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Bill

SB 97

State government; prohibiting state agencies from contracting with lobbyists or hiring legislative liaisons for certain purposes. Effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stacy Adams and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma bill bans state agencies from hiring external lobbyists or legislative liaisons using public funds to influence lawmakers on agency matters.

Placed on General Order
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Bill Summary · SB 97

Legislative bill overview

SB 97 prohibits Oklahoma state agencies from contracting with external lobbyists or hiring legislative liaisons for the purpose of lobbying state legislators on behalf of those agencies. The bill aims to reduce state spending on lobbying activities and prevent agencies from using public funds to influence legislative decision-making outside normal governmental channels.

Why is this important

State agencies currently spend taxpayer money hiring outside lobbyists and liaisons to advocate for agency interests during legislative sessions. This practice raises accountability concerns about public funds being used for political advocacy and potentially creates conflicts of interest. The bill addresses whether government resources should fund efforts to persuade lawmakers directly versus allowing agencies to present information through standard budgetary and regulatory processes.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation ambiguity: The bill's language "for certain purposes" is undefined in available summaries, creating uncertainty about what activities are prohibited versus allowed (e.g., does routine budget presentation count as prohibited lobbying?)
  • Practical governance questions: Agencies may argue they need professional legislative liaisons to explain complex policy matters to lawmakers, and this restriction could disadvantage them during budget fights against better-resourced interest groups
  • Definition disputes: The distinction between legitimate "government communication" and prohibited "lobbying" is notoriously difficult to define clearly and may create litigation risk

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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