Gov. Kevin Stitt signs bills on ranked choice voting, poll worker incentives and others

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt talks about eliminating the state's income tax during a press conference in October 2023 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed dozens of bills into law that range from a measure cracking down on homeless camps on public property to one creating a new state legume.

Senate Bill 1854 makes erecting homeless camps on public property a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $50 or up to 15 days in jail or both.

“However, a person who commits a first violation of this section shall be issued a warning, and a citation may not be issued unless the person refuses assistance offered to them by the arresting officer,” according to the measure.

Assistance could include transportation to a shelter, food pantry or other location with resources to assist the indigent and homeless.

Senate Bill 1452 also got Stitt’s signature.

The measure authorizes an exemption from taxable income of $100 for each day an employer provides paid leave to an employee to serve as a poll worker beginning in tax year 2025.

“Election officials are grateful to the Legislature and the governor for providing a new tool for recruiting and retaining poll workers, which continues to be a struggle in many counties across the state,” said Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax. “Poll workers are the backbone of our democracy. Our hope is this new law will incentivize employers to provide time off for employees to serve as poll workers.”

Stitt signed Senate Bill 1200 that requires the state to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time if federal legislation is adopted to let states choose whether or not to change clocks twice a year.

Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah, said the measure will give the state an extra hour of daylight in the evenings during winter months once the Sunshine Protection Act is approved by Congress.

Stitt signed House Bill 3156 that prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.

Under ranked choice voting, voters rank candidates by preference. Results are narrowed until one candidate receives a majority of votes.

On a lighter note, Stitt signed House Bill 2248 which designates the soybean as the state’s legume.

The soybean joins a long list of state symbols. Rescue animals are the state’s pet. The honeybee is the state’s insect.

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