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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 43 By: Standridge
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution calling a Constitutional
Convention to alter, revise, or amend the present
Constitution of the State of Oklahoma or to propose a
new Constitution; fixing the time and place thereof;
providing for selection of delegates to the
Convention; providing requirements and restrictions
for eligibility; creating a Constitutional Convention
Commission; stating purpose; providing for
composition; providing for election of officers and
organization of the Constitutional Convention;
providing oath of office; providing for recall and
penalty for violation of oath; providing for
employment of staff; providing for rules of
procedure; prohibiting consideration of certain
provisions of the Constitution; providing for working
draft to be considered by the Constitutional
Convention; providing voting requirements for certain
actions; providing for compensation of delegates;
providing for payment of expenses of the Convention;
providing for submission of constitutional changes to
the voters of the state; providing for submission of
this joint resolution to a vote of the people;
providing ballot title; and directing filing.
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution
requires that a proposal to hold a Constitutional Convention shall
be submitted to a vote of the people at least once every twenty (20)
years; and
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WHEREAS, the last proposal providing for a Constitutional
Convention was submitted to a vote of the people March 17, 1970; and
WHEREAS, a State Question to eliminate the requirement that a
Constitutional Convention proposal be submitted to the people every
twenty (20) years was defeated at the General Election held November
8, 1994; and
WHEREAS, the original Constitutional Convention was comprised of
one hundred twelve members, with fifty-five delegates from Indian
Territory, fifty-five delegates from Oklahoma Territory, and two
members from Osage tribal land; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Legislature to enact a law
providing for a Constitutional Convention and to submit the law to a
vote of the people.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. There is hereby called a Constitutional Convention
for the purpose of altering, revising, or amending the current
Constitution, or to propose a new Constitution for the State of
Oklahoma, to be submitted to the people for their approval or
rejection.
SECTION 2. The Constitutional Convention shall convene at
twelve o’clock noon, July 12, 2027, in Oklahoma City at the State
Capitol.
SECTION 3. A. Delegates shall be chosen as follows:
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1. There shall be seventy-six delegates selected from the
Legislature: fifty-two delegates shall be members of the House of
Representatives, twenty-six of whom shall be Democrats and twenty-
six of whom shall be Republicans and twenty-four delegates shall be
members of the Senate, twelve of whom shall be Democrats and twelve
of whom shall be Republicans. Thirteen of the members from the
House of Representatives who are Republicans and thirteen of the
members from the House of Representatives who are Democrats shall
reside west of Interstate Highway 35 (I-35) and thirteen of the
members from the House of Representatives who are Republicans and
thirteen of the members from the House of Representatives who are
Democrats shall reside east of I-35. Six of the members from the
Senate who are Republicans and six of the members from the Senate
who are Democrats shall reside west of I-35 and six of the members
of the Senate who are Republicans and six of the members from the
Senate who are Democrats shall reside east of I-35. For purposes of
this paragraph, if I-35 passes through the district of a legislator,
the entire district shall be considered to be west of I-35;
2. Fourteen delegates shall be selected by lot pursuant to
subsection E of this section from the Executive Department of
government agencies, boards and commissions within this state;
provided, none shall be statewide elected officials. Seven of the
Executive Department delegates shall reside west of I-35 and seven
of the Executive Department delegates shall reside east of I-35.
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For purposes of this paragraph, if I-35 passes through a county,
other than Payne County, the entire county shall be considered to be
west of I-35;
3. Six delegates shall be selected by lot pursuant to
subsection E of this section from the Judicial Department of
government within this state; provided, none shall be justices or
judges subject to statewide retention ballot. Three of the judicial
delegates shall reside west of I-35 and three of the judicial
delegates shall reside east of I-35. For purposes of this
paragraph, if I-35 passes through a county, other than Payne County,
the entire county shall be considered to be west of I-35; and
4. Sixteen delegates from the public at large shall be selected
by lot, pursuant to subsection E of this section. No at-large
delegate shall be a statewide elected official. Seven of the at-
large delegates shall reside west of I-35, seven of the at-large
delegates shall reside east of I-35, and two of the at-large
delegates shall be from Osage tribal land. Two of the at-large
delegates shall be student body presidents from the two
comprehensive state universities; provided, if such a person is
unable or ineligible to serve in this capacity, a student shall be
selected by the president of the university to serve as a delegate.
The delegate from the University of Oklahoma shall be one of the
seven delegates from west of I-35 and the delegate from Oklahoma
State University shall be one of the seven delegates from east of I-
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35. For purposes of this paragraph, if I-35 passes through a
county, other than Payne County, the entire county shall be
considered to be west of I-35.
B. An individual shall be eligible to serve as a delegate if
the individual is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and is a
qualified elector.
C. Except as provided in paragraph 5 of subsection E of this
section, an individual shall be eligible for consideration for
selection as a delegate pursuant to only one of the categories
provided for in subsection A of this section.
D. No member of Congress from this state or person holding any
other federal office shall be eligible to be a delegate.
E. Delegates selected by lot shall be chosen pursuant to the
following procedure:
1. Members of the House of Representatives who wish to serve as
delegates to the Constitutional Convention shall submit their names
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. From the list of
names submitted, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
select two delegates and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives shall select two delegates. Names shall be drawn by
lot according to procedures established by the Constitutional
Convention Commission to select the remainder of the delegates from
the House of Representatives. If an insufficient number of
Representatives meeting the qualifications required by paragraph 1
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of subsection A of this section submit their names for
consideration, the Constitutional Convention Commission shall
provide for selection of the balance of membership from the
membership of the House of Representatives or former members of the
House of Representatives, subject to the qualifications provided for
in paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section;
2. Members of the Senate who wish to serve as delegates to the
Constitutional Convention shall submit their names to the President
Pro Tempore of the Senate. From the list of names submitted, the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall select two delegates and
the Minority Leader of the Senate shall select two delegates. Names
shall be drawn by lot according to procedures established by the
Constitutional Convention Commission to select the remainder of the
delegates from the Senate. If an insufficient number of Senators
meeting the qualifications required by paragraph 1 of subsection A
of this section submit their names for consideration, the
Constitutional Convention Commission shall provide for selection of
the balance of membership from the membership of the Senate or
former members of the Senate, subject to the qualifications provided
for in paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section;
3. Members of Executive Department agencies, boards, and
commissions who wish to serve as delegates to the Constitutional
Convention shall submit their names to the Governor. Names shall be
drawn by lot according to procedures established by the
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Constitutional Convention Commission. If an insufficient number of
individuals from the Executive Department of government meeting the
qualifications required by paragraph 2 of subsection A of this
section submit their names for consideration, the Constitutional
Convention Commission shall provide for selection of the balance of
membership from within the Executive Department or from former
officers or employees from the Executive Department;
4. Members of the Judicial Department who wish to serve as
delegates to the Constitutional Convention shall submit their names
to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Names shall be drawn by
lot according to procedures established by the Constitutional
Convention Commission. If an insufficient number of individuals
from the Judicial Department of government meeting the
qualifications required by paragraph 3 of subsection A of this
section submit their names for consideration, the Constitutional
Convention Commission shall provide for selection of the balance of
membership from within the Judicial Department or from former
justices or judges from the Judicial Department; and
5. Members of the public at large shall submit their names to
the Lieutenant Governor. Names shall be drawn by lot according to
procedures established by the Constitutional Convention Commission.
If an insufficient number of individuals meeting the qualifications
of paragraph 4 of subsection A of this section submit their names
for consideration, the Constitutional Convention Commission shall
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provide for selection of the balance of membership from persons who
have submitted their names pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 4 of
this subsection.
F. Persons wishing to serve as delegates shall submit their
applications by February 1, 2027. By February 15, 2027, the persons
to whom the applications have been submitted shall forward the
applications to the Constitutional Convention Commission. Delegates
shall be selected by March 1, 2027.
G. There is hereby created a Constitutional Convention
Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to develop the form to
be used for application to serve as a delegate, establish the
procedure for drawing names by lot, supervise the selection process
for delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and provide lists of
alternates to serve in case of a vacancy. The Constitutional
Convention Commission shall be composed of the Governor or a
designee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a designee, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives or a designee, the President
Pro Tempore of the Senate or a designee, a member of the House of
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and a member of the Senate appointed by the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The members appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate shall serve as co-chairs of the Commission.
The Commission shall conduct public hearings prior to the delegate
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selection process to gather input from the public for issues to be
addressed by the Constitutional Convention.
SECTION 4. A. The Secretary of State shall call the
Constitutional Convention to order and preside until one of the
delegates is chosen President of the Constitutional Convention by
vote of the Convention.
B. Prior to the selection of a President, the delegates shall
take the following oath to support the Constitution of the United
States and to faithfully discharge their duties as delegates:
“I do solemnly swear or affirm that to the best of my abilities,
I will, as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, uphold
the Constitution and laws of the United States of America and the
State of Oklahoma. I will not vote to allow consideration of or to
approve any unauthorized amendment proposed for ratification to the
Oklahoma Constitution.”
Any delegate who violates the oath contained in this subsection
shall be recalled and replaced by the appointing authority and, upon
conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
C. The Convention may employ staff necessary to assist the
delegates in performing their duties.
D. After choosing a President, the Convention shall organize
itself and select such other officers as it deems necessary.
E. The Convention may establish rules for the Convention. Any
parliamentary question not provided for by the Oklahoma Constitution
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or the rules of the Constitutional Convention shall be governed by
Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure.
F. A simple majority of the delegates shall constitute a quorum
to transact business. A simple majority of the delegates shall be
necessary for the adoption of any measure.
G. No article or section of the Constitution that has been
added, altered, or revised pursuant to the initiative petition
process or the legislative referendum process shall be repealed,
altered, or revised by the Constitutional Convention.
H. The original Constitution and all amendments added by the
initiative petition process or the legislative referendum process by
July 12, 2027, shall be the working draft for consideration by the
Constitutional Convention. No article of the Constitution shall be
reviewed by the Convention for possible alterations, revisions, or
amendments, unless the motion to do so receives the approval of two-
thirds (2/3) of the delegates. Thereafter, any proposed alteration,
revision, or amendment to an article shall require a simple majority
for adoption. To reverse any previous action taken by the
Convention pertaining to an alteration, revision, or amendment, two-
thirds (2/3) of the delegates must approve the motion.
SECTION 5. The Constitutional Convention shall adjourn sine die
no later than June 30, 2028.
SECTION 6. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention shall
receive no compensation but shall receive reimbursement for mileage
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and per diem as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act for
the time that the Constitutional Convention is in session up to a
maximum of ninety (90) days.
SECTION 7. All expenses incurred by the Constitutional
Convention acting within the scope of authority as provided for in
this resolution and all expenses of holding the election for
adoption or rejection of any alteration, revision, or amendment of
the current Constitution or proposed new Constitution shall be paid
for by the state; and it is made the express duty of the Legislature
to provide for payment of the expenses.
SECTION 8. The delegates shall be subject to all rules and
regulations promulgated by the Ethics Commission and all state and
federal laws to which legislators are subject.
SECTION 9. Any alteration, revision, or amendment of the
current Constitution or new Constitution proposed by the
Constitutional Convention shall be submitted to the electors of the
state for adoption or rejection at the General Election to be held
in 2028.
SECTION 10. This resolution shall be submitted to the people by
the Secretary of State for their approval or rejection at the next
General Election.
SECTION 11. The Ballot Title for the proposed question to be
put before the people as provided herein shall be in the following
form:
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BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure calls a state Constitutional Convention. It would
begin on July 12, 2027. It would end by June 30, 2028. It
would review the Oklahoma Constitution. It could alter, amend,
or revise the Oklahoma Constitution. It could propose a new
Oklahoma Constitution. There would be one hundred twelve
delegates. Seventy-six delegates would be from the State
Legislature. Fourteen delegates would be from the Executive
Department. They would be from agencies, boards, and
commissions. Six delegates would be judges. Sixteen members
would be from the public at large. Most delegates would be
picked by lot. A few delegates would be selected by leadership
of the Legislature. Delegates would be paid for travel expenses
for each day that the Convention meets. Payment is limited.
Delegates can be paid for no more than ninety days. Any change
in the Constitution or new Constitution must be presented for
approval to state voters. This would happen at the General
Election in 2028.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
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SECTION 12. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, prepare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 11
hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
60-2-2834 MD 1/15/2026 9:11:56 AM