URGENT ACTION NEEDED: sb 1027 headed to house floor

OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance SB 1027, a bill that would impose significant new restrictions on the citizen initiative petition process. If passed into law, SB 1027 would make it dramatically harder for Oklahomans to bring issues directly to a vote, undermining one of the most fundamental avenues for public participation in policymaking.

SB 1027 introduces new bureaucratic hurdles that further restrict the ability of Oklahoma citizens to propose and vote on policies that matter to them. These proposed changes include:

• Shifting authority away from the Oklahoma Supreme Court by giving the Secretary of State—a political appointee with no legal training—the power to reject initiative petitions based on subjective criteria.
• Requiring petition signers to verify they have read an entire ballot title before signing, adding unnecessary and burdensome requirements that discourage participation.
• Effectively eliminating paid petition circulators by prohibiting per-signature compensation and requiring circulators to be Oklahoma residents. This is particularly harmful given that Oklahoma already has the shortest signature-gathering window in the nation (90 days).
• Mandating additional financial disclosures and reporting requirements for grassroots organizations, creating excessive administrative burdens that make it harder for citizen-led efforts to operate.
• Imposing unconstitutional limits on signature collection by capping the number of valid signatures from larger counties, arbitrarily limiting voter participation and likely triggering costly taxpayer-funded litigation.

This latest attempt to restrict citizen petitions is part of a broader pattern of legislative efforts to weaken direct democracy in Oklahoma. Oklahoma already has one of the most difficult petition processes in the country, yet lawmakers continue to push for more restrictions that silence voters and limit public input.

Margaret Kobos, Founder of Oklahoma United, issued the following statement:

"Today’s vote to advance SB 1027 is a disappointing step backward for democracy in Oklahoma. By making it harder for citizens to bring issues to the ballot, lawmakers are silencing the voices of everyday Oklahomans and limiting public participation in policymaking. The right to petition is fundamental to our state’s history, and this bill adds unnecessary barriers that will make it nearly impossible for grassroots efforts to succeed.

"Beyond restricting citizen access to the ballot, SB 1027 violates considerable legal precedent that protects political speech. The courts have repeatedly ruled that citizen-led initiatives are a core form of political expression, and this bill imposes unconstitutional restrictions that will almost certainly fail legal challenges.

"Oklahomans deserve more access to democracy, not less. We remain committed to fighting for an open, fair, and transparent petition process, and we urge lawmakers to learn more about this legislation and how it negatively impacts their constituents before advancing it any further.”

Kenneth Setter, a petitioner for State Question 836, also condemned the measure as an attempt to discourage civic engagement:

"SB 1027 and other bills like it are blatant attempts to shut down grassroots movements and silence the people. Instead of making it easier for citizens to engage in the democratic process, this legislature is working overtime to lock the people out."

Oklahoma United urges all citizens to contact their legislators and speak out against these efforts to restrict public participation in democracy.