State Legislative Tracker: Legislative reform proposals in Oklahoma

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December 30, 2014

Edited by Joel Williams
This week’s tracker includes a look at a proposed legislative reform in Oklahoma.

Weekly highlight

  • Oklahoma: Several measures proposing legislative reforms have been filed ahead of the new legislative session, most notably one that would make the legislature unicameral. Under a proposal by Sen. Patrick Anderson (R-Enid), Oklahoma voters would decide whether to eliminate the Oklahoma State Senate, leaving the Oklahoma House of Representatives with 101 members. Anderson, who says he is trying to save money with the measure, previously introduced a bill that sought to put an end to the House instead.[1] Nebraska has boasted the only single-chamber state legislature since introducing it in 1937, although the territorial legislatures of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have one chamber, and voters in Puerto Rico overwhelmingly voted 'yes' on unicameralism in a non-binding referendum in 2005.[2][3] In 2009, the Maine House of Representatives passed a bill to convert the state legislature to a unicameral one effective this year, but the legislation did not pass the Maine State Senate; a second bill was introduced in 2011.[4] Other reform legislation includes resolutions to effectively cut legislators' salaries by tying base pay to a regional average and to have the public vote on the Legislature meeting biennially rather than yearly.[5] The Oklahoma legislative session begins on February 2.[1]
  • Texas: For the fifth year in a row, a Texas lawmaker is attempting to enact a statewide ban on smoking. Sen. Rodney Ellis (D) filed S.B. 87 ahead of the next legislative session, which would ban smoking in public places and the bulk of workplaces, with exceptions carved out for cigar bars and retail tobacco shops.[6] Many Texas cities have already enacted similar laws, with more than 100 cities passing laws banning smoking in public places in an attempt to reduce the effects of secondhand smoke. But, according to the bill's author, a statewide ban is still necessary despite the fact that nearly half of the state population lives in an area where such a law already exists at the local level. “Without a statewide smoke-free law, 23 percent of Texans will remain unprotected from secondhand smoke exposure. These Texans live in unincorporated cities or rural areas where no entity exists to pass or enforce this type of legislation,” said Ellis.[7] Some restaurant owners who previously opposed a ban in their city have changed their mind, claiming the ban has increased their business by welcoming those who would be turned off by smoking.[8] The bill faces an uphill battle, even according to proponents. Cam Scott, senior director of government relations with Smoke-Free Texas, told reporters that a statewide ban is unlikely to pass in the upcoming legislative session as there is a sizable contingent of lawmakers that view such a bill as unnecessary government intrusion.[7]
In the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Terry Canales proposed a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a car with a child present. Canles said that he proposed the bill because children in cars have no choice in the matter and have no option to remove themselves from a smoky car, an environment detrimental to their health.[9] Like Ellis, Canales has a steep battle ahead of him to pass the bill. Critics of the bill see it as unnecessary interference by the state into citizens' personal lives. Violators of Canales' proposed ban would face a fine of up to $500.[10]
  • Virginia: On December 18, 2014, Del. Joseph D. Morrissey (D-74) announced that he would resign from his seat, effective January 13, 2015, following his misdemeanor conviction on December 12, 2014, of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.[11] He was sentenced to 12 months in jail with six months suspended.[11] On June 30, 2014, a grand jury issued five indictments on felony charges of indecent liberties with a minor, possession of pornographic images of an underage female and of solicitation to obtain the images.[12] According to prosecutors, Morrissey and a 17 year-old girl who worked in his law office as a receptionist had a sexual relationship and texted their friends about it.[13] As part of his plea deal, Morrissey was given a work-release agreement, which would have allowed him to serve in the legislature by day and be in jail at night, but he violated its terms when he arranged a press conference without first informing the sheriff’s office.[14] On the day Morrissey announced his resignation, he also announced that he would be running for the seat in the special election on January 13, 2015. He later said that he did not seek the Democratic nomination, but would instead run as an Independent.[15] Democrats nominated Kevin J. Sullivan, an alpaca farmer and former political coordinator for the Teamsters, to Morrissey's seat.[16]

Sessions

Regular sessions

Current sessions capture for the week of December 30, 2014
See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions
Click here to see a chart of each state's 2014 session information.

Currently 2 out of 50 state legislatures is meeting in regular session.

The following states have adjourned their 2014 regular session:[17]

The following states have convened their 2015 regular session:[18]

In recess

As of today, December 30, there are three state legislatures currently in recess.[19]

2014 Legislative Elections

See also: State legislative elections, 2014

A total of 87 of the 99 chambers held state legislative elections on November 4, 2014.

The 87 chambers with elections in 2014 were in 46 states. They were:

The Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Carolina senates also typically hold elections in even years. However, senators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those were not up for election again until 2016.

1,099 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for re-election in November 2014, and 4,958 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for re-election. Altogether, 6,057 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for re-election on November 4, 2014.

Election results

Heading into the 2014 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. Fifty-nine chambers, counting the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate, were under Republican control. (Although the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate technically had Democratic majorities, in both states a coalition arrangement between several break-away Democrats and the minority Republicans gave the Republicans effective control of those chambers.) Democrats held effective controlling majorities in 39 chambers: 18 state senates and 21 state houses. Although technically nonpartisan, the Nebraska State Senate was controlled by a Republican majority.[20]

The following table details partisan balance in all 99 chambers.

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2014 Elections
Pre-election Post-election
Legislative Chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Split balance Grey.png Democratic Party Republican Party Split balance Grey.png
State senates 18 31* 0 1 14 35[21] 0 1
State houses 21 28 0 0 16 33 0 0
Total: 39 59* 0 1 30 68 0 1

*Note: Although Democrats had numerical majorities in both the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate, coalitions gave Republicans control of those chambers.

Fourteen independent candidates were elected to state legislatures in 2014, two in state senates and twelve in state houses. Of the 218 independent candidates that ran for election in 2014, 6.4 percent won election.[22]

Primary Information

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 state legislative elections

The state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates were as follows:

Note: Ballot access is a complicated issue. The dates in the table below are primarily for candidates filing for access to the primary. For more detailed information about each state's qualification requirements -- including all relevant ballot access dates for the primary and general election -- click to our detailed pages in the state column.

2014 State Legislative Primary Information
State Filing Deadline Primary Date Days from Deadline to Primary
Alabama Red padlock.png 2/7/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 116
Alaska Red padlock.png 6/2/2014[23] Red padlock.png 8/19/2014 78
Arizona Red padlock.png 5/28/2014[24] Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 90
Arkansas Red padlock.png 3/3/2014[25][26] Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 78
California Red padlock.png 3/7/2014[27][28][29] Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 88
Colorado Red padlock.png 3/31/2014[30][31] Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 85
Connecticut Red padlock.png 6/10/2014[32] Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 90
Delaware Red padlock.png 7/8/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 63
Florida Red padlock.png 6/20/2014[33][34] Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 67
Georgia Red padlock.png 3/7/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 74
Hawaii Red padlock.png 6/3/2014[35] Red padlock.png 8/9/2014 67
Idaho Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 78
Illinois Red padlock.png 12/2/2013 Red padlock.png 3/18/2014 106
Indiana Red padlock.png 2/7/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 88
Iowa Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 81
Kansas Red padlock.png 6/2/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 65
Kentucky Red padlock.png 1/28/2014[36][37] Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 112
Maine Red padlock.png 3/17/2014[38] Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 85
Maryland Red padlock.png 2/25/2014[39] Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 119
Massachusetts Red padlock.png 6/3/2014[40] Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 98
Michigan Red padlock.png 4/22/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 105
Minnesota Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 70
Missouri Red padlock.png 3/25/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 133
Montana Red padlock.png 3/10/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 85
Nebraska Red padlock.png 3/3/2014[41] Red padlock.png 5/13/2014 85
Nevada Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 88
New Hampshire Red padlock.png 6/13/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 88
New Mexico Red padlock.png 2/4/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 119
New York Red padlock.png 7/10/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 61
North Carolina Red padlock.png 2/28/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 67
North Dakota Red padlock.png 4/7/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 64
Ohio Red padlock.png 2/5/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 90
Oklahoma Red padlock.png 4/11/2014 Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 74
Oregon Red padlock.png 3/11/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 70
Pennsylvania Red padlock.png 3/11/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 70
Rhode Island Red padlock.png 6/25/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 76
South Carolina Red padlock.png 3/30/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 72
South Dakota Red padlock.png 3/25/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 70
Tennessee Red padlock.png 4/3/2014 Red padlock.png 8/7/2014 126
Texas Red padlock.png 12/9/2013 Red padlock.png 3/4/2014 85
Utah Red padlock.png 3/20/2014 Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 96
Vermont Red padlock.png 6/12/2014 Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 75
Washington Red padlock.png 5/17/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 80
West Virginia Red padlock.png 1/25/2014 Red padlock.png 5/13/2014 108
Wisconsin Red padlock.png 6/2/2014 Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 71
Wyoming Red padlock.png 5/30/2014 Red padlock.png 8/19/2014 81


Special Elections

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See also: State legislative special elections, 2014

There is one special election scheduled this week in Iowa.

Iowa State Senate District 12

See also: Iowa state legislative special elections, 2014

Mark Costello (R) defeated Steven L. Adams (D) and Don W. Brantz (L) in the special election on December 30.[42][43][44]

The seat was vacant following Joni Ernst's (R) election to the United States Senate on November 4, 2014.[45]

A special election for the position of Iowa State Senate District 12 was called for December 30. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 16.[46]

Iowa State Senate, District 12, Special Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMark Costello 74.7% 3,138
     Democratic Steven L. Adams 22.2% 932
     Libertarian Don W. Brantz 3.1% 132
Total Votes 4,202


December 30 special election candidates:
Democratic Party Steven L. Adams
Republican Party Mark Costello
Libertarian Party Don W. Brantz

Recent results

☑ California State Senate District 35

See also: California state legislative special elections, 2014

Isadore Hall, III (D) defeated Louis L. Dominguez (D), Hector Serrano (D) and James Spencer (R) in the special election on December 9, 2014.[47][42]

The seat was vacant following Roderick Wright's (D) resignation on September 22, 2014, after he was convicted in a perjury and voting fraud case.[48]

A special election for the position of California State Senate District 35 was called for December 9, with a runoff on February 10, 2015, if necessary. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was October 17, 2014.[49]

California State Senate, District 35, Special Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngIsadore Hall, III 55.9% 17,951
     Republican James Spencer 25% 8,014
     Democratic Louis L. Dominguez 12.7% 4,067
     Democratic Hector Serrano 6.4% 2,069
Total Votes 32,101


December 9 special election candidates:
Democratic Party Louis L. Dominguez
Democratic Party Isadore Hall, III Green check mark transparent.png
Democratic Party Hector Serrano
Republican Party James Spencer

☑ Virginia House of Delegates District 4

See also: Virginia state legislative special elections, 2014

Todd E. Pillion (R) defeated Donnie W. Rife (D) in the special election on December 9.[50][42]

The seat was vacant following A. Benton Chafin's (R) election to the Virginia State Senate on August 19, 2014.[51]

A special election for the position of Virginia House of Delegates District 4 was called for December 9. Candidates were nominated by their party rather than chosen through a primary. The nominating deadline for parties was October 9.[52]

Virginia House of Delegates, District 4, Special Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTodd E. Pillion 66.3% 4,570
     Democratic Donnie W. Rife 33.7% 2,327
Total Votes 6,897


December 9 special election candidates:
Democratic Party Donnie W. Rife
Republican Party Todd E. Pillion Green check mark transparent.png

Looking ahead

Upcoming special elections include:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Associated Press, "One-house legislature, lower pay in Oklahoma bills," December 24, 2014
  2. ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "History of the Nebraska Unicameral," accessed December 24, 2014
  3. ↑ Elections in Puerto Rico, "No Unicameralism Referendum on July 9, 2007," accessed December 24, 2014
  4. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Bill would rearrange Maine’s Legislature, eliminating the House," April 4-5, 2011
  5. ↑ Associated Press, "New Bill Filings Would Reform State Legislature," December 24, 2014
  6. ↑ The Cigar Authority, "News: Texas Proposes Statewide Smoking Ban," December 22, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Aman Batheja The New York Times, "Texas Once Again to Consider a Statewide Smoking Ban," December 18, 2014
  8. ↑ MyHighlandPlains.com, "As Statewide Smoking Ban Burns Out in Capitol, Cities Go It Alone," December 19, 2014
  9. ↑ News4, "Texas lawmaker proposes ban on smoking," December 12, 2014
  10. ↑ Marilyn Mortiz KSAT12, "State bill would ban smoking in car with kids," December 12, 2014
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 NBC Washington, "Va. Lawmaker Joseph D. Morrissey Resigning After Teen Sex Case," December 18, 2014
  12. ↑ Washington Post, "Virginia lawmaker facing sex charges denies wrongdoing," June 30, 2014
  13. ↑ Washington Post, "Va. lawmaker Morrissey permitted to run his campaign," December 19, 2014
  14. ↑ Washington Post, "Del. Joseph Morrissey resigns in wake of conviction — and promises to run again," December 18, 2014
  15. ↑ Washington Post, "Incarcerated Va. Del. Joseph Morrissey running for reelection as independent," December 23, 2014
  16. ↑ Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Democrats pick Sullivan as nominee for Morrissey's seat," December 22, 2014
  17. ↑ Stateside Associates, " Session Calendar 2014," accessed December 30, 2014
  18. ↑ Stateside Associates, " Session Calendar 2014," accessed December 30, 2014
  19. ↑ StateNet, " Daily Session Summary," accessed December 30, 2014
  20. ↑ Omaha.com, "Democrats cut into GOP lead in Nebraska Legislature," accessed May 13, 2014 (dead link)
  21. ↑ Note: West Virginia was originally tied but State Senator Daniel Hall changed from the Democratic to the Republican Party the day after the election, giving partisan control to the Republicans.
  22. ↑ ballot-access.org, "Fourteen Independent Candidates Elected to State Legislatures," November 6, 2014
  23. ↑ Alaska Statutes, "Section 15.25, Nomination of Candidates," accessed October 31, 2013
  24. ↑ Secretary of State Website, "2014 Election Important Dates," accessed November 4, 2013
  25. ↑ Running for Public Office, "A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates," 2012 Edition, accessed October 21, 2013 (dead link)
  26. ↑ Arkansas Code of 1987, "Title 7, Elections," accessed October 30, 2013
  27. ↑ Summary of Qualifications and Requirements for the Office of State Senator, Member of the Assembly, "June 3, 2014, Primary Election," accessed October 21, 2013
  28. ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8100-8107," accessed October 28, 2013
  29. ↑ California Secretary of State Website, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed October 21, 2013
  30. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State Website, "Major Political Parties FAQs," accessed October 31, 2013
  31. ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Elections," accessed October 31, 2013
  32. ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State Website, "Frequently Asked Questions, Nominating Papers," accessed October 31, 2013
  33. ↑ Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "2013-2014 Dates to Remember," accessed November 6, 2013
  34. ↑ 2013 Florida Statutes, "Section 99.061," accessed December 2, 2014
  35. ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "HRS §12-6 Nomination papers: time for filing; fees", accessed May 22, 2013
  36. ↑ 2014 Kentucky Election Calendar, accessed November 12, 2013
  37. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections "Candidate Qualifications and Filing Fees" accessed November 26, 2011
  38. ↑ Maine Secretary of State "State of Maine 2014 Candidate's Guide to Ballot Access," accessed February 11, 2014
  39. ↑ The State Board of Elections, "Candidacy," accessed November 5, 2013
  40. ↑ 2014 Massachusetts State Primary and State Election Schedule, accessed December 2, 2013
  41. ↑ Official Election Calendar for the State of Nebraska, accessed November 18, 2014
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Omaha.com, "Republican Mark Costello wins special election to replace Joni Ernst in Iowa State Senate," December 31, 2014 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "result" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "result" defined multiple times with different content
  43. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
  44. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed January 14, 2015
  45. ↑ Quad-City Times, "Special election set for Ernst’s Statehouse seat," December 1, 2014
  46. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Senate District 12 - 12/30/2014 Special Election," accessed December 3, 2014
  47. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Notice to Candidates," accessed October 20, 2014
  48. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Sen. Wright to resign Sept. 22, start sentence Oct. 31," September 15, 2014
  49. ↑ California Secretary of State, "State Senate District 35 - Special Election," accessed September 29, 2014
  50. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed October 31, 2014
  51. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Unofficial special election results," accessed August 20, 2014
  52. ↑ TriCities.com, "Special election set to fill 4th District House of Delegates seat in Virginia," September 16, 2014
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