Tulsa Hispanic Affairs Commission approves drafting advocacy letter and talking points on state immigration bills

The Tulsa Hispanic Affairs Commission voted during its meeting to have the chair draft two documents: an advocacy letter to raise awareness about pending state legislation and a companion set of talking points for commissioners to use in conversations with legislators and local officials. Commissioners approved the plan by voice vote; one commissioner stated they would abstain from the vote.

Commissioners discussed several bills they said could affect local immigrant families. Participants named House Bill 1688 (referred to the Health and Human Services committee), House Bill 1362 (reported as moving to judiciary and appropriations), and Senate Bill 865 (reported not to have passed committee). Commissioners said the intent of the letter and talking points is to raise awareness locally and provide material commissioners can use when contacting committee members or local city councilors.

Speakers urged two parallel approaches: a formal advocacy letter that could be sent from the commission or from the chair and a separate, personalized letter or signature petition that commissioners could use as grassroots outreach. Commissioners also discussed the timing of committee dockets and the utility of meeting with committee members once committee schedules are posted.

The chair said they would draft the advocacy letter and talking points and circulate them through the commission’s staff contact (Lexi) for review. Commissioners agreed the chair could send an initial letter to local officials while the commission prepares any additional documents for later formal adoption. The group also discussed mobilizing commissioners to attend committee hearings in Oklahoma City if committee scheduling allows.

The motion recorded in the meeting directed staff and the chair to prepare the two items and return them for review at the next meeting or via an in-person vote if required by commission rules. The commission did not adopt final language in the meeting; the chair will circulate drafts for commissioners to review.

Background: Commissioners described HB1688 as a bill affecting rules around birth certificate changes, HB1362 as relating to penalties for unauthorized presence in the state, and SB865 as a proposed database bill that had not passed committee. The commission did not adopt formal policy language on the merits of any bill during this meeting.