Bill would require public rooms as last-resort polling places as churches close facilities

Representative Osborne presented SB 12‑86 as a request bill from the Tulsa County Election Board to ensure counties have access to public rooms for polling places when private properties (primarily churches) are no longer available.

Osborne said private properties, "churches mostly, make up almost 80% of the polling places across the state," and the bill is designed as a last resort to ensure elections can proceed if commonly used private sites withdraw participation or become unavailable. He cited natural‑disaster scenarios (for example, a tornado) as situations where the bill would allow quick reuse of public space.

Members asked whether schools would be compelled to open their doors for elections and raised security concerns; Osborne said he could not guarantee schools would be required and suggested counties would try other public buildings or outbuildings before using a school.

The committee moved and the clerk recorded a vote of 17 aye, 0 nay; the bill was declared due passed.