supports strengthening parental rights and supported this bill. The House failed to override the Governor’s veto of the bill on May 16, 2016 by a vote of 55-38. (A two-thirds vote is required. A "Yes" vote supported the ACU position.)
19. HB 3164 Franchise Rules. This bill clarifies the law related to seasonal employment so that businesses only operating for six months or less out of the year are not responsible for unemployment compensation for the rest of the year and clarifies the franchise law in response to a National Labor Relations Board ruling, saying that even if the company name is on a franchise store, the franchisee is considered the owner of the business. ACU supports common sense regulatory reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 18, 2016 by a vote of 75-18.
20. HB 3210 Tax Increase. This bill imposes another $1.50 per pack tax increase on cigarettes to help pay for a shortfall in the state Medicaid system. ACU opposes tax increases to bail out a program rife with fraud and abuse and opposed this bill. The House defeated the bill on May 18, 2016 by a vote of 40-59.
21. SB 1603 Energy Efficiency Tax Credits. This bill ends the energy efficiency tax credit for home construction. The credit was awarded through a complicated formula involving home size and adherence to an international energy efficiency code. ACU opposes government interference in home construction and using the tax system for favored government programs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 19, 2016 by a vote of 61-33.
22. SB 1604 Eliminating “Refundable” Tax Credits. This bill makes the earned income tax credit in the state non-refundable as part of an effort to eliminate a budget shortfall. ACU supports returning the earned income tax credit to its original purpose of reducing the tax burden on working families instead of the welfare cash payment it has become and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 20, 2016 by a vote of 51-45.
23. HB 2267 Medicaid Reimbursement Scheme. This bill forces private hospitals (but not government hospitals) to pay a fee so the state can obtain a matching grant from the federal Medicaid fund to increase Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals. ACU opposes this manipulation of the wasteful and dysfunctional Medicaid system and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 23, 2016 by a vote of 86-7.
24. HB 2929 Employer Mandate. This bill prohibits employers from firing or “discriminating against” an employee for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing other employees’ wages. ACU opposes this government interference with employer/employee relations, primarily designed to open up avenues for more lawsuits, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 26, 2016 by a vote of 58-26.
24. HB 2929 Employer Mandate. This bill prohibits employers from firing or “discriminating against” an employee for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing other employees’ wages. ACU opposes this government interference with employer/employee relations, primarily designed to open up avenues for more lawsuits, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 26, 2016 by a vote of 58-26.
25. SJR 68 Sales of Beer and Wine. This resolution authorizes a ballot referendum to overhaul the state’s alcoholic beverage laws and allow retail stores other than liquor stores to sell beer and wine. It also allows liquor stores to sell products other than alcohol, such as soda and ice. ACU supports allowing the voters to modify these strict government regulations and supported this resolution. The House passed the resolution on May 26, 2016 by a vote of 64-30.
26. SB 1607 Open Records Act. This bill exempts from the Open Records and Open Meetings Act any entity created by a joint venture entered into by the Oklahoma University Medical Trust or the University Hospitals Trust or an entity created by an acquisition by these trusts. ACU supports strengthening taxpayer accountability and government transparency and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 27, 2016 by a vote of 60-33.
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