Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 12 for passing two bills aimed at increasing government transparency and addressing public corruption. The legislation, House Bill 3278 and House Bill 3279, now moves to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.
The passage of these bills is significant as it seeks to strengthen enforcement of open government laws and close loopholes related to public corruption. Drummond said these measures are important steps toward ensuring that state officials are held accountable and that government operations remain transparent.
House Bill 3278, authored by Representative John Pfeiffer, would give the Attorney General authority to assess civil penalties, require compliance training, and enter into consent decrees with agencies found in violation of the Open Meetings Act. This replaces a previous standard based on misdemeanor convictions. The bill passed with an 82-4 vote in the House. House Bill 3279, also by Pfeiffer, prohibits state employees involved in contracting decisions worth $25,000 or more from working for awarded companies for one year and establishes penalties for violations; it passed with an 80-10 vote.
“Oklahomans deserve a government that operates in the open and plays by the rules,” said Drummond. “These bills give our office the practical tools to enforce transparency and hold public officials accountable. I am grateful to the House and to Rep. Pfeiffer for advancing these reforms, and I urge the Senate to take up and pass both of these important pieces of legislation.”
The Oklahoma Attorney General focuses on combating crime, ensuring government transparency, strengthening tribal relations, and upholding the rule of law according to the official biography. Drummond leads the office with extensive legal experience according to his official biography. The office also advocates for policies supporting energy interests, educational safeguards, and tougher laws on crimes such as rape and drug distribution according to its official biography.
Additionally, collaboration with state and federal partners is part of efforts to address organized crime according to the official biography. The Attorney General’s office provides public legal services within Oklahoma as noted in its official biography, maintaining operations throughout the state according to leadership background information.
As both bills advance to the Senate, observers will be watching how lawmakers respond to calls for greater accountability in state government.
