This week, the Legislature officially reached a budget agreement for Fiscal Year 2025.

This consensus comes after months of negotiations, meeting with state agencies and reviewing our state’s financial position.

Throughout the negotiations, the Senate remained committed to fiscal responsibility by working with available recurring revenues and advocating for maintaining our savings.

This budget reflects those commitments, while also prioritizing the current needs of Oklahomans.

Additionally, we ensured the proceedings remained transparent, allowing taxpayers to see the process unfold and see firsthand how their tax dollars are being appropriated.

I am pleased we were able to come to an agreement and thank everyone who had a hand in crafting this year’s budget.

Outside of legislative business, I had the opportunity to welcome some incredible student-athletes from across our area and recognize them in the Senate for their accomplishments this year.

I appreciate each of these teams and their coaches for visiting the Capitol and wish them continued success in their athletic and academic pursuits.

I also had the privilege of awarding citations to high school graduates across the district to congratulate them on reaching this milestone.

I wish them the best as they prepare to enter the workforce or attend college.

Graduates, if I can assist you in your next chapter, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

As we near the end of this year’s legislative session, I look forward to spending more time back home in Senate District 26.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the reopening of the Bridgeport Pony Bridge and was incredibly pleased to see the completion of the Department of Transportation and other agencies’ preservation and restoration efforts.

I enjoyed getting to be part of this kickoff celebration and look forward to witnessing more projects come to life in our district and across the state as we approach the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.

Unfortunately, during this celebratory time of year, some local families have been faced with devastation following recent tornadoes in the area.

Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but some structures faced significant damage, or are a total loss.

My thoughts and prayers are with these families as clean-up efforts continue.

We are incredibly thankful for our first responders who have been instrumental in leading the recovery efforts including Custer County Emergency Management Director Mike Galloway, Weatherford Fire Chief Mike Karlin, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop H and the countless other individuals and organizations who responded.

CKenergy crews also deserve much appreciation as they’ve worked around the clock to make repairs and restore power to the area.

Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if we can assist you or direct you to available resources.

You can reach us by email at Darcy.Jech@oksenate. gov or by phone at 405-521-5545.