OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE / From the desk of Sen. Jessica Garvin
I’m proud to have passed yet another retirement reform to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 453 will improve pension benefits for volunteer firefighters, who make up most of the fire personnel across Oklahoma. Although the governor vetoed my bill to boost police officers’ pension benefits, which would have helped cities recruit and retain new officers, I was grateful the attorney general expressed his support for a veto override.
At the time there was only a few days remaining in this legislative session, I had been broaching the subject of an override vote with my colleagues. It takes three-fourths of the Senate and the House to override a gubernatorial veto.
I do appreciate the governor for signing my bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for rape in certain circumstances. This measure will help our attorney general and district attorneys ensure justice is served, regardless of how much time has passed.
This was the final week of the legislative session, and my colleagues and I were focused on passing a state budget for the new fiscal year. Senate and House leaders agreed to the terms of the budget and both chambers had to pass the nearly 50 bills that made up the budget and send them to the governor’s desk.
The $12.5 billion fiscally conservative budget largely keeps state agency funding flat but includes key investments in critical areas, such as health care, education, public safety and more.
Common education will see an increase in recurring appropriations. There’s also funding to give some law enforcement personnel, judges and district attorneys pay raises. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Public Safety will receive funding for new facilities.
The Legislature has also put a priority on workforce initiatives to help get people trained for skilled jobs. As a result, CareerTech will receive an additional $27.6 million to address its 7,400-person waiting list of people seeking to enroll in job training programs.
This budget earmarks $350 million for the state to address years of deferred maintenance at state-owned properties, public colleges, universities and state parks. That money will be doled out over the next few years to make needed repairs in aging and dilapidated buildings.
After the Senate passed and the governor signed the largest tax cut in state history this year, this budget also accounts for the approximately $300 million loss in state revenue that will come as a result of eliminating the state portion of the grocery sales tax. That tax cut will take effect in August.
This budget also authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to issue $500 million in bonds for several major road improvement projects, including widening I-35 from Cleveland County south through McClain, Garvin, Murray, Carter and Love counties.
Once approved by the Legislature and the governor, this spending plan will take effect July 1.
If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol by emailing me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate. gov, calling me at 405-521-5522 or writing to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
