July 27, 2026

 

Friends,

 

We are definitely in the heat of summer!  I’m just checking in to see that no one has melted yet. I took a break and went and saw my dad for a few days.  It wasn’t as hot as it is here but they have not had any rain in 100 plus days – so pick your poison.  Here’s a pic of me, my dad, my sister and two of my kids.  Without a campaign, there’s room for some (hot!) fun this summer – though my dad did not waste the chance to put us to work!

Interim Studies

I requested 4 studies and 3 were approved last Friday.  You can see the full list of studies approved and disapproved here.  Surprise!  Two of the three studies are on childcare!  One to assess the state of the industry and access post 2026 funding changes and the other to look at how to incentivize employers to share in the cost.  The other study relates to the sex offender registry and its efficacy in protecting public safety.  The study that was declined related to exploring the need for the Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship given the current private school credit and the lack of protections for those using the LNH scholarship.  It was a constituent request.  I don’t know for sure why the study was not approved, but I believe all studies touching on the parental choice tax credit were declined.

 

Interim studies can be scheduled between now and the end of October.  All studies are public and will be archived, so I can send the video link to mine after they have happened.  A few other topics I found interesting: building and construction permitting, AI being used in state agencies, a lookback over the last 5 years of privatization of state medical agencies, and state preparedness for Oklahoma’s aging population – sometimes known as the Silver Tsunami.  Oklahoma’s population age 65 and older is projected to grow 21.3% by 2034.  By then, older adults are expected to outnumber children in the state for the first time.

 

One constituent wrote to me to question the term “Silver Tsunami” and offered a more hopeful way to think about longer lives.  I appreciated the perspective and wanted to share an excerpt:

We are standing at an amazing moment in human history. For the very first time, there are more people on Earth over the age of 65 than there are toddlers under five. Yet, news headlines worry about a scary ‘Silver Tsunami.’ They are treating a great human victory like a natural disaster!

Calling long life a crisis is a huge mistake. In reality, we have built a world where growing old in good health is our greatest achievement. We have unlocked a brand-new ‘Third Chapter’ of life. This isn’t a time of fading out; it is a time for new purposes, creativity, and goals.

 

Food for thought as Oklahoma considers how best to prepare for and support its growing older population.

Voter Guide

The August election is nearing.  July 31 is the last day to register to vote and August 10 is the last day to request an absentee ballot.  With two state questions on the ballot and local non-partisan city council races, everyone – no matter if you are a Republican, Democrat or an Independent you will have something to vote on August 25.  Our district has one of the best voter turnouts in the state!  I’m so proud of that and have no doubt it will continue.

 

Here is a voter guide provided by the League of Women Voters and researched by University of Tulsa students.  I urge you to study the state questions, especially SQ844.  The measure would allow the Legislature to determine how much the state reimburses schools, counties, libraries, health departments, and other local entities for property-tax revenue lost through Oklahoma’s five-year manufacturing tax exemption.

 

On the pro side, the change would give lawmakers flexibility to manage the growing cost of the program, create a more transparent reimbursement system, and prevent one county from receiving a disproportionate share of available funding.  But on the con side, the proposal provides no specific replacement formula and would remove the current guarantee of full reimbursement, potentially shifting the cost of a state economic-development incentive onto local schools and communities.  The Tulsa World has put together a brief on the state question as well.

 

Tulsa Happenings

You all may have seen some information about the Vesta property owner who ceded ownership of several apartment buildings when he was foreclosed on by a former arms dealer.  I recommend reading this long but fascinating article.  Let me just say this, the arms dealer looks like the good guy!

 

Beyond intrigue, however, this will affect many Tulsa renters and some in House District 70 due to concerns about management of apartments.  There will be a community meeting about the properties at the Roma Berry Senior Center on Thursday to discuss.

 

In another property note, I’ve heard that there is FINALLY some interest in the property at 51st and Harvard.  I look forward to hearing more and will let you know when more information is shared.  I am hopeful to get the vacant property populated.  If you are frequently in that area, you have probably noticed homeless individuals gathering and sleeping there.  While the City of Tulsa’s Safe Move initiative is making progress on addressing street sleeping in downtown, the outlying areas dispersed throughout the city need attention.

 

To date, Safe Move Tulsa and its community partners have helped 528 people exit homelessness.  That includes 190 people connected to housing and supportive services and 338 people helped through rapid-exit assistance, such as help with a security deposit, short-term rent, transportation, or reconnection with family.  The initiative has also closed 10 encampments and removed nearly 162 tons of trash and debris.  I am proud that the City is investing in the work and expect further progress as more resources and solutions for the highest needs individuals come on line.

 

Let’s Get Together

We scheduled a coffee at the Apple Barrel Cafe on the 5th of August.  Come have some coffee and visit if you are available that morning.  I would love to see you there.  Register here if your schedule allows.

And don’t forget, I am always available to come and meet with groups or go and visit anything you think I should see or learn about.  I’m also very willing to bring in state agency partners to discuss their work –  so let me know if there is something you are interested in learning about.  Help me keep things interesting and informative!  Take care of yourself in this heat and don’t melt.

Let’s Keep Going –

Suzanne