Legislative research year-round job

While session may only be four months long, we work year-round researching issues for areas that may need possible legislative attention. This also includes constantly reviewing current laws to ensure they’re still needed and accomplishing their desired goal be it to keep people safe or properly regulate an industry. Laws are important and must be updated with the times.

One thing that really surprised me when I started preparing for my first legislative session was how early we begin working on bills each year. This year’s bill request deadline is Thursday, Dec. 9, approximately two months away. I’m well into the development process and am already working with our incredible Senate staff to research and start drafting policy for the 2023 session.

This past session, I tried to focus some of my attention on workforce development in long-term care. With massive shortages of healthcare staff across the country, I felt passionate about making reforms to the training process to allow for facilities to have quicker access to quality trained direct-care staff. Unfortunately, Governor Stitt vetoed the bill, but through that I realized how important it is for someone like me, with the in-depth knowledge of such a complicated industry, to use their experience to positively impact the lives of senior adults in Oklahoma. You have to remember we, as legislators, are only experts in our particular fields and whatever areas we have life experience in. We then depend on our constituents, state agencies and organizations to educate us on other issues and areas. This is the beauty of being a representative democracy. We represent the ideas and concerns of our constituents.

In addition to long-term care policy work, I plan to focus on women’s issues, education, and cannabis reform. Over the interim, I’ve attended seminars and continued in-depth research of these topics and feel with my life experiences, contacts, education, and resources, I’ll be able to move forward with meaningful legislation to improve Oklahoma.

I have two interim studies this month. The first is this Wednesday, Oct. 12 with the Health and Human Services Committee at 12:30 p.m. in Room 535 over substance abuse treatment options for youth. We’ll hear from parents and teens about their experiences. Then on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 535, the Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee will be reviewing childcare center regulation and access. You can watch these public meetings live at www.oksenate.gov/live-proceedings. There are numerous interim studies planned throughout October and the deadline to finish studies is Friday, Nov. 4. You can find a complete list of studies, their schedules, and any available presentations from those that are already completed at https://oksenate.gov/publications/senate-interim-studies.

Also, this month, our Leadership Oklahoma class will be traveling to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester to discuss criminal justice, incarceration, and alternatives. I’m looking forward to learning about this important issue in our state so that I have a better understanding of potential areas for improvement within our criminal justice system.

If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol. Please write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov or call (405) 521-5522.