Oklahoma's big constitutional shake-up is on ice for now.
On Monday, Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton abruptly halted a Republican-backed push for a state constitutional convention, laying over House Joint Resolution 1089 in the Senate Rules Committee and stalling its immediate advance. Paxton said he had reservations about the measure's language and timing, which means lawmakers will not move straight to a Rules hearing or floor vote this week. House supporters had already cleared the resolution in March, eyeing what could become a multiyear rewrite of the state's founding document.
As reported by Oklahoma Voice, Paxton told colleagues he "doesn't think this is a good year" to push the measure and chose to lay it over instead of holding the scheduled hearing. The House approved HJR 1089 by a 72-23 vote on March 25, according to roll-call records. LegiScan shows the resolution had been referred to the Senate Rules Committee and was set for an April 20 hearing before Paxton pulled it from immediate consideration.
What HJR 1089 Would Do
According to the Oklahoma Legislature, HJR 1089 would call a constitutional convention made up of the existing members of the Oklahoma House and Senate, roughly 149 delegates in all. The convention would meet at the State Capitol starting Jan. 5, 2027, with a built-in adjournment deadline of May 28, 2028. Any changes delegates agree on would not take effect automatically. Instead, they would be sent to voters for approval at the November 2028 general election.
Why Paxton Paused It
Paxton has flagged problems with the wording of the proposal and raised questions about whether the convention structure would be representative enough, so he opted to park the measure while lawmakers consider tweaks. In a statement to Oklahoma Voice, he said, "I don't think this is a good year to do that," adding that he could bring the resolution back up later if changes are made.
Critics Say It Sidelines Tribal And Minority Voices
Democrats and tribal leaders argue that limiting convention delegates to sitting legislators would sideline communities that already struggle to get a foothold in a Capitol dominated by Republican supermajorities. Tribal governments, in particular, would have no guaranteed seat at the table. Reporting from the Journal Record notes that the draft resolution does not carve out additional delegate slots for tribes, a sticking point opponents say must be addressed before the proposal moves forward.
What's Next
With HJR 1089 laid over, Senate Rules leaders can rework the language behind the scenes or set a fresh hearing, and Paxton still controls when or whether the resolution gets another shot in committee. If the Senate ultimately passes the measure and the governor signs it, the question would head to the statewide ballot. The resolution spells out the full timetable and process, and roll-call records show the House has already signed off on it 72-23, according to LegiScan.
