Senate Review
Next up: Crafting the state budget
May 24, 2023
This Friday marks the end of the 2023 legislative session. Now that an education agreement has been reached, work has picked back up on the remaining appropriations. Crafting the state budget takes time and is no easy task. Dozens of state agencies rely on their appropriations to fund needed state programs, so it also takes diligence and much consideration. A concurrent special session was called to allow more time to work on the budget if needed. I’ll keep you posted on the budget negotiations, and hopefully there will be an agreement announced later this week.
Each year, we must also consider executive nominations in committee and on the floor. I carried a nomination this year for Mike Loftis to serve on the Board of Regents for Northern Oklahoma College (NOC). I am happy to report that his nomination was approved by the full Senate. He will serve a five-year term, which ends June 30, 2028. I appreciate my colleagues for approving his nomination to serve in this position and wish Mike the best of luck in his work at NOC.
We still have some policy bills that we're continuing to refine. Legislation approved by both chambers, but in slightly different versions, can be further honed in the conference committee process to resolve differences. Among my measures now in conference committees are Senate Bill 706 and SB 742.
Senate Bill 706 relates to helping foster children in Oklahoma establish permanency more efficiently. SB 742 would require county assessors to provide the county treasurer with a list of assets reported by a delinquent taxpayer upon request. I filed these pieces of legislation as I believe they’ll be very beneficial to our district and the entire state. I greatly appreciate the senators who are continuing to work on these bills in conference, so we can hopefully get them through the process and signed into law this year.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your concerns or questions. You can reach my office at 405-521-5630 or [email protected].
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