State government; legislative measures; Oklahoma House of Representatives; Oklahoma State Senate; references to statutes; hyperlink; content access; effective date.
Impact
The implementation of HB2806 is expected to have a significant impact on how legislative documents are prepared and presented in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and State Senate. With the new requirements, legislators will be better equipped to evaluate the implications of any proposed changes to current laws, as they will have direct access to the referenced statutes. This shift towards a more integrated legislative documentation process may lead to more informed decision-making and potentially reduce disputes arising from misinterpretation of statutory texts.
Summary
House Bill 2806 aims to enhance the legislative process in Oklahoma by requiring that any legislative measures or proposed amendments that reference existing Oklahoma statutes include a hyperlink or equivalent method for accessing the full text of those statutes. This initiative is designed to improve transparency and accessibility for legislators and the public, enabling easier understanding and scrutiny of proposed legislative changes. By mandating the incorporation of hyperlinks, the bill seeks to streamline the legislative workflow and ensure that all relevant legal texts are readily available for review during the consideration of new laws.
Contention
Notably, the bill includes an exception for enrolled versions of measures, which means that once a measure is finalized and enrolled, it is not required to maintain the hyperlinks. This could be a point of contention among critics who may argue that full accessibility should be a standard practice even for enrolled bills, thus preserving transparency throughout the entire legislative process. Additionally, concerns may arise regarding the technical implementation of such a system and its impact on legislative efficiency, particularly if there are challenges in software integration or in ensuring that all referenced statutes are accurately linked.
Public finance; appropriations measures; committees; Oklahoma House of Representatives; Oklahoma State Senate; state budget expenditures; definitions; prohibited conduct; emergency.