Republicans Send Bill to Full Senate Floor Less Than 24 Hours After It Was Introduced
Oklahoma Senate Republicans have chosen to fast track a “religious freedom” bill that would would allow students or their parents to claim they have a “sincerely-held religious belief” objection to sharing restrooms and locker rooms with transgender children. If it were to become law, the bill would force school systems to provide facilities to students of faith that ban transgender students. Making matters more complex, single-user facilities would not, under the law, be an acceptable accommodation. The bill is drafted as an “emergency” measure, allowing it to become law immediately if the governor signs it.
SB 1619 was introduced Thursday evening. Friday afternoon it had already been taken up by the Senate Join Committee on Appropriations and Budget, been debated, and passed on to the full Senate with a 20-15 vote, KOKH reports.
A clear indication the lawmakers supporting the legislation had no idea what they’re doing, this:
Senator Dan Newberry, in supporting the bill today, told his colleagues “there is nothing more powerful or more worthy” than passing the bill, as KOKH’s Phil Cross reported:
Republican Sen. David Holt opposes SB 1619. He noted the committee had spent the entire day on the legislation while ignoring the state budget bill, and announced that made him feel “ashamed,” especially because there are only a few days left in the legislature’s session.
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Image:Â The New Civil Rights Movement