Jessica Garvin
Oklahoma State Senator, District 43
Administrator, West Wind Assisted Living
Treasurer, Oklahoma Assisted Living Association
In her second year as Oklahoma’s District 43 senator, Jessica Garvin has filed approximately 40 bills to the state Legislature.
“I’m passionate about being a legislator because I can make a positive impact on public policy that will make lives better for the people I serve,” she said.
Garvin serves on the committees of Health and Human Services; Business, Commerce and Tourism; Rules; and, Transportation. She is also a member of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee.
Among other issues affecting the state, Garvin wishes to help school districts save money for the future, combat the state’s teacher and substitute teacher shortage, improve mental health services, and give bid preference to Oklahoma-run businesses for state projects.
In December, the sophomore Republican senator filed Senate Bill 1126 to remove carryover caps on school districts’ general funds.
“Having those limitations causes districts to ask for bonds,” she said.
“Districts may need funds for large projects such as heating and air conditioning or updating classrooms. Removing carryover caps allows districts to save funds without penalties.
“If schools can be responsible about their spending and still produce quality outcomes, why would they not be able to save money? Why penalize school districts for being responsible with their spending? If they want to save up to build a new school, why would we not allow them to do that?”
Alleviating restrictions on adjunct teachers is another mission for the senator. School districts are hindered when it comes to adjunct teachers who are currently limited to teaching only three days a week, she said. “If you have a former legislator who wants to teach civics or a banker who wants to teach finance, those people are more than qualified to provide information to students,” she said. “Ultimately, if someone is considered an expert in their field and has real-world experience, why are we limiting who can provide quality education to our students?”
She would also like to help districts by removing some limitations put in place for substitute teachers. “We did keep some caps on noncertified, noncredentialled teachers who do not have degrees. They can teach unlimited number of days, but they can only teach one class for ten days at a time. Superintendents and school boards should make decisions for their districts.”
Along with former state Rep. Joe Dorman, Garvin is looking for solutions that will put the state at the forefront of research nationwide. “Because we do not address mental health enough in Oklahoma, we have overcrowding in prisons, in the foster care system, really poor health outcomes and one of the highest teen pregnancy rates. If we take a step back and figure out why we have those problems.”
The team would like to study Adverse Childhood Experiences scores and “figure out a payment structure for providers to assess individuals for trauma,” she said. ACE scoring could also be performed caregivers, she added. “Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, to get their ACE score would decide who has had childhood trauma and how it impacts the next generation. We would be the first state to gather data for two generations to assess trauma. Once that data is assessable, we could really start to tackle our problems and solve them.”
Working with Senior Director of Information Technology at USIS, Steve Harpe, the senator hopes to form a system in which Oklahoma-based companies would take priority over out-of-state companies when placing bids on state contracts. “We need to reward and support our Oklahoma companies,” she said.
“We do a lot of things as a state to promote Oklahoma. We have low utility rates, a great career tech system and high-quality higher education. All these really positive things that can bring workforce into Oklahoma and create new jobs. I think we sometimes overlook companies that are already here. We need to ensure that we’re promoting then and assisting with resources. I want to make it easier to do business in Oklahoma and I want Oklahoma businesses to thrive.”
Streamlining the process for the state’s businesses could save them money and “cut that red tape,” she said.
Garvin is inspired by her parents and grandparents. “My paternal grandparents came to this country and moved to Oklahoma to make a life for themselves. Grandpa worked on the railroad and my grandmother made my dad’s clothes. I wonder what my grandmother would think if she were here and saw that because of the decisions she made, her granddaughter is a state legislator. I owe it to them to do immeasurably more than they would ever dream for their family because of how hard they worked to get here.”
The daughter of a physician, Garvin and her sister worked in the family business, mailing out statements, answering phones and scheduling appointments — an experience she appreciates. “I don’t think we would’ve turned out the way that we did if not given the opportunity to work when we were young,” she said.
Originally a political science major at the University of Oklahoma, Garvin changed her major to communications with an emphasis on statistical research. “I didn’t want to be a politician or an attorney, she said. But several statistics classes were politically related.”
Garvin’s career in long-term care began as she interned for “a mom-and-pop pharmacy” out of Hydro that now provides consulting and pharmaceuticals nationwide. Upon graduating, she was hired to oversee the organization’s public relations, marketing and sales, statistical research and business strategy. As the company grew, Garvin would be away from home more, she said. In 2013, she and her husband moved to Stephens County where she became administrator over two long-term care facilities.
Garvin was recently named state co-chair of Women in Government. In 2020 she was awarded the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s Rising Star, and in 2018 received the Rising Star award from McKnight’s Senior Living for her work in senior care. She has also been nominated as Administrator of the Year for the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association.
Locally, Garvin is the president of Marlow Lions Club, cofounder of Marlow chapter of the Beautiful Day Foundation, is active with Sigma Mu, a philanthropic sorority in Marlow, supports the Duncan Community Residence for individuals with disabilities, and is an active member of Chisholm Trail Church of Christ in Duncan. She and her husband volunteer as dorm parents at Faxon’s Christian youth camp Lu-Jo KISMIF. She has served on the board for United Way of Stephens County, lent support to the Marlow Youth Council and volunteered as cheerleading coach for several schools.
She and her husband Stephen have three children: Brooks, 10; Collins, 7; and Tress, 4.