Committee advances bill to restrict state delegates from straying outside Article V convention call

Chairman Osborne said the committee would consider House Bill 2299 and adopt a proposed committee substitute as a working draft. Representative Lippack presented the measure, which he described as clarifying and reinforcing an oath already included in Oklahoma'9s delegate-selection resolution.

The bill would forbid a state-selected commissioner or delegate to "stray from the call of the convention" and would prohibit anyone from attempting to cause that deviation, according to the presenter. "People are already swearing that they won't stray from the call, but this kind of sharpens the point," the presenter said.

Representative Fugate questioned the bill's reach when delegates act outside Oklahoma and suggested the legal theory could be vulnerable to challenge. The presenter acknowledged jurisdictional questions and said such issues would likely be litigated if contested, but argued many other states have adopted similar statutes and that the practical effect would be to constrain delegates and discourage attempts to go beyond the convention call.

A motion for "do pass" was made and seconded. Committee members debated under a one-minute rule; Representative Fugate said the legal theory "holds no water" and urged a no vote. The chairman then announced the committee would report the bill out as "do pass." The transcript records a committee roll-call reported in the record as 8 aye and 2 nay.

The committee reported the bill out of committee and thanked the presenter. The measure will proceed to the next step in the House process.