OKLAHOMA CITY – Budget negotiations are ongoing between Gov. Kevin Stitt, the state Senate and the state House of Representatives. The groups met twice last week, but, to date, the budget has not been finalized. Two weeks are left in the current legislative session.
Southwest Oklahoma legislators continue to work for passage of bills yet to make it to the governor’s desk before the session ends at the end of May. Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) One bill, House Bill 2362, authored by Rep. Boles was approved by the governor on May 10. It pertains to cities and towns and specifically addresses annual audits of municipalities and the procedures guiding the audits.
Two bills either authored or co-sponsored by Boles were sent to the governor’s desk last week and are pending approval.
HB 3053, authored by Boles, which pertains to the energy sector and specifically directs the Corporation Commission to evaluate the state’s relationship with the Southwest Power Pool. The measure will require an established deadline and require a report. The SPP is the state’s regional transmission organization.
The bill will require utilizing the most recent 12 months of available data and the following items to be addressed in the report:
1. An explanation of how decisions are made at the SPP, including the Regional State Committee, and the impact of such decisions on Oklahoma ratepayers.
2. The potential impact of decisions resulting from the SPP process, including the RSC, on the state budget.
3. The current use of intermittent power sources to meet baseload capacity requirements and explanation of the SPP’s decision-making processes regarding the use of these intermittent sources.
4. The studies and processes used by the SPP to assess and respond to demands, including transmission studies conducted.
5. Identification of SPP decisions and processes that may impact Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industries.
6. Identification of areas in which Oklahoma stakeholders may benefit from additional information being shared on events occurring at the SPP.
7. The amount of power produced within Oklahoma that was transmitted outside of the state through the SPP for the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2023, the market value of such power, and any benefit of this transmission to Oklahoma ratepayers.
8. The cost, if any, that is built into the most recent rate cases with final orders previously before the Corporation Commission for the construction and maintenance of generation and transmission infrastructure which is used in whole or in part for the generation and transmission of power for sale outside of Oklahoma; and
9. An explanation of the level of input the Corporation Commission has on the processes and decisions of the SPP.
In addition, the Commission must ensure the report to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2024. A copy of the finalized report will be submitted electronically to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Pro Tem, the Chair of the Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives or successor committee, the Chair of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee of the Senate or a successor committee and the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives or successor committee.
Sent to the governor on May 9, HB 4012, a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber), addresses the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority, State Capitol Arch, Oklahoma National Guard, Legacy Capital Financing Fund, contracts, designs and effective dates. In part, the bill text states that the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority shall allocate $4.3 million from the Legacy Capital Financing Fund for purposes of the design and construction of the State Capitol Arch, the purpose of which is to honor and memorialize the services performed by the Oklahoma National Guard. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) One bill, HB 2998, authored by Rep. Hasenbeck and co-sponsored by Rep. Marcus McEntire (R-Duncan) was sent to the governor’s desk on May 8 and is pending approval. The measure creates the Laser Hair Removal Act and mandates education and training and will require certain credentials.
In part, the bill text states that a person must hold the appropriate health professional license or certificate to perform or attempt to perform laser hair removal. A laser practitioner, who is not a physician, will be required to complete a laser practitioner training and education program. A laser training and education program may be completed internally at the laser hair removal facility or via a third party, provided that the third-party program is overseen by a physician. A laser practitioner training and education program shall include forty (40) total hours of training, which may be a combination of didactic training, in-person hands-on training and performance of laser hair removal procedures. Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) HB 2956, authored by Rep. Kendrix, was approved by the governor on May 8. The measure recreates the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision and allows the Board to continue until July 1, 2025, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) House Joint Resolution 1035, authored by Rep. Lowe, was approved by the governor on May 8. It is a carryover measure from 2023 and addresses approving a maximum fee schedule pair for reimbursement to medical providers for workers’ compensation.
HB 2197, authored by Lowe, pertains to waters and water rights and creating the Waters and Water Rights Modernization Act has been sent to a conference committee for further study. In part, the bill text states that to the extent that the water authorized is not put to beneficial use as provided by the terms of the permit, that amount not used shall be forfeited by the holder of the permit and it will become public water and available for appropriation.
Rep. Marcus McEntire (R-Duncan) Two bills either authored or co-sponsored by Rep. McEntire were sent to the governor last week.
HB 2998, authored by Rep. Hasenbeck (R-Elgin) and co-sponsored by McEntire, was sent to the governor’s desk on May 8 and is pending approval. The measure creates the Laser Hair Removal Act and mandates education and training and will require certain credentials. See above description under Hasenbeck.
HB 3376, authored by McEntire, pertains to pharmacy benefit managers and the Patient’s Right to Pharmacy Choice Act. It specifically addresses contracts, health information, fees and fines and creates a revolving fund and was sent to the governor on May 9. Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) In last week’s legislation action, 60 bills either authored or co-sponsored by Rep. Caldwell were sent to the Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee for consideration beginning Monday, May 13.