OKLAHOMA CITY – The youngest state Speaker of the House in Oklahoma history was formally seated last week during the Legislature’s Organizational Day on Jan. 7.
Rep. Kyle Hilbert, (R-Bristow), 30, is also only the second Republican speaker 30 years old or younger in any state since 1873, according to a press release. He was elected in 2016 to r epresent House District 29, which contains portions of rural Creek and Tulsa counties. Hilbert earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.
“I am excited and deeply humbled to serve the state of Oklahoma in this capacity,' he said in a pr ess release. “This is not a responsibility I take lightly. Our state faces enormous challenges. Many of these won’t be solved overnight or even during our time in the Legislature. But our calling is greater: to tackle generational challenges, even if we don’t see the solutions come to fruition during our tenure.”
Legislators continue to prefile bills ahead of the Jan. 16 deadline. Measures prefiled last week by southwest Oklahoma representatives include: Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin)
• House Bill 1096, which pertains to schools and specifically addresses the Academic Performance Index; Board of Education; growth targets; student testing; norm-referenced college entrance exams; professional development programs; teacher continuing education programs; CLT exam scores; remedial class options; state average test scores; Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Program; and the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.
Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) Three of the four prefiled bills last week by Lowe pertained to school issues. They are: • HB 1086, which addresses school funding, school district general funds, the general fund carryover, State Aid and calculation of per pupil revenue. The measure also addresses exceptions.
• HB 1087, which addresses schools’ minimum salary schedule and adding years of experience to the salary schedule.
• HB 1088, which addresses transfer students and allowing certain students to transfer to an adjacent school district.
• In addition, Lowe prefiled HB 1089, which pertains to amusements and sports and specifically addresses horse racing and organization licensees.
Most viewed Senate prefiled bills According to legislative statistics, the top four most monitored House prefiled bills include:
• HB 1012, which pertains to data privacy; the Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act; consumer protection and civil penalties.
• HB 1006, which pertains to schools; the 10 Commandments; display and procedures.
• HB 1013, which pertains to education; State Board of Education; revocation and suspension of licenses and certificates.
• HB 1001, which pertains to crimes and punishments; Lauria and Ashley’s Law; minimum prison sentences.