by Rep. John Pfeiffer
The first week of a legislative session always feels a bit like the start of a new school year – fun but exhausting. As we dive into our legislative work, reading bills serves as our homework. The final test will be the budget as we try to balance spending and tax cuts.
This year, I will continue my role as House Deputy Floor Leader – my fifth session in this position. The floor leader team is responsible for the reading of bills, assigning them to various committees and then scheduling the ones that pass committee to be heard on the House floor. We also direct daily work on the floor.
Floor work is always a bit light until bills make it through committee. This year, the House has a new two-step process for policy bills. Bills will first be heard in regular committee. Those that pass will then be considered by an oversight committee. It’s the same process for appropriation bills. It’s hoped this will help us give bills a better vetting before they hit the floor for a vote by the full membership. Of the almost 3,000 measures filed between the House and Senate, only about 400 are expected to make it through the entire legislative process to become law.
On day one of session, we heard the governor’s annual State of the State address. He outlined his hopes for further tax cuts, building on the grocery tax cut we implemented last year. He also would like to see us keep about $4 billion in the state’s savings accounts. We’ll know more about our revenue picture once the Board of Equalization meets later this month. The governor presents his budget priorities as do our state agencies, but it’s up to the Legislature to draft the final state budget.
The House this month unveiled its own version of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). We’re hopeful this will point to some areas where we can streamline. And we will keep an eye on how we can improve the business climate in Oklahoma, knowing that our agriculture producers and our small and large businesses are the backbone of our economy.
One of my bills passed in committee this week. House Bill 2163 would create a public access counselor position in the state attorney general’s office to review open records requests when they’ve been denied or when they’ve taken a long time. This will give private individuals, the media and lawmakers recourse if they feel they’re being stonewalled or delayed in getting records from state agencies and other entities. I’m hoping it will speed the process.
It’s an honor to serve the folks of House District 38. As always, if you have concerns about bills, or problems I can assist you in solving, please reach out to me at [email protected] or call my office at 405-557-7332.
