2025 Legislative Agenda Final

2025

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LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY SENATE

HOUSE

COUNTY

DISTRICT 25 Senator Brian Guthrie 405.521.5675

DISTRICT 16 Representative Scott Fetgatter 405.557.7373

FEDERAL

DISTRICT 24 Representative Chris Banning 405.557.7306

DISTRICT 3 Tulsa County Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley 918.596.5010

Representative Kevin Hern 918.935.3222 Senator James Lankford 918.581.7651 Senator Markwayne Mullin 918.748.5111

STATE GOVERNOR The Honorable J. Kevin Sitt governor.ok.gov 405.521.2342 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The Honorable Matt Pinnell oklahoma.gov/ltgovmattpinnell

405.521.2161

DISTRICT 67 Representative Rob Hall 405.557.7341 DISTRICT 69 Representative Mark Tedford 405.557.7331 DISTRICT 80 Representative Stan May 405.557.7338

CITY OF BIXBY MAYOR - Ward 4 Brad Girard ward4@bixbyok.gov VICE MAYOR - Ward 1 Robert Founds ward1@bixbyok.gov COUNCILOR - Ward 3 Ken Hirshey ward3@bixbyok.gov COUNCILOR - Ward 5 Bobby Schultz ward5@bixbyok.gov Ward 2 Election April 2025

TO OUR MEMBERS The 2025 Legislative Agenda is formed by our Government Affairs Committee, along with input from our membership throughout the year, and communicates the Bixby Chamber’s positions on issues at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

2025 OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES First Day of the First Regular Session of the 59th Legislature Monday, February 3, 2025 Deadline for HBs/HJRs out of Committee Thursday, February 27, 2025 Deadline for Third Reading of Bills and Joint Resolutions in Chamber of Origin Thursday, March 13, 2025 Deadline for SBs/SJRs out of Standing Committee (exception for SBs/SJRs in full A&B Committee) Thursday, April 10, 2025 Deadline for Third Reading of Bills and Joint Resolutions from Opposite Chamber Thursday, April 24, 2025 Sine Die Adjournment Friday, May 30, 2025 NLT 5:00 pm

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS BENEFACTORS

STATE ISSUES STATE LEVEL TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Support increased funding and staffing to bring Oklahoma public facing websites and customer service into the 21st century, improving access for all citizens and businesses and streamlining processes, decreasing fraud, decreasing wait times, and improving messaging while reducing long-term costs to the state. Specifically, improvements are urgently needed in business permitting processes, the employment security commission, department of public safety, election security, tax commission, and the ABLE commission. Additional focus is needed on network security to prevent costly and time-consuming data breaches.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES

Support tax credits, exemptions and incentives that provide an economic return to the state of Oklahoma, maintain competitiveness in business attraction and retention, and increase capital investment.

TRANSPORTATION

Support inclusion of high-priority Bixby area projects in the Oklahoma Department of Transportation 8-year plan including the addition to the 8-year plan of expanding Highway 64 from 111th to 151st to six lanes, with additional lanes for the Arkansas River bridge.

Support improvement of curve at SH 64 (Memorial Drive) & 171st; support placement back into ODOT 8 Year Plan.

Support completion of median projects on South Memorial Drive.

Support creation of an additional South County Arkansas River vehicle crossing.

FUND APPROPRIATION

Support efforts to reduce the amount of dedicated funds in order to increase pool of appropriated funds available to the legislature.

WORKFORCE BARRIERS

Increase state funding for District Attorneys, provide transparency of their budgets, and cap court fees to reduce the creation of an unethical burden to defendants when they try and enter the workforce.

QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS

Support avenues to increase access to quality education for all Oklahoma students without jeopardizing the viability of our public schools. Support local control of education through locally elected school boards. The following support for Funding & Revenue Streams: Protect existing revenue Increase per-pupil funding to be regionally competitive Formulate a sustainable, long-term plan schools can count on

Investment into the State Formula allowing the district to: Increase salary scales for support staff Lower class sizes across all grade levels (where capacity allows) Added programming for students

Modernize graduation requirements to better allow students to be best prepared for their post-secondary paths.

FEDERAL ISSUES SOCIAL SECURITY

Support efforts to form bipartisan group to analyze Social Security adjustments and future viability, ensuring that the social security trust fund has long term stability.

REFORM FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

Support the reform of federal financial aid eligibility to improve access to higher education for all Americans. This should include: a) Increasing funding for the Pell Grant program and oppose attempts to cap per-student grants as well as reduce hours required to receive Pell Grant which will open opportunities for education; b) Improve FAFSA outreach and education; c) Allow short-term, industry-driven training programs such as provided by career tech programs to qualify for federal financial aid; d) expand opportunities for refinancing of federal student loans within federal programs; e) Expand student loan forgiveness programs, particularly for graduates in high-demand occupations with workforce shortages, and without losing forgiveness opportunities for those that re-finance their loans.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

Support comprehensive immigration reform that enables the U.S. to attract the best and brightest talent from around the world. Steps should be taken to secure borders and establish reasonable, affordable and efficient visa policies that empower American businesses to hire essential workers and remove barriers for top talent to work in the U.S. Immediate steps should be taken to address workforce shortages by lowering application fees, eliminating the lottery-selection process in favor of a needs-based system, streamlining visa renewal processes and create pathways to citizenship for visa holders that maintain long-term employment and no justice system involvement.

Oppose further legislation related to immigration reform that would inhibit businesses from having access to much needed workforce.

SUPPORT FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

Support a comprehensive federal infrastructure funding package that includes roads, bridges, highways, broadband, and hydrogen technology, and fully fund authorized federal transportation programs. The economic success of our region and country relies upon the strength of a complete transportation infrastructure.

FEDERAL ISSUES SMALL EMPLOYER HEALTH CARE CONCERNS

Support health care reforms at the state and federal level which will enable small businesses to keep health insurance premium costs down and increase the number of insured employees.

Minimize the regulatory burden on small and medium employers under the Affordable Care Act and support efforts to reduce these employers’ cost of supplying health care. This should include eliminating 1094 and 1095 reporting requirements by employers.

Support health insurance companies continuing to cover pre-existing conditions and being able to engage in interstate commerce. Support additional coverage for life sustaining medications and therapies and expansion for vision and dental services that are so important for long term health.

MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Create federal rules to support states that have legalized marijuana use or enact federal legislation to streamline usage and possession laws and regulations.

BUSINESS FIRST

To ensure that our business community has a voice in local and county wide decisions that affect business recruitment, retention, and improvement.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT Support improvements in MyGov permitting process for clarity and ease of use.

Ensure network of City of Bixby is fully secure and protected from cyber attacks and failures.

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS Provide appropriate infrastructure prior to construction, especially in areas that are known to be zoned or planned for development.

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING Ensure that all future development does not inhibit primary jobs from having access to property.

MARKETING Utilize all available partners to market Bixby. Establish working group that partners together to market various aspects of Bixby in strategic ways that work within the strengths of each entity. Support funding specifically for marketing of Bixby to the public, developers, and travelers.

LOCAL INCENTIVES Diversify local incentives focusing on incentives for businesses locating in Bixby in addition to developers.

HOUSING STUDY Recommend completion of an independent study of housing inventory and what is needed based on comprehensive plan feedback, diversity of housing needs, market-based needs, and goals for developer recruitment.

SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT Protect local control for Bixby Public Schools while ensuring future workforce preperation is being held in high regard.

MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

Protect local businesses and citizens by ensuring all legal marijuana-based businesses are following state and local ordinances and not impacting others with their presence or odor.