Governor Kevin Stitt recently issued a series of vetoes affecting a range of proposed legislation in Oklahoma. According to the Office of Governor J. Kevin Stitt website, the vetoed bills included measures to expand the powers of the state attorney general, introduce new permits, and address health care mandates. These actions reflect the governor’s focus on limiting the size and scope of state government.
Among the vetoes was SB 773, which proposed expanding the attorney general’s authority over pharmacy benefit managers. Governor Stitt opposed the bill, citing concerns about granting additional power to the attorney general. Another measure, HB 2163, was vetoed due to potential issues related to the attorney general’s increased access to private records.
Education-related legislation was also affected. SB 363, which involved oversight of private religious institutions, was vetoed by Stitt, who argued that such institutions should operate independently of state control. Several bills proposing new specialty vehicle license plates were also vetoed, with the governor stating they added unnecessary complexity.
SB 522, which proposed the creation of a new task force under the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, was also vetoed. Governor Stitt explained the decision by expressing concerns that the task force would add unnecessary bureaucracy without providing meaningful results. Additionally, SB 583 was rejected due to the possibility that it could result in businesses being penalized for minor paperwork errors.
Another notable veto was HB 1137, which would have established a special unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation focused on missing and murdered Indigenous persons. Stitt explained his decision by stating that all missing persons cases, regardless of background, should be treated equally.
The governor’s vetoes addressed bills across multiple areas, including health care, education, law enforcement, and business regulation.
