52nd Oklahoma Legislature

Dates of sessions

• Organizational day: January 3, 2009
• First regular session: February 2, 2009 – May 29, 2009
• Second regular session: February 4, 2010 – May 30, 2010 Previous: 51st Legislature • Next: 53rd Legislature

Major legislation

Enacted

• Abortion - HB 1595 prohibited a mother from having an abortion based solely on the sex of the child.
• Health care - HB 1127 provided $7 million to allow the Oklahoma State University Medical Center to continue to operate.
• Sales tax exemption - SB 318 created a gradual elimination of the state sales tax on groceries.
• Silver Alert - HB 2030 creates an alert system for senior citizens who have gone missing, similar to the Amber alert used to find missing children.
• Tort reform - HB 1603 required Oklahomans wishing to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to prove before a third party that the case is not frivolous.

Failed

• Charter schools - SB 834 would have allowed school districts to easily convert schools into charter schools, a move that would exempt them from most state mandates. The legislation was vetoed by the governor.
• Embryonic stem cells - HB 1326 would have made it a crime for a scientist to perform any form of embryonic stem cell research, but was vetoed by Governor Brad Henry.
• Insurance - HB 1312 would have mandated insurance coverage for children with autism. It failed to get enough votes for passage in the Oklahoma Senate.
• Term limits - HJR 1022 would ask voters to vote on term-limits for all statewide elected offices. The legislation failed in committee.

Added to 2010 ballot as a referendum

• English-only - HJR 1042 asked voters whether or not to make English the official language of Oklahoma.
• Ban on Sharia and international law: HJR 1056 asked voters to amend the constitution to ban Sharia and international law.
• Voting - SB 4 asked voters to decide whether or not to require voters to produce a state-issued ID at the polls.
• Workers compensation - SB 609 allowed voters to decide whether or not to require workers compensation judges' appointments to be confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.

Leadership

Senate

• President of the Senate: Jari Askins (D-Duncan)
• President pro tempore: Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City)

Republican caucus

• Majority Leader: Todd Lamb
• Assistant Floor Leader: Brian Bingman
• Assistant Floor Leader: Mike Mazzei
• Assistant Floor Leader: Clark Jolley
• Whip: Mike Schulz
• Whip: Cliff Branan
• Whip: Anthony Sykes
• Caucus Chair: John Ford

Democratic caucus

• Democratic Leader: Charlie Laster
• Assistant Floor Leader: Jay Paul Gumm
• Assistant Floor Leader: Sean Burrage
• Assistant Floor Leader: Tom Adelson
• Assistant Floor Leader: Tom Ivester
• Assistant Floor Leader: Richard Lerblance
• Whip: Susan Paddack
• Whip: Debbe Leftwich
• Whip: Roger Ballenger
• Whip: Charles Wyrick
• Caucus Chair: Kenneth Corn

House of Representatives

• Speaker: Chris Benge
• Speaker Pro Tempore: Kris Steele

Republican caucus

• Majority Floor Leader: Tad Jones
• First Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Ron Peters
• Caucus Chairman: John A. Wright
• Majority Whip: Mike Jackson

Democratic caucus

• Democratic Leader: Danny Morgan
• Democratic Floor Leader: Mike Brown
• Whip: Ben Sherrer
• Caucus Chairman: Chuck Hoskin

Party composition

Senate

House of Representatives

Membership

Changes in membership during session

• July 15, 2009 Ryan McMullen (D) resigns from representing HD-55 to take a federal position as Oklahoma’s director of rural development.
• October 21, 2009 Todd Russ (R) is sworn in to represent HD-55, filling the seat vacant from Ryan McMullen's resignation.

Senate

House of Representatives

References and notes

References

1. [http://www.oksenate.gov/publications.aspx Publications - Senate Journals], [http://www.oksenate.gov/ Oklahoma Senate] {{webarchive. link. (July 9, 2013 (accessed May 28, 2013))
2. [http://okiepundit.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/what-does-the-new-oklahoma-legislature-hold-in-store/ What does the new Oklahoma Legislature hold in store], [http://okiepundit.wordpress.com The Okie Pundit] (accessed April 30, 2013)
3. "OSCN Found Document:[HB 1595] - an Act relating to public health and safety; amending 63 O.S. 2001, Section 1-730, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 161, O.S.L. 2007 (63 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 1-730), which relates to abortion; modifying definitions; prohibiting the performance of an abortion solely on account of the sex of the unborn child; etc".
4. "Tax.com article on legislation".
5. "[HB 2030] - an Act relating to public safety; creating the Silver Alert Act; defining terms; requiring the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement a statewide silver alert system; providing for administration of the system; providing duties of the Commissioner of Public Safety; etc".
6. [http://newsok.com/receiving-gov.-henrys-ok-tort-reform-effort-hailed/article/3371720?custom_click=lead_story_title Henry's OK on tort reform hailed], ''Oklahoman'' (accessed May 27, 2013)
7. "SB 834 Passes Oklahoma Senate | OSTA".
8. "Governor Brad Henry".
9. [http://newsok.com/a-look-at-bills-in-the-oklahoma-legislature/article/3353393 A look at bills in the Oklahoma Legislature], ''The Oklahoman'' (accessed June 15, 2013)
10. "Oklahoma State Senate 2009 Legislative Summary and FY'10 Budget Review".
11. (June 4, 2010). "Sharia law, courts likely on 2010 ballot". [[Norman Transcript]].
12. The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves as the President of the Senate.
13. Although Askins is formally listed as being from Duncan, she does not ''represent'' any city either as Lieutenant Governor or as Senate President.
14. Democrat [[Ryan McMullen]] (District 55) resigned to become the State Director of [[USDA]] Rural Development
15. Republican Todd Russ sworn in to succeed McMullen
16. (17 July 2009). "Ex-lawmaker Ryan McMullen begins federal ag job". The Oklahoman.
17. (22 October 2009). "Representative takes Oklahoma House post". The Oklahoman.