Lawton, OK – Oklahoma Representative Tom Gann, a Republican from Inola, has introduced a comprehensive reform package aimed at overhauling the state’s legislative process. House Resolution 1001 (HR 1001) is designed to increase transparency, redistribute power, and promote a more member-driven approach to governance in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
In a statement, Gann criticized the current system, which he argues has led to stagnation and a lack of accountability. “The time has come to ensure the House of Representatives becomes an institution of laws, not of one man,” Gann said. He pointed to the increasing concentration of power in the hands of the House Speaker, an individual elected by only one district, rather than by the voters of Oklahoma as a whole. Gann emphasized that this concentration of authority has resulted in decisions being made behind closed doors, with limited input from other legislators.
For years, Gann claims, the House has failed to embrace meaningful transparency measures, and in some instances, has even regressed into a system where secretive processes and a single powerful figure control much of the legislative agenda. He believes this lack of openness has stifled progress and undermined the integrity of the legislative process.
To address these concerns, HR 1001 proposes a fundamental shift in how the House operates. The bill would transfer the power to determine which legislation is considered on the floor from the Speaker to a newly established floor leader. The floor leader would be elected by members of the House and would serve a single term, preventing any one individual from consolidating too much power.
In addition, HR 1001 seeks to limit the Speaker’s authority in other key areas. The Speaker’s control over committee appointments, committee chairs, the multi-million-dollar House budget, and the ability to block legislation passed by committees would be reduced. Under the new proposal, all members of the House would be subject to the same rules and procedures when introducing or advancing legislation, eliminating the possibility of one individual bypassing standard processes.
Gann’s reform package, if approved, would mark a significant shift in how power is distributed within the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Proponents argue that the changes would lead to a fairer, more transparent system, where decisions are made in the open and with input from a wider range of lawmakers. Critics, however, may be concerned about the potential disruption to the current system and the practicality of implementing such a sweeping change.
The proposed changes are still in the early stages of consideration, but Gann has made it clear that he believes the reform is necessary for the future of Oklahoma’s legislative process. As the bill moves forward, it will likely spark debate about the balance of power, transparency, and fairness in the state’s government.
