After a week of marathon floor sessions to hear a slew of bills, the Legislature has reached the halfway point in this legislative session. March 27 was the deadline for bills to be heard in their chamber of origin, meaning Senate bills had to be heard by the full Senate and House bills had to be heard by the full House. Of the more than 3,000 bills filed before this session started, just over 300 Senate bills and 439 House bills remain alive and moving through the process. This halfway point is critical because it allows both chambers to start considering each other’s proposals. This is when the real back-and-forth between the two chambers begins, as lawmakers debate and amend bills before they can potentially reach the governor’s desk. Both legislative chambers will also ramp up our work to build a state budget. The Senate, through the Appropriations Committee, will craft a proposed state spending plan for next year while House budget leaders come up with their own proposal. As Appropriations Chairman, I’ll begin negotiating more with my House counterparts on specifi c budget items while also working with representatives from the governor’s office. Unlike the federal government, the Oklahoma Legislature is required to pass a balanced budget each year. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House to finalize a spending plan before the end of this session.

On a related note, S&P Global Ratings just upgraded Oklahoma’s credit rating to its highest point in over a decade. The state’s credit rating jumped from AA to AA+, which is a positive step that reflects S&P’s confi dence in our responsible budgeting practices, healthy state savings and our efforts to grow Oklahoma’s economy. I also like to think that this change is due in part to a series of meetings Treasurer Todd Russ, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton and I had with the nation’s top credit rating agencies in December. In those meetings, we talked about Oklahoma’s financial stability and advocated for a ratings upgrade. This achievement highlights the state’s fiscal progress and is a sign of the great things ahead.

I had a fantastic time at the Oklahoma Youth Expo’s Legislative Showmanship competition in Oklahoma City in mid-March. As the largest junior livestock show in the nation, this event provides 4-H and FFA students from all corners of our state a unique opportunity to show their livestock and compete for scholarships. This annual event is a huge boon for the state’s economy and a wonderful chance to celebrate our up-and-coming agriculture leaders. I was also thrilled to welcome the latest Leadership Noble County class to the state Capitol this past week. Nothing makes me happier than welcoming my friends and neighbors to the state Senate.

Lastly, I want to once again thank the local first responders who put their lives on the line when wildfires broke out across Senate District 20. I’m so grateful for their dedicated service. Local volunteers have also been a huge help in connecting Oklahomans to assistance after the fires. Thanks to the American Red Cross and all the other organizations that have provided aid across the region.

As always, it’s an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Senate District 20.

Please feel free to contact my Capitol office with any questions or concerns you may have about legislation or other issues impacting our state at 405-521-5628 or at Chuck. Hall@oksenate.gov.