Rep. Mike Sanders called the most recent legislative session “one of the smoothest sessions we’ve had.”

“Of course, it is a lot easier when you have more money,” he said.

Sanders spoke to the Kingfisher Lions Club last Thursday about the outcome of the session in regards to fund allocation and new legislation.

There are 148 people in the legislature and almost half were serving for the first time this year, Sanders noted.

Sanders gave props to Gov. Kevin Stitt as well as President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

“Stitt was in the Speaker’s office more times in two weeks than past governors were during their entire term,” said Sanders. “He visited with staff members, visitors and commissioners. That is what made it run so smoothly. He made himself accessible and set the tone early.”

In terms of budget, Sanders said they were able to save $200 million dollars, a feat never before accomplished.

This money was saved on top of the $450 million already allocated to the Constitutional Reserve Fund, commonly known as the “rainy day fund.”

The Legislature also approved $203 million more to be allocated to education. That’s on top of the increase approved last year.

This money is to be split between common education, higher education and career techs.

“Our career tech system is by far the best in the country. Other states envy our system,” said Sanders.

The $203 million also includes a $1,220 teacher pay raise for public school teachers.

Ninety-seven percent of public school educators will see this increase on their pay check, Sanders said.

The other 3 percent is a part of schools who are not a part of the funding formula.

Three out of seven schools in Kingfisher County are a part of the funding formula, according to Sanders.

Also benefiting education, House Bill 1228 will require one out of the five public school professional development days starting in 2021 be devoted to training teachers to identify and work with students who have dyslexia.

“This is something I did not know a lot about and had to familiarize myself with. I was shocked to find that one in five Americans have some form of dyslexia,” said Sanders. “They are not dumb, they are not lazy; they just learn differently.”

Sanders said he also hopes during the next session a bill will pass to create a mandatory screening process for dyslexia in public schools.

According to Sanders, $62.8 million was also approved for physician training to bring more physicians to rural hospitals.

There will also be a $2 pay raise for correctional officers.

“That may not seem like much, but it results in a 14 percent increase,” he said. “This is not only to show our appreciation, but also in hopes that we can retain and recruit more officers.”

Additionally, there was a $1,400 pay raise approved for state employees and a $700 increase for the state auditor and inspector.

“We are also pleased to announce that we have fully funded the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year bridge reconstruction plan,” said Sanders.

He also told Lions that in 2020 there will be a new Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy that will result in 80 new officers.

“We also allocated $1 million to reduce the back-log of unprocessed rape kits,” said Sanders.

He added that constitutional provisions were made within State Question 794 which expands the rights of crime victims.

“Many people are too concerned about the treatment of prisoners that are incarcerated. I am more concerned about taking care of our victims,” said Sanders.

Sanders also said he is proud that after working on passing legislation to grant sales tax exemption to the American Legion Auxiliary for 11 years, it finally passed.

The decision was also made to allocate $1.5 million to rural flood control dams.

According to Sanders, this amount will be matched, resulting in $3 million.

An additional $1.1 million will go to rural fire defense funds.

House Bill 2051 will also allow paid firefighters to perform work as a volunteer firefighter after retirement and still receive pension from the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

According to Sanders, 86 percent of current firefighters serve as volunteers and there is a nationwide shortage of volunteer firefighters.