Capitol Considerations by Senator Bill Coleman-Ponca City

Another week is behind us with just one more to complete our committee work on House bills and for our colleagues across the rotunda to wrap up consideration of Senate bills in their committees. Three more of my House bills have moved on to the Senate floor. HB 1986 would require any land that is state-owned, operated, or leased, and is used for containing livestock, to be enclosed with a fence. The state agency or lessee would also be required to maintain the fence.

HB 3168 would create the Telephone Solicitation Act of 2022 and prohibit:

• Automated telephonic sales calls (“robocalls”) without prior express written consent;
• Telephonic sales calls that do not display on the caller ID the originating telephone number and name;
• Telephonic sales calls that intentionally alter the voice of the caller in an attempt to disguise or conceal the identity of the caller in order to mislead or confuse the recipient;
  • Sales calls before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m.;
• More than three sales calls within a 24-hour period on the same matter; and
• Telephonic sales calls that block caller ID or display a different phone number than the originating number.

The measure provides multiple exemptions, including:

• Sales calls of an infrequent or one-time nature;
• Calls for noncommercial purposes;
• Solicitors who do not make the sales presentation during the call, but rather arrange a face-to-face meeting;
• Financial institutions or licensed securities, commodities, investment, or insurance brokers;
• Newspaper or cable solicitations, or book, video, or record club plans; and
• Qualified business-to-business sales calls.

If a sales call violates this act, an aggrieved party can initiate legal action to have a judge require the solicitor to stop and the called party can recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater.

HB 4150 would amend railroad crossing rule requirements for motor vehicles, commercial vehicles, and busses to apply to approaching on-track equipment as well as trains.

My SB 1307 to require the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to be printed on school IDs has also made it to the House floor. If approved there, it will then go to the governor’s desk.

On Tuesday, it was a pleasure having Newkirk and Ponca City at the Capitol for Main Street Day. This is such an outstanding program that for more than 30 years has been helping revitalize so many communities around the state. Since 1986, Oklahoma Main Street programs have generated more than $1.8 billion in total public and private reinvestment, created more than 20,000 new jobs and helped in the development of nearly 6,000 new or expanded small businesses. I applaud the incredible programs in our district and the dedicated citizens that make them possible.

On Wednesday, we had a special celebration at the Capitol as we welcomed hundreds of alumni, staff, and students from Oklahoma State University for OSU Day. The rotunda and hallways were filled with America’s brightest orange to share the great things this institution and its graduates are doing for Oklahoma and around the world. I’m so proud that my kids are Cowboys and I’m always happy to share my school spirit in the Legislature.

You can contact me by calling (405) 521-5581 or emailing [email protected].