Consideration of bills wrapped up

by Chris Kidd

We’ve wrapped up consideration of House bills in the Senate and vice versa. More than 450 Senate and House measures moved on to the governor’s desk or were returned across the rotunda for final consideration.

Two of my Senate bills have been signed by the governor. SB 1670 modifies the sales tax exemption granted to surviving spouses of disabled veterans to include the surviving spouses of those who have been killed in the line of duty. This new law went into effect upon being signed. 

Currently, 100% disabled veterans are exempt from paying property tax, yet county assessors are required to mail a “notice of increase” to all property owners including those veterans who are exempt. Not only is this costly, it also causes a great deal of confusion for the veteran. SB 1667 will provide an exception to the notification requirement to those who are exempt from paying property tax. As a result, this will save time and money for our county assessors and hopefully eliminate any confusion to those who are exempt from paying property tax. 

Three of the House bills I’m carrying in the Senate have been signed into law and will go into effect Nov. 1, 2022. HB 3045 modifies the prohibition of deeming county property as surplus to include only property that is in use or on the inventory lists in a county commissioner’s district who is up for election.  HB 3430 requires swine exhibitors to provide a federal or state location identification number and an individual identification prior to brucellosis testing.  HB 3344 modifies the procedure for requisition and inventory tracking of county equipment, and also modifies bid solicitation requirements.

Completing the annual state budget is constitutionally our only responsibility during legislative sessions. This is a year-round process that begins as soon as the previous session adjourns. Multiple meetings are held with state agencies to determine their needs and learn how they utilized their prior appropriations. The state Board of Equalization then analyzes economic trends and revenue collections to certify a budget amount that the Legislature is constitutionally required to use. This session, the board certified the largest revenue amount in state history to be used on the state budget. While this is positive news, we know that the nation’s and state’s economy can change in a moment and we must always have ample savings for times of crisis, whether economic or from natural disasters. When the energy sector falls, our state revenues do as well, which negatively impacts our state agencies. We also are no stranger to natural disasters, which can require millions for recovery. For these reasons, we’d like to save as much of this record-high revenue as possible for future needs. We should have a budget announcement very soon.

We’re also working to finalize executive nominations to our state boards and commissions. The governor recommends individuals to serve and then the Senate must vet and approve those nominations. I’m proud to be carrying the nominations of Dr. Holly Lunsford of Elgin to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; J.J. Francais of Elgin to the USAO Board of Regents; John Richard Braught of Duncan to the OU Board of Regents; and Jimmy Kinder of Walters to continue his service on the Environmental Quality Board.

It’s also been a privilege to welcome numerous groups to the Capitol in recent weeks, including Junior Leadership Lawton/Ft Sill, 4-H members from around the state for 4-H Day, and students from several schools, including Comanche and MacArthur Middle Schools.

Last Monday, I also presented Senate Resolution 39 recognizing the historic community of Hochatown, which was settled in the 1830s on the banks of what is today the Mountain Fork River by a group of Choctaw Indians newly arrived over the Trail of Tears, one family of which was named Hocha. It has grown into an important tourist destination, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars to the region, helping to vitalize an area that once had limited economic opportunities. I was proud to author this resolution in honor of my good friend, Mitch McDaniel, who recently passed. Mitch was passionate about his hometown and worked tirelessly to help make Hochatown what it is today.

Thank you again for the privilege of serving our district and the State of Oklahoma in the Senate. If I can be of any assistance, you can reach me at (405) 521-5563 or Chris.Kidd@oksenate.gov.