Friends,
I wanted to check in as summer comes to a close. I hope everyone got to enjoy the season in their own way – even if it’s busy, somehow the summer helps me slow down. I try to keep our Stay In The Loop newsletter to legislative business only but suffice it to say I have spent much of my time campaigning and checking in with voters this summer. Hopefully some of you have seen me or one of my helpers at your door. Of course that work will continue right through Election Day on November 5 – not to be confused with the upcoming municipal elections in Tulsa on August 27. The graphic has all the details but most importantly, remember to vote! Our local officials impact not only the function of our City but also build our brand and our personality as a place, so make sure you vote to get who you want!
Grocery Tax Goes into Effect
Beginning August 29th, Oklahomans will see savings in sales tax at the grocery store when the much-anticipated elimination of the state grocery tax will take effect. House Bill 1955, which the House approved in 2023, delivers the largest single-year tax cut in state history. With these savings, it is projected that approximately $418 million will go back into the pockets of Oklahomans, saving each person an average of $105.79 annually. It’s exciting when we can celebrate laws going into effect that make Oklahoma a great place to call home.
Remember, this sales tax elimination is for the state portion of sales tax only. Municipal or county sales taxes on groceries will remain in effect, as many cities and counties use that revenue to fund local police, fire, emergency services, road repairs and more. However, to prevent municipalities or counties from immediately raising their sales tax rate on groceries when HB 1955 takes effect, the bill prohibits any increase in sales tax rates on groceries for two years. You can find FAQs and more details here. It’s a really good guide put out by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, check it out.
Wednesday is a Big Day
On Wednesday, I am honored to be participating with Governor Stitt and Justice Steven Taylor in a conversation at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum for the Disagree Better effort started by Utah’s Governor, Spencer Cox.
You can read all about the Disagree Better initiative here. I highly recommend watching all the Governor’s videos but the resources included are great. I am so passionate about this important effort – and truly excited (and nervous!) to be a part of the discussion on Wednesday. While I think it ‘s in my nature to work together to problem solve, I credit House District 70 with helping me take that to the next level. During my time meeting voters in 2022, I met a voter who told me if she heard one more politician say they were going to DC or Oklahoma City or City Hall to “fight” she was going to pull her hair out. Her desire was that people cooperate and get things done, not fight! I went home that day and made sure “fight” was scrubbed from all my talking points. It’s a simple thought but I’ve never forgotten it. I wish I had gotten her name to thank her for her charge. Since then, I’ve heard the theme repeated over and over from voters and I hope to help make it heard. You can find the livestream of the Disagree Better conversation here.
Earlier in the day, I will participate in my first Legislative Evaluation and Development (LEAD) Committee meeting. The LEAD Committee will serve as a component of business growth and development for the state in our larger work to recruit new companies to Oklahoma but also take care of our Oklahoma businesses that are already an important part of our economy. The LEAD Committee has five members from each chamber and is chaired jointly by the Senate Pro Tempore and Speaker of the House. As an appointee of the Committee, I will help review and determine specific economic development intiative’s viability and fit to benefit Oklahoma.
Interim Studies
Three of my interim studies were approved and will occur this fall. I may seem like a broken record on childcare and medical debt but there is so much work to do on both of those policy areas, more studies and persistence is necessary. I am looking for support in presenting these two studies so if you or an individual you know would have data or experiences that would be educational on these topics please reach out.
My third study regards flood control. My lead into this area came from constituents and area residents facing either damage from flooding or concerns about future flooding. My experience thus far has been that there are many different governmental authorities involved but not one stated entity responsible for flood control. My hope is to gather the various public entities involved and try to get an understanding of where residents should start when they have flood damage or concerns that a future flood will cause damage. When the dates and times have been set, I will share specifics on how to attend or watch online for all three studies.
See You Soon
I hope you will join me for my next Constituent Conversation on September 18 at the Schusterman-Benson Library from 5:30-6:30 PM. In the meantime, enjoy these last days of summer. I’m at the stage in life where I know having the whole family in the house is something to count as a blessing – come next week it’s back to senior year in college, senior and sophomore years in high school and seventh grade. My mom always says the two most important things you can give your kids are roots and wings. How about a State Representative trying to crack the code on what will keep these kids coming back to Oklahoma? I think they need that too!
Let’s Keep Going,
Suzanne