House Judiciary Committee advances a batch of bills on landlord checks, custody, involuntary medication and civil-procedure rules

The Oklahoma House Judiciary Committee on an unspecified date advanced a package of bills, voting to report each to the next stage of the legislative process.

Representative McCain introduced House Bill 1945, saying, “HB 1945 would apply to landlords, owners, or operators of public lodging with at least 5 rental units or properties requiring that employees undergo background checks allowing for the employer to deny employment based on those background checks. It also requires that they maintain a log, and account for the issuance of keys. It it requires that they establish policies and procedures for the issuance and storage of keys as well.” McCain cited a Tulsa case in which a maintenance employee with a violent-crime record attacked a resident to underline the bill’s public-safety rationale.

The committee also reported do pass a string of other bills with limited debate. Representative Stinson presented a request bill from the Attorney General and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services that would allow a judge, in certain circumstances, to authorize involuntary medication for inmates judged not capable of making medical decisions. Stinson said the process would be “under the required approval of a judge and subject to best medical efforts,” and described procedural protections including the right to an attorney, access to the application and to request an independent expert.

Representative Turner brought forward a measure addressing insurance coverage for trailers separated from tractors after crashes and explained that the bill aims to address a gap where trailers may lack coverage that would otherwise cover cleanup costs and related expenses following an incident.

Other bills advanced included measures to: allow city councils to be an intermediary in appeals from boards of adjustment (HB 1496); extend certain Open Meetings and Open Records Act exceptions to public trust hospitals consistent with OU and OSU medical centers (HB 1738); update the Landlord and Tenant Act (HB 2015); tighten timelines and clarify scope for labor disputes (HB 1424); create a rebuttable presumption of equal joint custody in child custody hearings (HB 1082); modify homeowners association rules on fair economic use (HB 2800); revise vehicle registration enforcement penalties (HB 2713); create procedures for default judgments (HB 2138); provide remedies for bad-faith medical-insurance denials (HB 2144); adopt a uniform easements law (HB 2119); amend deposition protections for senior corporate officers (HB 2650, title-struck for further work); adopt a third-party litigation financing disclosure rule limited to the agreement (HB 2619); adopt federal Daubert standards on expert witnesses (HB 2628); allow a court to waive certain home-study requirements in adoption proceedings (HB 2647); create a municipal lien enforcement act (HB 2147); revise alien land ownership definitions and list specific foreign adversary governments (HB 1546); and tighten early foster-care services and timelines (HB 1965).

Several presenters said they would continue to work with stakeholders to refine language. Representative Turner said he would “strike title” on his bill when appropriate to allow additional negotiation. Representative Marty described a clerical amendment to HB 2800 and said it did not change policy intent.

Votes at a glance (reported do pass unless otherwise noted): - HB 1945 — Landlord employee background checks, key issuance logs — reported do pass. - HB 1496 — Allows city councils to be intermediary in board of adjustment appeals — reported do pass. - HB 1738 — Extend open-meetings/open-records exceptions to public trust hospitals — reported do pass. - HB 2015 — Updates to Landlord and Tenant Act — reported do pass. - HB 1424 — Streamline labor dispute timelines — reported do pass. - HB 1082 — Rebuttable presumption of equal joint custody — reported do pass. - HB 2137 — Involuntary medication for certain inmates with judge approval — reported do pass. - HB 2800 — Homeowners association fair economic use limits (clerical amendment adopted) — reported do pass. - HB 2713 — Vehicle registration/tag enforcement amendment (amendment adopted) — reported do pass. - HB 2138 — Procedure for default judgments — reported do pass. - HB 2144 — Medical-insurance process / remedies for delayed care — reported do pass. - HB 2119 — Uniform easement law adoption (Uniform Law Commission request) — reported do pass. - HB 2650 — Deposition protections for senior corporate officers (title strike announced for further work) — reported do pass (title to be struck later). - HB 2619 — Third-party litigation financing (only the financing agreement discoverable) — reported do pass. - HB 2628 — Adopt Daubert standard for expert witnesses — reported do pass. - HB 2647 — Streamline adoption process; allows court discretion on certain waivers — reported do pass. - HB 2147 — Municipal lien enforcement act — reported do pass. - HB 1546 — Amend alien land ownership law; names China, Iran, North Korea, Russia as listed adversaries — reported do pass. - HB 1992 — Tractor-trailer insurance/coverage changes (amendment removing a billing surcharge adopted; sponsor agreed to work further) — reported do pass. - HB 1546 — Alien land ownership amendments — reported do pass. - HB 1965 — Foster-care timeline and front-end services to improve reunification outcomes — reported do pass.

Committee Chairman Duell and multiple members repeatedly closed debate and moved bills forward by voice vote or unanimous-consent procedures. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

The committee’s actions report the measures for further consideration by the full House; none of the measures record final enactment by the Legislature in this meeting.

Ending: The committee advanced a mix of policy and procedural bills that will next be scheduled for floor consideration or further drafting with stakeholders.