Loveless Wants To Clarify Single-Subject Rule
Oklahoma lawmaker seeks single-subject clarification
By Michael McNutt Published: July 26, 2013
A state senator said Thursday that Oklahoma lawmakers should work with state Supreme Court justices on how to deal with the single-subject constitutional provision that has resulted in the overturning of several laws in recent years, including a 2009 comprehensive law that deals with the filing of lawsuits.
Sen. Kyle Loveless said the single-subject provision should be kept, but guidelines could be defined that would allow more than one section in a bill as long as they deal with the same subject.
“If there’s a way for us to legislatively define what single-subject matter is, I think that needs to be looked at,” he said.
Otherwise lawmakers are looking at passing separate bills for each section, which will be time-consuming and impractical in a four-month session, said Loveless, R-Oklahoma City. Measures have to pass separate House and Senate committees and a vote in each chamber in order to win approval; changes along the way result in a measure going to a conference committee for additional consideration.