NORMAN — The Oklahoma legislature can prove it really wants transparency in government by passing Sen. David Holt’s legislation subjecting the state House and Senate to the Open Meetings and Open Records Act.
Those decades-old acts govern city and county governments throughout the state. It provides a framework of openness and makes sure public policy decisions are made with taxpayers watching.
Sen. Holt, an Oklahoma City Republican, said exempting the legislature doesn’t make sense.
“I spent five years serving in the Oklahoma City government, where we were subject to the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts,” Holt said. “It is almost a universally held opinion that the city of Oklahoma City has produced some of the most innovative and effective government in our state the last 20 years, and that was done while subject to these important taxpayer protections. I believe it is time the legislature embraced these acts.”
Legislative sessions and committee meetings would be open, but caucus gatherings — where party members talk strategy and alignment — would remain off limits. Holt’s Senate Bill 1243 deals with open meetings and Senate Bill 1244 deals with the open records law.
Under the proposed law, Holt allows the names of constituents to be redacted, but not names of public employees and lobbyists. Currently, only financial records are subject to public request.
