Catherine Hensley (OU)
The Tulsa University delegation is smaller than most, but their leader and delegation chair leads in big ways.
Rep. Maggie Giovannetti is an eight-star member of O.I.L. and the Tulsa University delegation chair. She also serves as a freshman liaison in the House.
Rep. Giovannetti is proud of how her delegation has performed at this year’s session, and she is excited for Tulsa University to have a delegate advance to the final round of the O.I.L. MOOT competition.
“I am so proud of my delegate Noah Yust for advancing to the finals of moot court,” Rep. Giovannetti said. “This was really a display of his capability to prepare independently and proceed bravely, not to mention he is a zero star!”
She recalls her first time debating a bill in the House as her favorite memory. She said there was a bill on the House floor that would extend Oklahoma’s anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. There was much opposition to the bill, and she debated on the proponency side, in which she shared her personal experiences with discrimination.
“I did it because the support and kind words of many more delegates lifted me up to speak on legislation that impacted me and so, so many more people beyond me,” Rep. Giovannetti said. “Overall, this was an incredibly fulfilling experience that I will never forget.”
In this year’s fall session, Rep. Giovannetti brought a bill that would expand protections from employment discrimination to medical marijuana patients in “safety-sensitive” fields. The proposed legislation was passed through the House and the Senate, and it was signed by the governor. Rep. Giovannetti said this is her first piece of legislation to be signed by the governor.
Rep. Giovannetti is proud of her delegation, and she serves her delegates well!
