Oklahoma Representative Andy Fugate is pushing for a safeguard of the state's initiative petition rights via newly filed legislation. House Joint Resolution 1048, if passed, would post a State Question to voters, asking them to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to fortify their control over the initiative petition process. This step comes in response to the Legislature's repeated attempts to put up barriers to direct democracy, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
"Oklahoma’s Bill of Rights begins with a simple truth: all political power is inherent in the people, Not the Legislature, not special interests—the people," Fugate stated, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives' news release. His bill emphasizes the idea that the people should have a direct say in any changes to the petitioning process that affects their rights. But before any constitutional amendment can be decided upon by the public, it must clear the legislative hurdle and be approved by the state’s lawmakers themselves.
House Joint Resolution 1048 is designed to make three principal changes: it would require voter approval for legislative adjustments to the initiative or referendum process; prevent unilateral legislative restrictions on signature gathering, ballot access, or petition procedures; and reaffirm the notion that political power originates with the populace.
According to Fugate, protecting the initiative petition process is about respecting the authority vested in the citizenry. He highlights the need for legislative change, stating, "This bill cannot move forward unless legislators choose to respect the people’s authority. I’m calling on Oklahomans to contact their representatives and senators and tell them to protect the power of their constituents. If we believe political power belongs to the people, then we must act like it." Such a constitutional amendment would directly confront recent legislative moves like SB 1027, which imposed further complexities on the citizens' ability to put issues up for public vote, as stated by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Fugate's resolution is currently waiting to be assigned to a committee. Its future remains dependent on the Legislature's willingness to put it before a public vote, thus remaining a matter closely watched by advocates of direct democracy in Oklahoma.
