Every bill passed by the Legislature during regular session and prior to adjournment shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor. If he approves, he signs it. If not, he vetoes it and returns it to the Legislature with his objections. The Legislature can override his objections by a two-thirds majority vote.

Only members of the Oklahoma Legislature can introduce legislation. Governors can not introduce legislation. They may have their budgets and major program initiatives drafted into bill form for introduction, but the bills must have legislative sponsors before they can be introduced.

The database on this website lists all of the bills that are submitted to the Governor for action. It displays information such as: the bill number, the date a bill arrived in the Governor.s Office, the date it is due to be acted on, or the date the Governor took action on it and the action of the Governor.

As bills are acted on by the Governor, the official record is filed with the Secretary of State's office, http://www.sos.state.ok.us/exec_legis/legislation.asp. The information on this website is provided for the public's convenience and does not constitute an official record.

The Oklahoma Legislature meets annually, beginning at noon on the first Monday in February and continuing until Sine Die, usually 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May. In odd-numbered years, the regular session also includes one organizational day in January. The Legislature meets at noon on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January and recesses no later than 5 p.m. on the same day. Legislatures are made up of two consecutive sessions, i.e., 1st Session of the 50th Legislature began in 2005 and the 2nd session of the 50th Legislature will begin in 2006. Normally, the legislature is in session Monday through Thursday of each week.

Once a bill has been agreed upon and passed in both houses in identical form, it is Enrolled and presented to the Governor. Bills (HB or SB) become law if passed by both houses of the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Joint Resolutions (HJR or SJR) have the force and effect of law if passed by both houses and signed by the Governor. Bills propose new statutes, amendments to existing statutes or repeal of statutes. Joint resolutions look like and proceed through the legislative process much like bills. Frequently, joint resolutions will not amend statute, but will have the full force and effect of law if approved by the Governor or by voters, i.e., in the case of joint resolutions containing state questions. Legislation which originates in the Senate is numbered consecutively beginning with "1," and legislation which originates in the House is numbered consecutively beginning with "1001."

Signed: When the Governor approves a bill and signs it into law.

Vetoed: When the Governor does not sign a bill and instead sends it back to the Legislature with objections.

Recalled: When a bill is requested back in its house of origin without action from the Governor. Line Item Veto: Only on appropriations bills, when the Governor vetoes individual lines of a bill before approval. Law without Signature: When the Governor allows a bill to become law during session by not taking action after the five-day due date. Pocket Veto: When the Governor does not sign a bill within 15 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die. No Action to Date: When the bill is in the review process in the Governor's Office.

During the legislative session, the Governor may "approve" or "veto" a bill within five days (excluding Sundays) or may refuse to sign it and allow the bill to become law "without approval" after the five-day period has elapsed. A bill may become law regardless of the Governor's veto if it is passed by 2/3 majority of each house.

A bill enrolled in the last five days before Sine Die may not become law after final adjournment of the Legislature unless the Governor approves it within 15 days after adjournment. A bill not signed within 15 days after adjournment is said to have been "pocket vetoed." A bill that becomes law is officially filed with the Secretary of State, http://www.sos.state.ok.us/exec_legis/legislation.asp.

Bills signed by the Governor become effective 90 days after adjournment of the Legislature. If the bill has an emergency clause, it becomes effective when signed by the Governor or on the date specified in the emergency clause if it is less than 90 days after adjournment. If the effective date of a bill is more than 90 days after adjournment, the law takes effect on the date specified.