The First Regular Session of the 58th Legislature is now in the books as both chambers gaveled out “sine die” on Thursday. The session was filled with ups and downs and started with lawmakers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The first bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Stitt this session dealt with virtual meetings for public bodies.
The House and Senate dealt with legislation until the end, which was around lunch time with the Senate going to adjournment a few minutes before the House did so.
Legislative Leaders are calling the session a success.
“What a difference a year makes! We prioritized and invested in public education, we delivered tax relief for families and businesses, made significant investments in economic diversification efforts, and managed to put more than $800 million toward the state’s savings. Additionally, we passed pro-life measures to protect life at all stages, increased access to quality health care for Oklahomans, and found ways to modernize government in different areas. It has been a tremendous session and positions Oklahoma for continued growth and success as we emerge from the global pandemic,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.
“From the budget to policy, this was the most comprehensive conservative policy session ever,” said House Speaker Charles McCall. “The largest House Republican majority in state history delivered more pro-growth conservative wins than ever before in a single session. We met the mandate of the voters and can build on that momentum going forward.”
The Legislature put approximately 600 pieces of legislation before the governor to consider.
Lawmakers will have to consider Thursday’s adjournment more of the start to a summer vacation because their work is not yet finished this year. A special session will be called this fall when the U.S. Census Bureau releases the official population numbers from the 2020 Census. That will be the final determining factor for redistricting this decade.
