Senate Bill SB456, The Abolition of Abortion Act, is the current iteration of Oklahoma’s abolition bill. It is authored by Dusty Deevers. This article will be regularly updated to reflect the current status of the bill.
SB456 has been assigned to the Judiciary committee, and is waiting to be heard. Please contact these legislators, and ask them to hear the bill, especially Brent Howard, who is the chair. Last year, the abolition bill was not heard, and it too was assigned to the Judiciary committee, also chaired by Brent Howard. We must be heard! Listed below is the members of this committee, their emails, and some major cities in the districts they represent. If you see your area listed here, or you know someone who lives in these areas, it is of the utmost importance that you or they email these legislators TODAY.
Brent Howard, Chair: (405) 521-5612 | Brent.Howard@oksenate.gov (Altus, Elk City)
Todd Gollihare, Vice Chair: (405) 521-5528 | Todd.Gollihare@oksenate.gov (Sapulpa, Stroud, Drumright)
Mary B. Boren: (405) 521-5553 | Mary.Boren@oksenate.gov (Norman)
Michael Brooks: (405) 521-5557 | Michael.Brooks@oksenate.gov (S OKC)
Darcy Jech: (405) 521-5545 | Darcy.Jech@oksenate.gov (Clinton, Weatherford, Anadarko, Kingfisher)
Paul Rosino: (405) 521-5618 | Paul.Rosino@oksenate.gov (Mustang, S OKC)
Shane Jett: (405) 521-5539 | Shane.Jett@oksenate.gov (Shawnee, Tecumseh, Macomb, Wanette)
Lisa Standridge: (405) 521-5535 | Lisa.Standridge@oksenate.gov (S OKC, Norman, Noble, Slaughterville, Etowah)
SB456 has still not been heard in committee. Brent Howard has four weeks to schedule it to be heard, and the first agenda has come and gone without it being scheduled. We should know the agenda for the next meeting this coming Monday. However, whether it gets scheduled or not, we will still be gathering at the Capitol this coming Tuesday, and letting our voices be heard. We will also be hand-writing letters to Kevin Stitt asking him to speak up on behalf of SB456.
Over the next few weeks, we have lots planned in store for Senator Howard and other members of the committee to ramp up pressure, but the continual calls and emails from abolitionists all over Oklahoma needs to persist.
SB456 HAS BEEN PUT ON THE AGENDA! After the judiciary committee was rescheduled because of weather, the slate of bills was also swapped out, and SB456 was included in the new slate! It will be heard THIS WEDNESDAY, Tomorrow, the 19th, and we will all be waiting outside of the judiciary committee meeting room holding signs and singing hymns and psalms. WE MUST LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!
This is the first time since 2021 that an abolition bill is actually being heard in committee. The past three have been killed by no hearing. This is real, tangible progress that is being made. As far as whether it will pass committee is still a toss-up. We have too many question marks in the committee to know, but we’re confident the number of “Yeas” will not be zero. We need five for it to pass committee and make it to the Senate floor.
