Oklahoma Weather Tracking Licensure Legislation

[Dan Robinson]

I'm not an expert on how the system works, but it's my understanding that all House and all Senate members still need to hold a final vote on this bill, then the Governor needs to sign it. Since the bill's two sponsors are obviously not listening to any of us, should attention be turned to the other legislators in terms of the community's point of contacts? If any of the counter-points were allowed to be heard by all, I think it would easily sink the entire thing. But so far, none of those counter-points have been raised in an official setting where the voting members can hear them. I'm not sure that any of the committee members even heard them. The only outside party that got to speak in the committee meeting was David Payne.

 

[gdlewen]

I'm not an expert on how the system works, but it's my understanding that all House and all Senate members still need to hold a final vote on this bill, then the Governor needs to sign it. Since the bill's two sponsors are obviously not listening to any of us, should attention be turned to the other legislators in terms of the community's point of contacts? If any of the counter-points were allowed to be heard by all, I think it would easily sink the entire thing. But so far, none of those counter-points have been raised in an official setting where the voting members can hear them. I'm not sure that any of the committee members even heard them. The only outside party that got to speak in the committee meeting was David Payne.

I don't know who has been contacted. Certainly OK residents should contact their House/Senate reps and provide them feedback. It's scary that none of the obvious counterarguments have been brought up in committee, but in the first hearing (Business, I think), there was no debate. In Thursday's meeting there was some debate but, mostly long statements by Fetgatter and Payne. Payne, at least, made it clear that HR2426 is a bill aimed at helping TV stations with ratings. After that the vote should have been 0 Ayes/Infinity Nays.

 

[Dave C]

I don't know who has been contacted. Certainly OK residents should contact their House/Senate reps and provide them feedback. It's scary that none of the obvious counterarguments have been brought up in committee, but in the first hearing (Business, I think), there was no debate. In Thursday's meeting there was some debate but, mostly long statements by Fetgatter and Payne. Payne, at least, made it clear that HR2426 is a bill aimed at helping TV stations with ratings. After that the vote should have been 0 Ayes/Infinity Nays.

Agreed, has to be OK residents or agencies who are willing to make some noise. In my experience, a well presented and polite case to lawmakers gets their attention if you 1) show the conflict/concern clearly,a nd the bad optics, and 2) be repetitive if necessary.

I have no idea why no one is up in arms from OK. Either people think the bill won't hurt anything, or they are being misled. It seems the bill has been deliberately moved under the radar as a nothing burger that hurts no one. If I lived in OK, I would write and call my representatives with just these 3 questions:

1. Why is this bill suddenly needed when media already has huge money to throw at storm tracking, including helicopters and fleets of paid chasers?
2. How will media and researchers with code 3 priveleges not be a serious danger on the road when without this power of driving wrong way, running signs, and pushing others around with their 'emegency responder' status, they are already the #1 cause/group of chase related fatalities?
3. The bill goal has nothing to do with anything other than media money and influence (per it's own backers admission) and the backers state they resent normal residents or anyone else on the roads interfering with their money/prestige making. Why should special powers be given to a group who views the public as a nuisance to their finances and private agenda?

 

[Rick Schmidt]

I have not read every post in this thread, so I have a question. If this bill is signed into law by the governor, what date does it go into effect? I thought I read something about July 1 being the date. If so, that would take care of most of the season for this year, at least.

 

[gdlewen]

It will be effective Nov. 1 of this year, per the most recent version. As introduced it was to be in July but that was changed.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I received some information tonight regarding the progression of hb2426. This was learned during a podcast on X. There is hope that Sen. Mann, the Senate sponsor of the bill, may have received so much negative public feedback, that he no longer supports the bill. Therefore, it is imperative that we begin contacting members of the Oklahoma State Senate and ask them to not support the bill. There are only 39(?) members of the Senate, so it might be easier to kill the bill there. As always, all contact must be professional and non-threatening.

 

[Steve Holmes]

I have no idea why no one is up in arms from OK. Either people think the bill won't hurt anything, or they are being misled.

Or they just don't care. This group is up in arms, but there's a strong and vested interest. here.

One angle has not been mentioned: Going over the legislature's heads and straight to the public. Letters to the editor. Maybe an op-ed piece (possibly by Eric Fox or Reed Timmer). The FB pages of the papers and TV stations. Comment there. Ask on the FB pages of the public safety agencies, "Are you for it or agin' it?"

https://tulsaworld.com/forms/contact/letter_to_the_editor/
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[Warren Faidley]

One of the problems we are facing is the approaching storm season, which will likely explode this Friday / Saturday. We can only tell chasers so many times to get cranking, but some just don't care enough or have given up.

 

[JamesCaruso]

One angle has not been mentioned: Going over the legislature's heads and straight to the public.

I don’t think the public cares about this. Over years of chasing, I’ve found that as storm chasers we vastly overestimate the level of awareness around severe weather topics even in places like Oklahoma. The likelihood and frequency of severe weather impact to individual people is simply not that statistically significant. Even if the public had a perfect understanding of the circus on the roads that this bill could cause, I am certain they will simply think, “I wouldn’t be out driving around in a storm environment anyway.”

 

[gdlewen]

HB2426 is no longer on the House Floor Agenda for today. There are 233 measures up for consideration, and searching for the bill number or keywords in the title is coming up empty.

Not sure want that means in terms of its future. We'll see.

Check it here:

House Floor Agenda - Oklahoma House of Representatives

former.okhouse.gov

 

[Warren Faidley]

I don’t think the public cares about this. Over years of chasing, I’ve found that as storm chasers we vastly overestimate the level of awareness around severe weather topics even in places like Oklahoma. The likelihood and frequency of severe weather impact to individual people is simply not that statistically significant. Even if the public had a perfect understanding of the circus on the roads that this bill could cause, I am certain they will simply think, “I wouldn’t be out driving around in a storm environment anyway.”

Not enough time for this, although it's a great idea for future bills. Most public interests don't know anything about road conditions while chasing, so they don't care.

 

[Warren Faidley]

HB2426 is no longer on the House Floor Agenda for today. There are 233 measures up for consideration, and searching for the bill number or keywords in the title is coming up empty.

Not sure want that means in terms of its future. We'll see.

Check it here:

House Floor Agenda - Oklahoma House of Representatives

former.okhouse.gov

Interesting information. Please post more when you can confirm and what is the next move? Thanks!

 

[gdlewen]

Here is what a search for Fetgatter returns (screenshot). No Storm Tracker bill shows up. I am assuming it will show up down the road, but hope to never see it again.

 

[Jeff Smith]

I sent this to my state senator and house rep over the weekend. Have not heard back from either as of this morning.

I have been watching these bills and it looks like the Senate bill is dead but the HB is still advancing. I’ve seen a couple of revisions and heard David Payne plead for this bill in the committee hearing. The revisions have not done anything to address the fact that these TV chasers drive irresponsibly and dangerously while chasing storms just to get the “shot” for their TV stations, and this bill will only make the illegal driving habits legal while hampering other storm spotters in providing valuable information to the National Weather Service. I can send you clips of these chasers driving recklessly from several of my trusted storm chasing friends.



If you need help understanding the actual warning process I would be happy to provide help with that, but tornado warnings do NOT come from the TV stations.
Thank you,
Jeff Smith

 

[Warren Faidley]

I'm under the impression Fetgatter could bring the bill back to the floor at any point. One can assume his is trying to stall and gain support from the OHP and DOT. I believe he would come right out and say if he dropped the bill, to end the relentless pounding he's getting. No doubt he is using every single tactic he can legally deploy to get this bill through. Once more, I believe there are outside forces pushing this bill.