Friends,

I hope everyone is faring well after last night’s storm. The massive damage in Sulphur makes me so sad – I love that area and Sulphur is just such a great Oklahoma town. If you’ve been to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, you know something of the beauty and history there.  Plus The Poor Girls Cafe has the best  biscuits you’ve ever had in your life. Truly my heart goes out to that community and all the other communities who probably feel overwhelmed today and have recovery and rebuilding ahead of them. In my role as a legislator and an Oklahoman, I will do whatever I can to support these communities and I know all of HD70 joins me in sending them thoughts of strength and hope today.

Budget Time

We have just passed another gate of the legislative process. Thursday was the last day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber and head to the Governor. Of course some bills are still being amended or resting in some strange committee  – maybe never to see the light of day. This shifts our focus now to the budget process. In an effort to create a more transparent budget process at the State Capitol, there is a great tool that outlines the proposed budget. You can find it here. We have until May 31st to finalize all legislative business.

In the budget you will find HB 1808, a bill I have put forth that would ensure childcare workers  continue to have their childcare costs covered. Most of our childcare workforce already qualifies for free childcare through the state’s subsidy program. HB 1808 just ensures the benefit to the full workforce and allows for childcare owners to confidently extend the benefit as an incentive to their employees. The State has been paying for this with some one time money and the industry is desperate to make it permanent as we try to improve accessibility and affordability for families.  I am very proud to have this item reflected in the House of Representatives budget as it means budget negotiators will work hard to make it happen.

Bills, Bills, Bills

Senate Joint Resolution 34 was rejected by the House this week. The resolution would have placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year to repeal the Judicial Nominating Commission and if the resolution had passed, the Governor would appoint the justices. I received overwhelming support from constituents to maintain the current JNC process. Learn more about that process here. There is still an effort to change the makeup of our court which would require judges to retire at age 75. I find this upsetting as at every stage in my life both professional and personal, those 75 and over have been critical colleagues, bosses, advisors, mentors and friends helping me exercise good judgment and make life decisions.  I am hopeful this is a bill that will die over the next few weeks.

Three HD 70 bills have been approved by the Governor! Protecting retirement plan income (HB 4150), eliminating junk fees in the buying and selling of homes (HB 4151), updating language on mammography reports (HB 4152).   All three of these bills came straight from Tulsans! Our medical debt bill and childcare tax credit bill have been amended and thus continue to wind through the process.

I saw lots of constituents at the State Capitol this week advocating for mental health and poverty alleviation. Immigration policy was also on the agenda at the Capitol these last few weeks – HB 4156 awaits signature by the Governor and makes it a crime to be in Oklahoma if you did not enter legally and remain here. I did not support the bill as it does not appear to be an effective solution for the issues at our American border which I understand are real. The human and economic cost of the proposed legislation are horrible for Oklahoma. I am hopeful the Governor will listen to the many voices from public safety, business and immigrant communities urging him to veto the legislation. Many things I disagree with have passed through the House that would not be my preference for policy in Oklahoma, but this immigration piece is the one I feel the most concerned about and disappointed that we have yet to stop.

Please reach out if you have questions regarding policy issues that I mentioned or those that I did not touch on – I could go on and on in this note but I want you all to read it so I have to stop somewhere!  I am here to discuss, listen, help, take action – so reach out if I can be of help. And remember, it’s never too early to be thinking about next session’s bills.

Finally, please join us for our next town hall that will include all things Session review. We will meet again at the Schusterman-Benson Library on Thursday, May 30th at 5:30 – 6:30 PM. If you’re thinking about joining us, register here.

Let’s Keep Going

Suzanne