We spent the week hearing Senate Bills on the House floor. I passed Senate Bill 2001 off the House floor this week, allowing employees at establishments that sell wine, beer, and liquor to sample the products if they are over 21.
Specifically, SB2001 defines “Straw Testing” as allowing licensed employees aged 21 or older to evaluate beverage quality responsibly through minimal alcohol consumption. It would also lower the registration fee for brand-label spirits from $375 to $75 for those producing less than 53 gallons a year.
For some background, restaurants were told they had been misinterpreting the law. As it stands, Oklahoma law does not allow servers to take a straw test sample of the drinks they are about to serve customers. The goal here is to clarify that language and enable these businesses to provide the level of service their customers have come to expect.
This legislation is unique because legislators and industry stakeholders collaborated, modernizing alcohol regulations and supporting industry growth. Last, the measure defines regulations for alcohol sampling under licensee supervision and emphasizes that tasting is voluntary for employees.
On Thursday, House Republicans passed House Bill 4156, which would create the crime of impermissible occupation and prohibit municipalities from becoming ‘sanctuary cities’. In the past three years, there have been more illegal border crossings at our southern border than the previous 12 years combined. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that encounters with unauthorized migrants at the border reached a historic high of 3.2 million in fiscal year 2023.
I’m grateful my colleagues passed legislation to protect Oklahomans due to the Biden Administration’s lack of leadership, which has turned every state into a border state. The Legislature must ensure the safety and rights of everyone, including citizens, residents, and legal visitors, without compromise.
On Tuesday, we honored the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The House remembered the tragic event with a special presentation, hearing from Blayne Authur, Oklahoma’s Agriculture Secretary, who shared the emotional story of how her mother was killed in the bombing.
House and Senate sergeants who assisted in the recovery efforts after the bombing were recognized on the House floor. Acknowledged were House sergeants Bobbie Barnett, Joe Bullock, Harvey Weathers, and Nita Williams; House Chief of Security John Dawson; and Senate sergeants Rusty Higby and Stewart Meyer.
I extend my condolences to the families, friends, and neighbors affected by the tragic events at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Lastly, thank you to those who responded to the emergency call.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7302 or neil. hays@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Neil Hays, a Republican, serves District 13 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers McIntosh, Muskogee and Wagoner County.
