January 4, 2026

Friends,

Happy New Year to all!  After the slowdown during the holidays, I feel rested and ready and hope you all do too.

Bill Work

On the less fun side of the season, legislators have lots of bill deadlines during the month of December, forcing us to narrow our focus and begin to formulate legislative bill language.  I have not landed on my final bill list yet – but I’ve tried!  I know they will at least involve childcare, consumer protection, trust law, workplace violence protection, and updating building codes to enable more workforce housing.

Some of these things I’m apt to fall passionately in love with and sacrifice health and sanity trying to get them over the line but I am also trying to be realistic about how difficult the environment will be for legislative wins this year.  Election years always create difficulties for passing good policy but this is also the last year of a two-term governor.  Add to that another flat budget prediction due to state revenues being a bit down and the tax cuts of the past years becoming fully realized and we’re searching the couch cushions.  But I am ready to do all I can to deliver some common sense solutions for HD70 and beyond.  The final bill deadline is January 15, so stay tuned!

Agency Needs 

Over the next several weeks, all major state agencies will present their budgets to the legislature.  I am particularly focused on that of the Department of Human Services (DHS).  DHS is requesting $70 million to restore the childcare services that were cut in November and to continue the StrongStart program that began in June.  As a reminder, StrongStart is the program we enacted last year to recruit and retain early childhood employees to strengthen the industry and support the workforce.  With just this one example, you can quickly see how difficult any new money to accommodate increased needs is when agencies are asking for funds to restore services.

This article also summarizes these requests well.  For a citizen’s perspective, you can check out various videos posted by Legacy Childcare.  This is a great example of stakeholders diving deep and learning about an issue and then sharing what they’ve learned so others can speak effectively and advocate.

You can see all agency budget requests here at my favorite state tool the Budget Transparency Portal.  Below is a screenshot of where you will start when you go to the portal.

Tulsa Community College Commencement

Probably one of my favorite things I got to do last year was help celebrate the amazing TCC winter graduates.  This was a remarkable group of individuals, many of them first generation college graduates, parents and family caregivers, and many of them with more than one job while achieving their degree.

When asked to speak, I was only given one instruction: speak for 10-12 minutes.  No topic!  I decided to discuss something hopeful, something I am passionate about and something I hope can be used in many situations in life.  You probably guessed it but I talked about the importance of disagreeing better!  Of course, I believe in this deeply and have an idealistic vision that if just more of us would engage with one another with less contempt and assumptions we could solve a lot more of the problems we all share.  That was the gist of the remarks but you can watch the whole speech here (begins at about minute 30)!

For fun, here’s an HD70 list of what’s in out and out for 2026.  I’d love to know what’s going on your in and out list!

See You Soon

Hope you all can join for our first townhall of 2026 at the Schusterman Benson Library with Special Guest Councilwoman Carol Bush.  We will discuss all things City of Tulsa as well as the upcoming legislative session and whatever you all would like to bring forth.  Register here if your schedule allows.

Please share Stay in the Loop as well by forwarding to friends, colleagues and neighbors that want to stay informed.  They can join the distribution list simply by sending JOIN to suzanne@suzanneforstaterep.com.  And know that I am always available for conversations, questions, and concerns whether by email, phone, a coffee or joining a meeting or group for discussion.

Again, Happy New Year.  As long as we find the good in things and care for and appreciate one another, it’s going to be a good year!  Let’s keep going!