Capitol Update from Rep. Luttrell

 

This week we finally reached the finish line. After 67 legislative days we adjourned Sine Die for the first session of the 58^th Legislature and we achieved some big wins for the people of Oklahoma. This is the most comprehensive conservative session that I have ever been a part of, and the legislation that we passed this year will benefit Oklahomans all across our state.

Before I get into the legislation, I would just like to say how honored I am to serve as your state representative. I don’t do this for me, I do it for the people of the 37^th District and I hope I have served as a representative you can be proud of. I will now be back in the district more regularly and I hope to see as many of you as possible over the summer months. Here are some highlights from the session:

Education

• Implemented open transfer policy to expand parental choice (HB 2074, SB 783)
• Reduced class sizes in kindergarten and first grade through increased appropriations
• Maximized funding formula by making money follow student (HB 2078)
• Created charter and traditional school funding equity with Redbud School Funding Act (SB 229)
• Required passage of U.S. Civics Test to graduate high school (HB 2030)
• Banned teaching critical race theory in public school classrooms (HB 1775)

Tax relief

• Reduced personal income tax by .25% for all taxpayers (HB 2962)
• Reduced corporate income tax from 6% to 4% (HB 2960, HB 2961, HB 2963)

Budget

• Set state record for common education appropriations (HB 2900)
• Replenished savings to record $1.3 billion
• No functional budget reduction for any agency
• Funded Medicaid expansion per SQ 802 (SB 1045)
• Restored one-time pandemic changes to pension and transportation funds

States’ Rights

• Established constitutional process to challenge federal overreach (HB 1236)
• Expanded pro-life policies (HBs 2441, 1102, SBs 918, 778, 779)
• Protected churches from infringement of constitutional worship rights (HB 2648, SB 368)
• Protected female sports (SB 2)
• Supported more Second Amendment protections (HB 1630, SB 631)

Government & Elections

• Modernized civil service system to improve state government workforce (HB 1146)
• Addressed issues surrounding driver’s license backlogs (HB 1059, SB 1057)
• Completed fair, transparent, constitutional legislative redistricting plan (HB 1198, SB 1066)
• Add extra day of in-person early voting (HB 2663)
• Improved state questions by disclosing fiscal impacts, allowing recounts (SB 947, HB 2564)

Economy

• Set framework, incentives for broadband expansion (HBs 1124, 2928, 2040, 2946, SB 802)
• Sent $35 million to economic development funds for new jobs (HB 2900, SB 1082)
• Protected utility customers from large winter storm bills via securitization (SB 1049, SB 1050)
• Dedicated $15.5 million to Rural Economic Action Plan (HB 2900)
• Enhanced film industry recruitment efforts (SB 608)

Public Safety

• Protected public from rioters, government disruptions (HB 1674, SB 403)
• More criminal justice reform through Sarah Stitt Act, driver’s license reforms (HBs 1679, 1795)
• Required local jails to comply with immigration enforcement (HB 2774)

Thank you again for allowing me to serve you, it’s a privilege. If I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7355 or email me at [email protected].