The 59th legislature is adjourned.
In the final week, we were able to pass a comprehensive slate of budget bills that appropriated $12.47 billion to state programs and services to serve the needs of Oklahomans.
One of the top areas of concern for our district was a funding error left over from the Fiscal Year 2024 budget that left off-formula schools short on the teacher pay raise we mandated for the 2023-24 school year.
The FY25 budget includes a supplemental total appropriation of $16.1 million for these schools. It's hoped the schools will get this funding before the end of the current fiscal year. If the House had its way, the funding would have gone to the schools in March, but the Senate refused to agree to a separate supplemental appropriation.
This budget also includes a 4.5% tax cut on the sale of groceries to help Oklahomans combat inflation.
It appropriates $30 million for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to increase long-term care provider rates, which will help improve the quality of this care.
It includes $18 million to create the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Office Funding Assistance Grant Program to help county sheriffs' offices with operational costs, not to include salaries. This will, however, free up local funds, which then could be used to increase the pay of the sheriff or their deputies. This in turn improves public safety. House Bill 2914 also increases the base pay for a sheriff from $19,000 to $44,000 and caps it at $74,000.
The last measure the House passed before adjourning was Senate Joint Resolution 23, which will send to a vote of the people a measure ensuring only legal U.S. citizens will be able to vote in Oklahoma elections. There are places in our country right now that allow non-citizens to vote. While Oklahoma is not one of those, this would just protect us in the future from those who might wish to reinterpret our state Constitution to allow this.
On a final note, I want to voice support for Gov. Kevin Stitt who this week joined other Republican governors in opposing President's Biden harmful energy policies The governors sent a letter to Biden asking him to deregulate the oil and gas industry and to instead pursue an allof- the-above energy approach that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans.
As the summer approaches across the U.S., there is growing discussion and reports about whether electric grids can keep up. Oklahoma, however, should be ready to meet higher- than- expected demands.
The Southwest Power Pool, which includes Oklahoma as one of its 14-member states, indicates it will not have major problems supplying electricity to meeting increased air conditioning demands this summer.
Please remember, if I can help you with something, do not hesitate to reach out. You also can follow regular updates on my House Facebook page or call or email anytime at (405) 557-7407 o r Mike.Dobrinski@okhous e.gov.
Mike Dobrinski serves District 59 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Dewey and parts of Blaine, Garfield, Kingfisher and Woodward counties.