Even though the regular session ended in May, work continues year-round at the Capitol. Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee chairs are already examining economic data and revenue collections ahead of next year’s budget. A Senate task force is examining tax reform, while joint House/Senate working groups continue to vet proposals for the use of pandemic relief funds.

In the coming weeks, we’ll also be holding interim studies on a range of issues. During the legislative session, committees are working through literally hundreds of bills, and there is simply not time to devote entire committee meetings to a single topic. By conducting these studies during the interim, we can devote the time necessary to explore more complex subjects. Some of these studies may simply be informational, to update members and the public on a specific issue. Often, these studies explore particular areas of concern and help lawmakers determine if there is a legislative solution to help address a particular challenge.

This summer, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat approved 41 requests for interim studies on a range of topics, including three of my own. Attracting new companies and jobs as well as supporting existing businesses are efforts that help grow our economy and improve opportunities for our citizens. Those are the very issues at the heart of one of my 2022 interim studies. MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor is billed as one of the largest in the entire country. My study will look at how we can duplicate that kind of success at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark, helping create new jobs and economic opportunities right here in Senate District 26.

My second interim study looks at the issue of divorce. Strong families are integral to strong communities, yet some reports rank Oklahoma as having the highest divorce rate in the nation. This study will look at those numbers, factors contributing to our divorce rate, and how we can reduce those rates. Of course, another important issue to consider when looking at divorce is the impact on children. My study will also look at issues related to child custody.

My third study was suggested to me by one of our school superintendents here in SD26, and that’s the shortage of school bus drivers. One obstacle is the difficulty in scheduling the commercial driver license test. But this problem is also impacting the ability of many businesses to hire commercial drivers as well, so we’ll be looking at this broader issue of CDL testing and possible solutions.

You can view the full list of studies on our website at https://oksenate.gov/publications/ senate-interim-studies, and on the main menu you can find meeting agendas and even livestream these studies.

Finally, I was very honored this past week to participate in ceremonial bill signings with Governor Kevin Stitt. Because of constitutional requirements, bills are acted on in fairly short time once they are passed by both chambers. Ceremonial bill signings offer the authors and supporters of legislation the chance to mark and celebrate these bills being signed into law.

The governor held ceremonial signings for three of my bills that passed this last session, including Senate Bill 714, which further clarifies and strengthens state law regarding absentee ballots. Oklahoma is known for having one of the most efficient, secure election systems in the country, and this legislation enhances those efforts and the integrity of that process.

During the pandemic, many electric cooperative boards had difficulty meeting the statutory quorum required to conduct business. My legislation, SB 1444, updates those quorum requirements to ensure business can continue to be conducted on behalf of customers.

The governor also ceremonially signed SB 1456, aimed at helping address staffing shortages in the Department of Corrections by directing CLEET, the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, to create a dedicated training academy for DOC. This is an integral part of our Public Safety efforts in the state of Oklahoma.

I am grateful to my fellow members and Governor Stitt for their support on each of these measures.

If you have any questions or concerns about state government, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at Darcy.Jech@oksenate.gov or by phone at 405-521-5545. Thank you for allowing me to be your voice in the Oklahoma Senate.