Oklahoma Senate Bill SJR10

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

Constitutional amendment; changing percentage of legal voters from statewide to every congressional district for certain petitions.

Impact

If passed, SJR10 would fundamentally reshape the mechanism by which Oklahomans initiate legislation and constitutional amendments. By decentralizing the requirements for initiatives and referendums from a statewide level to the congressional district level, the bill aims to empower local constituents to pursue their legislative proposals more effectively. However, this localized requirement may also lead to complications, such as ensuring that all congressional districts have an equitable opportunity to propose significant measures. Consequently, the bill may foster greater engagement from citizens in legislative processes.

Summary

SJR10 is a Joint Resolution introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature proposing an amendment to Section 2 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution. The bill seeks to modify the percentage of legal voters required to propose legislative measures and constitutional amendments, changing this requirement from statewide to every congressional district within the state. Specifically, the bill establishes that 8% of legal voters in each congressional district will be needed for initiatives, and 15% will be required for amendments to the Constitution. This represents a significant alteration of the existing framework governing citizen-driven legislative efforts in Oklahoma.

Contention

While proponents of SJR10 argue that it boosts local engagement and allows for more tailored legislative measures within specific communities, critics raise concerns regarding the potential for increased fragmentation and inconsistency across the state's laws. It is feared that the shift from a statewide perspective to a district-centric approach may lead to disparities in legislative opportunities and outcomes, with some districts possibly having more resources or civic involvement than others. Thus, the discussion around SJR10 is expected to touch on broader themes of local control versus uniformity in governance across Oklahoma.