The Senate reconvened at the Capitol this past week for the first time since April 6 when we approved Governor Stitt’s catastrophic health emergency declaration. We extended the governor’s emergency declaration this past week, which gives him a temporary expansion of power to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also addressed some important policy bills and passed a Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which is now awaiting action by the governor.
Before COVID-19 hit our state and nation, we were expecting a revenue shortfall of about $85 million for the 2021 budget. However, with businesses closed and folks losing their jobs as safer-at-home and shelter-in-place orders activated across the state, our economy took a major hit. Already low oil and gas prices only worsened the situation. In just a few short months, the projected revenue shortfall in our state has escalated to a $1.3 billion hole.
While steep budget cuts were suggested by some, we knew this would have a devastating impact on our state agencies and cores services, especially during a health emergency when our citizens are relying on these services more than ever. Instead, we held agency reductions to about four percent or less by utilizing funds from state savings, cutting one-time spending and temporarily redirecting non-appropriated money into the budget.
We’ve made historic investments in our schools over the past few years, and every attempt was made to reduce the impact of the budget crisis on education. Our public schools did receive a 2.5 percent cut, but when the $200 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars are allocated to our schools, education will actually see a net increase in their budget for 2021.
It’s important to remember that the $1.3 billion budget shortfall is just a projection. If the economy improves as we expect, this budget gap may be smaller, and the legislature can make midyear supplemental appropriations.
The House and Senate passed Senate Bill 210 this past week, which was immediately signed into law by the governor. I’m proud to be a co-author of this measure, which protects the integrity of our absentee voting process while still making it easier to vote by mail during a health emergency. Oklahoma’s current absentee ballot process requires an individual who wishes to vote by mail to have their ballot notarized. SB 210 allows absentee voters to send a copy of their ID or voter identification card with their ballot instead of getting it notarized if there is a public health emergency declared within 45 days of an election. Simply put, this measure gives folks who choose to vote by mail two options to validate their ballot. I also carried a measure to
I also carried a measure to allow funding for the Conservation Commission to protect and rehabilitate highhazard dams across the state. Senate Bill 1938 authorizes $17.5 million for these projects, which are very important for many rural towns to ensure the stability and structural integrity of water dams in their areas.
I am honored to carry the executive nominations of Lori Burns, Kingfisher, to the Board of Regents for Redlands Community College; Derek Manning, Elk City, to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Commission; and Joshua Haven, Cheyenne, to the Oklahoma Mining Commission. I appreciate their willingness to serve in these capacities. Finally, I’d like to extend a
Finally, I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to the Class of 2020. I realize this is not the ending to the senior year they may have dreamed of, however I know moving forward our graduating seniors will be remembered as a class of resilience who made the best of this unprecedented situation. As our economy and communities continue to reopen, I look forward to visiting with friends and constituents as we emerge stronger than ever from this storm. In the meantime, if there is anything I can do to help you, please reach out. You can contact me by email at Darcy.Jech@oksenate.gov or by phone at 405-521-5545.