OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the Oklahoma House of Representatives for passing two government accountability bills. Since he took office in 2023, Drummond has fought the culture of state government corruption while championing more transparency in government.
House Bill 3278, authored by Rep. John Pfeiffer, strengthens enforcement of the Open Meetings Act by authorizing the Attorney General to assess civil penalties, require compliance training, and enter into consent decrees with government agencies found in violation. The bill replaces a misdemeanor conviction standard that has done little to drive real accountability. It passed the House with an 82-4 vote.
House Bill 3279, also authored by Rep. Pfeiffer, closes public corruption loopholes by prohibiting state employees involved in contracting decisions of $25,000 or more from going to work for the awarded company for one year. The legislation also ensures meaningful penalties exist for violations. House members voted 80-10 to pass the bill.
“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.”
Both bills now advance to the Oklahoma Senate.
