As the Oklahoma legislative session nears its conclusion, Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton says the Senate Republicans’ overarching agenda is complete. He emphasizes that the majority of key priorities have been addressed in the state budget or have already been accomplished in recent weeks.
Senate Republicans’ Key Achievements
Paxton outlined that Senate Republicans’ primary focus has been on balancing the state’s education and health spending while addressing an overall agency request shortfall. With the passing of the state budget and several key bills, he believes that the major goals have already been fulfilled.
“Everything that I think the priorities are, kind of, all have been accomplished either with the budget or in… the recent weeks,” Paxton said.
Pending Bills Reflect Individual Lawmaker Goals
While the major initiatives have been accomplished, Paxton noted that the remaining bills are individual lawmakers’ priorities and constituent requests. He explained that the Senate is now focused on hearing House bills that have come over and pushing through those remaining pieces of legislation.
Major Initiatives Passed and Signed Into Law
Several key bills aimed at improving education in Oklahoma have already been signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt. These include:
- Minimum Teacher Salary Increase: A $2,000 raise for Oklahoma teachers is included in the state budget and has already been approved by both chambers.
- Parental Choice Tax Credits: The cap on Parental Choice Tax Credits has been increased, expanding options for Oklahoma families.
- Early Literacy and Math Intervention: Expanded programs aimed at early childhood education have been approved.
Additionally, several bills that detail these changes are either signed by Stitt or nearing final approval in the Senate.
Key Education Bills in Progress
- Senate Bill 1778: This bill overhauls the Strong Readers Act and introduces a third-grade retention rule for students who fail to meet reading standards. The bill was signed ceremoniously by Governor Stitt at John Rex Charter Elementary School in April.
- House Bill 1087: Sponsored by Rep. Dick Lowe, this bill requires schools to add one instructional day for every $25 million invested to raise teacher salaries. The bill has been sent to the governor for approval.
- SB 201: This bill, which adjusts the salary schedule for teachers by $2,000, has been amended in the House and is awaiting final approval in the Senate.
- House Bill 4427: This bill, sponsored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, would require adjunct teachers without a bachelor’s degree to enroll in a certification program or demonstrate 20 years of relevant teaching experience. It’s still awaiting approval in the House.
Democrats’ Contributions to Legislation
Democrats have also pushed important bills to the governor. Notably, Senate Bill 1317, sponsored by Sen. Jo Anna Dossett and Rep. Melissa Provenzano, would allow career teachers to maintain their status when moving to a new district, provided they are approved by the new district’s board.
Legislative Activity in the Final Weeks
With over 600 bills still left to be considered, the final weeks of the legislative session will be critical. Governor Stitt has already received more than 200 measures that are waiting for his signature.
Under the state’s legislative rules, the governor has five days to sign or veto bills sent before the last five days of the session. Bills sent in the final days of the session are subject to a pocket veto, where the governor has two weeks to act before they become law without his signature.
Governor’s Vetoes and Legislative Discussions
Stitt has already vetoed six bills this year. Last year, he set a record by vetoing 39 bills. However, legislative leaders have not yet discussed overriding any vetoes.
“We have not even gone down that road,” Paxton said. “There really has not been a whole lot of vetoes. I know there’s been a couple of them out there, but there’s not — there has not been leadership discussions on that.”
Key Legislation and Progress
| Bill | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Salary Increase | $2,000 raise for Oklahoma teachers | Signed into law by Governor Stitt |
| Parental Choice Tax Credits | Increase cap on tax credits for parental choice | Signed into law |
| Early Literacy and Math Intervention | Expansion of early childhood education programs | Approved in state budget |
| Senate Bill 1778 | Third-grade retention for students failing reading standards | Signed by Governor Stitt |
| House Bill 1087 | Additional instructional days for salary increases | Sent to Governor Stitt |
| SB 201 | Adjust teacher salary schedule by $2,000 | Awaiting final approval in the Senate |
| House Bill 4427 | Require adjunct teachers to enroll in certification programs | Awaiting final approval in House |
| Senate Bill 1317 | Allows teachers moving districts to retain career status | Sent to Governor Stitt |
Session Ends on May 29
As the legislative session draws to a close, lawmakers have until May 29 to formally adjourn. The final days will see crucial bills move forward, and Governor Stitt will need to take action on those measures that remain on his desk.
