OKLAHOMA CITY – Committee work is still progressing and policy bills are still being heard in the Senate despite a budget standoff with the state House of Representatives.
Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) said in his weekly press conference last Thursday that there may be some misunderstanding about the Appropriations Committee not hearing House bills until both chambers’ budgets are open and available.
On March 18, the Senate passed Resolution 31, which detailed the chamber’s proposed state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Treat said they are 100% committed to having the budget in the open the entire time. As part of the Senate’s transparent budget process, chamber leaders insist on receiving House budget figures before voting on any House bills that have fiscal impact.
“The ball is in their court,” Treat said. Proposed bills In last week’s legislative action, Senator Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan) saw a bill she co-sponsored, House Bill 2854, fail to pass from the Retirement and Insurance Committee. The measure pertained to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System. In part, the proposal addressed imposing conditions related to approvals by the Internal Revenue Service, providing for termination of provisions of the Retirement Freedom Act and providing for cessation of certain employee and employer contributions.
Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) saw a bill he co-sponsored, HB 1505, sent to the Governor April 11. The measure addresses delivery and storage of electronic insurance documents and permitting insurers to post certain policies or endorsements. If the bill is approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt, it will become effective Nov. 1. Candidate Filings Some Senate seats are up for election in 2024. April 3-5 was the filing period and anyone wanting to withdraw their application from the upcoming June primaries were required to do so by April 9.
Southwest Oklahoma Senators who initially filed include Garvin, Kidd and Paxton. Both Deevers’ and Howard’s terms end Nov. 18, 2026. Paxton did not receive any opponents for his seat and was automatically reelected.
Kidd initially expressed his interest to run again and submitted candidacy paperwork during the filing period. However, on April 8, he rescinded and filed to withdraw from the election, leaving three Republican candidates to battle it out in the June 18 primary.
Candidates for the District 31 seat, which includes Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Love and Stephens counties, currently held by Kidd are Pamala McNall-Granier from Comanche, Rick Wolfe from Elgin and Spencer Kern from Duncan.
Garvin filed for reelection and will face opponents in both the primary and general election. Republican Kendal Sacchieri from Blanchard also filed for the District 43 seat, which includes Cleveland, Garvin, Grady, McClain and Stephens counties. Democrat Sam Graefe from Purcell also filed.