“I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.” — Psalms 16:8-11 (NASB)
OKLAHOMA UNITED / SB 1027 is Bad Policy
Late last week, Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1027 into law, finalizing a deeply flawed piece of legislation that undermines Oklahomans’ constitutional right to shape their government through the citizen initiative process.
Oklahoma United strongly opposed the bill throughout the legislative process and is preparing for the legal challenges that are sure to follow.
“SB 1027 is bad policy,” said Margaret Kobos, founder and CEO of Oklahoma United. “It suppresses voter input, makes it harder for Oklahomans to hold their elected officials accountable, and sends the message that those in power don’t trust the people who put them there. SB 1027 does nothing but prove that Oklahomans’ long held distrust of state government is well-earned.”
SB 1027 imposes severe and arbitrary restrictions on citizen-led petitions — including caps on how many signatures can be collected in each county, new bureaucratic hurdles, and unconstitutional limits on who can participate in the process.
“This legislation is not only undemocratic, but also it’s an offensive attack on our constitution,” Kobos said. “Oklahoma is now opening itself up to expensive litigation that it will lose,” she said. “Instead of solving real problems, lawmakers have chosen to pass a political bill that silences their own constituents.”
Oklahoma United remains committed to fair processes and elections that increase citizen participation and bring accountability, transparency, choices, and fairness to all voters.
(Editor’s Note: Oklahoma United is a nonpartisan civic advocacy organization.)
