OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Brad Henry has vetoed a bill that would give landowners more legal authority to go after trespassers who damage their property.
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The measure was pushed by farming and ranching interests, who have complained for years that Oklahoma's trespass laws are weak, compared to other states.
The bill was opposed by some hunters and other outdoorsmen, including members of the Oklahoma Rifle Association, according to a spokesman for the governor.
In his veto message Wednesday afternoon, Henry said the bill is poorly drafted, conflicts with another trespass law and creates a situation that would penalize honest sportsmen.
The measure was sponsored by two Republican lawmakers who are farmers — Rep. Phil Richardson of Minco and Sen. Mike Shultz of Altus. Richardson also is a veterinarian.
Shultz said the bill was needed to give farmers and other landowners a chance to recover damage trespassers cause to crops and other property.
He said he has not talked to Richardson and did not know if there would be an attempt to override the governor's veto.
"I am very disappointed it was vetoed," Shultz said. "This is an excellent bill that gives some protection to landowners and it also would give us a chance to recover damages caused to our crops and property."
He said the bill, which eliminated current requirements for posting no-trespass signs, afforded farmers the same protection for their crops that is in current law to protect timber land.
An amended version of the measure passed the Senate, 34-11. The House voted 84-13 to accept Senate amendments and sent the bill to the governor.
Henry, in striking down the bill, said it "conflicts with and, thus, renders void" a trespass law he signed earlier in the 2008 legislative session.
"Additionally, the bill is poorly drafted, providing no cap on the fine for the first offense of trespass and further creates a vague, ambiguous and confusing patchwork of trespass laws that could ensnare the unsuspecting, but honest, hunter, fisherman or outdoorsman," Henry wrote.
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honest sportsman should have the courtesy to get permission, just pass a law no trespassing without written permission if you trespass without it and theres damage youre liable. why is there a difference between land owners in the country and people who live in town would you like someone just wandering around your back yard
Um wait, does no one have an opinion about the bill itself? I'm mildly curious to know whether the people complaining about Henry's veto are the same ones who complain that Americans are over-legislated. You can't have it both ways. Not sure how so many people seem to miss that point.
I believe it was our last governor(Keating) that devastated mental health services in Okie Land. He did address marriage counseling, though he took money away from DHS for this, and gave the contract to Bob Dole's Oklahoma campaign manager, I might add, a divorced advertising firm owner. So with this veto, does this mean I have to have a better reason to shoot people than merely setting foot in my yard?
Matt, I COMPLETELY agree with you. I mean, the lottery saved our entire education system. Without that extra $60 million every year, there's no way we could stretch our $2.6 BILLION education budget far enough. Nevermind the fact that we sold our citizens down the river for an extra $60 MILLION to add to our $2.6 BILLION education budget. Who cares if the number of divorces , suicides, bankruptcys and single-parent households skyrocket? Besides, we set aside $500,000 to help gambling addicts, but that's only if we have $500,000 in unclaimed prize money. WAY TO GO, BRADLEY!
Let me guess Troy, teachers are overpaid and underworked? The governor brought us the lottery, got the state a cut of tribal gaming, and has helped teachers.
This is another indication of how awesome our governor is. If the State Senate had written something about teachers in the amendment, then Gov. Henry would have passed it. Can anyone put together anything that this governor has done in his career. I wish that we were better represented in our leadership. Does anyone know who Barry Switzer is supporting in the next campaign. Possibly Kim Henry.
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