Happy New Year! There are just a few weeks before the start of the next legislative session and many things are happening in preparation for the Second Session of the 57th Legislature.

The Oklahoma State Board of Equalization recently met and certified their preliminary fi scal year 2021 figures, which gives us a snapshot of the potential funds that will be available for next year’s state budget. It was no surprise the initial budget estimate came in flat. The board certifi ed the state will have an estimated $8.3 billion to appropriate across more than 60 state agencies that rely on state funds to operate. This is $9.4 million, or 0.1 percent, more than the legislature appropriated in fi scal year 2020.

Gas revenues declined in recent months, so we expected these initial numbers to be flat. Income tax was also reported down from the previous year while revenues from sales tax, use tax and corporate tax were up. This is positive because it means our consumers are boosting the state and local economies by spending money in our communities.

Last year, the legislature reserved $200 million for the revenue stabilization fund. Paired with the $806 million in the rainy-day fund, the State of Oklahoma has a little more than $1 billion in savings. This money will provide a cushion to offset possible economic downturns in future years.

I’m looking forward to working with Gov. Kevin Stitt again this year as he begins his second year in office. He has an aggressive agenda to continue to improve our state, and I’m excited to play a small role in achieving this goal. However, this session won’t be without its challenges.

Medicaid will be in the spotlight at the Capitol. There is a citizen-led ballot initiative that could be placed on the 2020 ballot to let the people approve or deny Medicaid expansion in our state. Gov. Stitt has publicly voiced his opposition to this plan and is working on a proposal that uses federal funds to expand access to medical care. I’m interested in learning the details of the Governor’s plan once it is released.

Education will continue to be an ongoing issue for the legislature to address. The past two sessions have resulted in signifi cant investments in education, including historic pay raises for our teachers. My hope is our investment will result in better educational outcomes for our students and increased enrollment for education majors so we can address the teacher shortage impacting our state.

After census data is obtained and analyzed, state leaders will begin the process of drawing new state legislative districts. Redistricting will have a big impact on rural Oklahoma because our population is moving to urban areas like Oklahoma City and Tulsa. I anticipate the redistricting process will result in an increase of urban legislators and larger legislative districts for rural legislators, and I’m keeping an eye on this topic.

These are just a few issues I’m tracking, and I’ll keep you updated as the session progresses.

As always, if there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can reach my offi ce at 405-521-5545, or if you are ever by the Capitol please feel free to swing by. You can fi nd us in room 417.