The Oklahoma Legislature fell short of passing a bill prohibiting government contracts with companies, including banks that underwrite municipal bonds, if they “discriminate” against the firearm industry.
When the Republican-controlled legislature ended its 2022 regular session on Friday, House Bill 3144 remained stalled in the Senate.
Bill sponsor Sen. Casey Murdock said it didn’t make it through the conference committee process, where it was assigned to reconcile differences
The House subsequently approved a conference committee report in a 73-18 vote on May 17, while a Senate vote on the report never happened.
The measure was similar to a law that took effect Sept. 1 in Texas, where lawmakers had targeted some major banks, including
Several big banks were also targeted by sponsors of the Oklahoma bill, which would have required a company to provide written verification for contracts with state or local governments worth $100,000 or more that it does not have a practice, policy, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or trade group.
Mark Oliva, managing director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which has been pushing
“He chose woke corporations and irresponsible municipal government entities over the interests of the state’s taxpayers,” Oliva said.
McCortney did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
The Oklahoma bill was also backed by the National Rifle Association, which encouraged its members in
Several state legislatures took up similar bills this year, but the only measure still alive
Last year, a similar bill was approved by Louisiana's Republican-controlled legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat. Lawmakers were unable to muster enough votes to override his veto.
