House Bill 2164 sets up a system to require certain disclosures by state agencies and contractors who bid on state projects. It also requires ethics training for elected officials and agency heads.
Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill saying in his statement, “While I support the core goals of the bill, it would mandate ethics training for every newly elected or appointed head of a state agency, board, or commission—imposing the extreme penalty of removal from office for noncompliance. With hundreds of state agencies, boards, and commissions, this would create excessive bureaucracy with little meaningful impact.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond called out the Governor for his veto.
“HB 2164 is smart, sensible legislation that would go a long way toward eliminating instances of collusion, bid-rigging and conflicts of interest involving government officials,” said the Attorney General. “Oklahomans are rightfully sick and tired of public corruption. It is incomprehensible and indefensible that the Governor would veto this important legislation, but his action tells you everything you need to know about where he stands.”
The Legislature did override the veto, so HB 2164 will go into effect.
