It is truly an honor to serve as the voice for more than 80,000 Northwest Oklahomans at the Capitol. However, in my 10 years of service, I’ve found that this voice is not always heard by the Legislature as rural Oklahoma is often put on the back burner, especially when it comes to economic development. I’ve seen millions spent to bring businesses to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, despite there being endless opportunities for growth and development in all corners of the state. This week, I met with economic developers, the Appropriations chair, and the Transportation chair to discuss how we can recruit business to Northwest Oklahoma. It is past time for these developments, and all Oklahomans deserve access to high-quality jobs in thriving industries, not just those living in metro areas. I look forward to continuing conversations with my legislative colleagues and other stakeholders as we look into economic opportunities for our area.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and NWOSU Collegiate Farm Bureau members also visited this week. We had incredible discussions on pressing agricultural issues in western Oklahoma. It is comforting to know that our youth are so passionate about fighting for our state’s producers and that under their leadership, Oklahoma’s agricultural sector will thrive for generations to come.

As far as legislative work, I am still working on a House bill that mirrors my Senate legislation to change EMS retirement from being classified under the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) to the hazardous duty OPERS. Our first responders are always ready to answer the call, and these men and women who so selflessly serve our communities deserve better retirement benefits. In addition to making these improvements, this legislation aims to help recruit and retain our county Emergency Medical Services personnel.

We have another busy week ahead as we approach the April 11th deadline to approve bills in committee. If I can be of assistance to you, please contact my office at [email protected] or 405-521-5626.