Governor to deliver third State of the State speech

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will deliver his third State of the State speech to lawmakers Monday as the 2021 legislative session begins.

Stitt will give his speech to a joint session in the House chamber and release his proposed executive budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The first-term Republican is hoping to reset his relationship with fellow GOP leaders in the House and Senate after a rift developed last year when budget negotiations broke down.

Stitt said he’s been meeting during the interim with House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and that he’s optimistic about the upcoming session.

“We had a great off session with the speaker and pro tem,” Stitt said last week. “We’ve gone off site to create a people’s agenda. Not a governor’s agenda or a House or Senate agenda, but a people’s agenda.”

Even though lawmakers will have an estimated 8% more to spend on the upcoming fiscal year’s spending plan, both Stitt and legislative leaders have said they expect a flat budget, with few increases or decreases in agency appropriations. That’s mostly because the Legislature used almost $1 billion in “one-time” revenue to build last year’s budget that won’t be available this year.