Dear Constituent,
Happy New Year! If we have not met yet, I’m Suzanne Schreiber, your State Representative. I was elected in 2022 and have served one year of my two-year term. My job is to represent you and your tax dollars at the Oklahoma State Capitol. I work hard to make decisions that put people over politics and solve real problems faced by Oklahomans. As I gear up for the second year of my term, I want to tell you about what we accomplished and what I am thinking about for the upcoming legislative session.
2023 Year in Review: In January of 2023 more than 3,100 bills were filed. Ultimately 408 of those bills became law. I am the proud author of two of those laws, both of which address important issues for Oklahomans.
House Bill 2452 Signed into Law – Childcare: My bill to cut red tape for childcare centers was enacted into law in November. This new law will help relieve the burden Oklahoma families face accessing childcare. Accessible, quality and affordable childcare is one of the biggest concerns for Oklahoma families and employers and I have worked diligently to bring real solutions to this issue. I was honored to be named Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy (OICA) for this effort.
House Bill 1328 Signed into Law – Catalytic Converter and Copper Theft Prevention: The second law aims to empower law enforcement to enact forfeiture measures associated with the theft of catalytic converters and copper. This law is another tool for law enforcement to end these crimes that cost Oklahomans money and create safety issues in our communities.
Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association Award: I was honored to receive recognition from OSA for our partnership in supporting public safety across the state.
Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills Fellowship: I was selected as one of 30 legislators from 15 states to join the CALS fellowship. It was an honor to join a bipartisan group of legislators from across the South to improve the skills we need most to solve real problems: communication, conflict resolution, consensus building, and critical decision making. No doubt I will need all of these as I head into the 2024 legislative session.
Constituent Outreach: This legislative seat belongs not to me but to the constituents of House District 70 and that’s why I prioritize staying in touch. In addition to being out and about in the community, I hosted seven constituent events in the district where we had conversations to learn more about what people care most about and want for our state. I also use my newsletter to report to you, receive feedback and announce events. If you do not receive it yet, scan the QR code below to join or visit suzanneforstaterep.com to sign up. For details about our next constituent conversation on January 30 in Tulsa, check the events tab on our website.
Looking Ahead: I have two bills from last session that are still making their way through the bill process. First is a bill seeking to create a tax credit for employers who share childcare costs with their employees as well as providing a tax credit for those working in the field. Affordable accessible childcare is workforce infrastructure — without it, our economy and families cannot thrive.
With nearly 25% of Oklahomans carrying medical debt, I am continuing to work to address medical price transparency. Patients who want to pay cash need to know the cost of their healthcare services – if they are not given that information, they should not end up with burdensome debt. This bill is co-authored with my colleague across the aisle Representative Mark Lepak of Claremore.
I am excited about the new bills I have filed for the upcoming legislative session which begins on February 5th. The new bills include more work on childcare and public safety, improvements to eviction law, protections for consumers in real estate title transactions, and shielding certain types of retirement funds from bankruptcy. All of these bills involve the core functions of government – and come from constituents. These are the types of issues I think we should be focusing on as legislators.
We Want to Hear from You: In an effort to understand what is on your mind, I put together a simple constituent survey. I am hopeful it will provide me with a sense of what is on your priority list as I enter the legislative session. If you would like to participate please scan the QR code below to complete our survey. If you prefer to email or mail your results please see my contact information in the letterhead.
Plain and simple, my job is to represent you. If you have thoughts on specific legislation, an idea, a need, or concern and you think the state government can somehow help – please reach out to me. I am here to serve you. If I cannot help, I will work to find someone who can. Please also know that I am happy to attend discussions with groups that you may be involved in: neighborhood associations, clubs, etc. Just reach out!
It’s an honor to represent House District 70 and you at the State Capitol.
Let’s Keep Going –
Suzanne Schreiber
Fill out our survey here.
