Oklahoma lead committee says NDAs must be waived before state support; moves into executive session to review projects

The lead committee of the Oklahoma Legislature reiterated that it is not an appropriative body and said any prospective project seeking state support must waive nondisclosure agreements before the committee will consider state backing. The committee then moved into executive session to review potential projects.

Madam Chair, speaking at the committee's meeting in the Senate Conference Room, told members, "We do not have approval to spend dollars. We are not the appropriative body at this point." She said the committee's role is to listen to projects and, if it finds them viable, to offer an endorsement to the full legislature.

On the topic of confidential agreements, the chair said members have discussed nondisclosure agreements repeatedly and made a standing requirement clear: "If and when anyone to seek support for the state of Oklahoma that, the NDAs would have to be waived for us to consider any state support," she said. The chair framed the waiver requirement as necessary because the committee may review potentially sensitive information when groups seek to come to the state.

After that exchange, the chair proposed an executive session so committee members could begin reviewing projects. "Members like to move into executive session for those that are on the committee to start reviewing some of the projects," the chair said. The motion was seconded by Senator Hall. With Representative Osborne entering the room, the chair noted there was no objection and the committee proceeded into executive session.

The committee emphasized that endorsement of projects would still require further consideration by the full legislature; the lead committee itself does not have authority to appropriate funds. The meeting moved into closed deliberations immediately after the motion was adopted without objection.